Sunday, October 12, 2025, Stockholm: The curtain has closed on ESL Pro League (EPL) Season 22, as Team Vitality once again rose above the competition to claim their second EPL title of the year. After two weeks of world-class Counter-Strike action and relentless competition between 24 of the best teams in the world, Team Vitality emerged triumphant over Team Falcons in a thrilling 3-0 Grand Final to lift the coveted EPL trophy and claim the lion’s share of the $1,000,000 in total winnings.
This victory marks Team Vitality’s fifth ESL Pro Tour (EPT) title of the year and their second consecutive ESL Pro League trophy, underscoring their dominant performance in 2025. The win also adds a second valuable point in the ESL Grand Slam VI race, placing Team Vitality in the lead over Team Spirit in a $1,000,000 run.
EPL Season 22 saw a peak viewership of over 624,507*.
Stage 1
ESL Pro League Season 22 kicked off on September 28, as 16 qualified teams entered the competition for eight coveted spots in Stage 2. The early rounds delivered immediate surprises and standout performances, with HOTU and Inner Circle advancing first with flawless 3-0 records.
3DMAX, Gentle Mates, and GamerLegion followed closely behind, each closing their runs with strong 3-1 performances. Meanwhile, G2 Esports, FURIA, and Astralis fought through the elimination matches to secure the final Stage 2 spots.
Stage 2
Stage 2 of ESL Pro League Season 22 took place from October 4-8, bringing together the eight qualified teams from Stage 1 and eight directly invited rosters. With only eight playoff slots available, competition was fierce from the start.
Team Spirit and Team Falcons set the tone early, storming through their brackets with dominant 3-0 records and advancing to the Playoffs without dropping a single map. Close behind, FURIA, MOUZ, and Team Vitality battled through tight 3-1 series to secure the coveted Playoffs spots, later joined by FaZe Clan, NAVI, and 3DMAX.
Playoffs
The quarter-finals of ESL Pro League Season 22 brought together the eight best teams of the season for a historic showdown. First up, FaZe Clan showcased their skills with a 2-0 victory over Team Spirit, the reigning IEM Cologne 2025 Champions, while Team Vitality fought through a tight 2-1 match against FURIA to secure their place in the semi-finals. Later on, MOUZ took down NAVI in a close 2-1 series, followed by Team Falcons flawlessly eliminating 3DMAX.
As the Playoff Stage advanced, the semi-finals saw Team Falcons maintain their exceptional form, sweeping MOUZ 2-0 to secure their first-ever spot in an ESL Pro League Grand Final. Meanwhile, Team Vitality overcame FaZe Clan in a tense 2-1 battle, setting the stage for a highly anticipated final.
Before the Grand Final, the third-place decider match saw semifinalists FaZe Clan and MOUZ fight for the final podium position. In the end, MOUZ showcased resilience and secured the final bronze finish.
Grand Final
The ESL Pro League Season 22 Grand Final took place on October 12, where Team Vitality and Team Falcons faced off for the coveted EPL trophy and the lion’s share of the $1,000,000 total winnings. The last time the two teams went up against each other, it was Team Falcons that rose to the occasion, leaving Team Vitality hungry for revenge.
The opening map, Inferno, saw both teams hold their ground. After exchanging tight rounds, Team Vitality pushed through to secure the first win in the best-of-five series. Despite Team Falcon’s best efforts to make a comeback on the second map, Team Vitality’s momentum carried through, as they took control and extended their lead to 2-0. On Dust2, Team Vitality dominated the series from start to finish, leaving little room for Team Falcons to respond. Ultimately, Team Vitality’s outstanding performance earned them a 3-0 victory, securing the ESL Pro League Season 22 trophy.
“It means a lot for the team. We wanted to win at least one tournament for the second part of this season, and we did it in a good way. I’m really happy for that, and I’m really happy for the team,” said Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut.
The ESL Pro Tour for Counter-Strike continues with Intel® Extreme Masters Chengdu on November 3-9, 2025, where the world’s 16 top squads battle it out for the coveted IEM trophy. For more information about the ESL FACEIT Group’s Counter-Strike esports ecosystem, go to the official website or follow ESL Counter-Strike on X, Instagram, and Facebook.
*according to escharts.com
The ESL Pro League Season 22 photos are available HERE
