ESL Pro League Season 23: FUT Esports and Legacy Reach Stage 2

Lee Astley, Senior Editor

Last Updated: 04/03/2026

The opening phase of ESL Pro League Season 23 has already delivered its first major headlines as FUT Esports and Legacy secured their places in Stage 2 with flawless 3-0 records.

While the two frontrunners celebrated their advancement, the tournament saw its first casualties as NRG and the Oceanic representatives SemperFi were sent packing after failing to register a win in the Swiss stage.

FUT Esports Dominate Astralis to Advance

FUT Esports have been the talk of the tournament so far. Coming off a strong showing at PGL Cluj-Napoca, the European-mix squad looked untouchable in their qualification match against Danish giants Astralis.

Led by a masterclass from Aulon ‘Krabeni’ Fazlija, who posted a staggering 2.12 rating on the opening map, FUT dismantled Astralis 13-3 on Overpass. While Mirage proved to be a tighter affair, FUT showed immense composure to close out the map 13-11, ending the series 2-0 and becoming the first team to book their Stage 2 ticket.

FUT Esports’ Road to Stage 2:

• Round 1: 2-1 vs M80

• Round 2: 2-1 vs Passion UA

• Round 3: 2-0 vs Astralis

Legacy Upset Parivision to Seal Progression

Joining them in the next phase is the Brazilian-majority roster of Legacy. Since the addition of veteran Andrei ‘arT’ Piovezan, Legacy has looked like a rejuvenated force.

Their 3-0 run was capped off by a convincing 2-0 victory over Parivision, the BLAST Bounty Season 1 winners. Legacy displayed incredible resilience, particularly on Inferno and Dust II, where second-half comebacks proved too much for the world-ranked top-five side.

Heartbreak for NRG and SemperFi as Opening Stage Ends

While FUT and Legacy look toward the next round, the journey has ended for two organizations.

NRG‘s return to the top tier of Counter-Strike hit a significant roadblock. Despite a valiant effort against Ninjas in Pyjamas, a heartbreaking overtime loss on the Anubis decider saw the North American squad eliminated with a 0-3 record.

Meanwhile, SemperFi Esports—carrying the hopes of the OCE region—bowed out following a 2-1 loss to Team Liquid. Despite winning Mirage 13-7 to level the series, a dominant defensive half from Liquid on Inferno (10-2) was enough to end the Australian side’s dream of a playoff run.

What’s Next for ESL Pro League Season 23?

With two spots filled and two teams gone, 12 teams remain in Stage 1 to battle for the final six places in Stage 2. High-stakes matchups on the horizon include:

• Astralis vs 3DMAX

• G2 Esports vs paiN Gaming

• Team Liquid vs M80

The winners will join the likes of Natus Vincere, FaZe Clan, and Team Spirit, who are already waiting in the second online Swiss stage.fut

Lee Astley, Senior Editor

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