CSGO: ESL Pro League Season 17 Preview

The first two big CSGO tournaments for 2023 came to an end with them, which is why it is time to focus on the third big event of the year. ESL Pro League Season 17 is a tournament that will include all of our favorite CSGO teams worldwide. They will come together and fight for a lucrative prize pool, as well as the chance to qualify for IEM Cologne 2023.

There are still a couple of days left until the beginning of the event, which is why we’ve decided to share more information about it. Be sure to follow ESTNN.com for more CSGO information, and don’t forget to go through some of the best CSGO betting websites. There are loads of options to choose from, and all of them will let you wager on one of the top-tier events of 2023.

 Overview of the tournament

Before sharing more information about the top CSGO teams that will attend the event, we’d like to start by sharing a few words about the event itself. ESL Pro League Season 17 will have 32 teams in total. It will be an offlane event that will take place in Malta.

Those who want to keep track of this tournament should know that it starts on February 22, 2023. What’s interesting is that it will end on March 26. Meaning it is among the longest-wasting CSGO events in the Pro Circuit.

In terms of the prize pool, the total amount of money that teams will split is $850,000. Here is how it works:

• First place gets $200K USD and a slot for IEM Cologne
• Second place receives $90K USD
• Third-Fourth place gets $50K USD

The remaining reward is divided between the other teams; those who finish between the 29th and 32nd place will get $4000.

Format

When it comes down to the format of the ESL Pro League Season 17, there are a couple of important things you should keep in mind. The first one is that the vent has its Group Stage, and it will consist of four triple-elimination format groups. Each one has 8 teams, and they have to play in a Bo3 format.

Once the Group Stage is over, the 4 best-performing teams will go to the Playoffs. The winners will advance directly to the Quarterfinals, the runners-up will go to the Rounds of 12 as the High Seeds, whereas the 3rd-place teams will advance to the Round of 16 as the High Seeds. Lastly, we have the team that finished 4th in the group, and it will go to the Round of 16 as the Low Seeds.

In terms of the Playoffs, there will be a single-elimination bracket where all matches are in a Bo3 format. Of course, this does not include the Grand Final, which is in a Bo5 format.

The Groups

Although there are a couple of weeks left until the beginning of the ESL Pro League Season 17, we already know everything about the Groups. Each one will be very intriguing to watch, but before the action begins, here is what you need to know about each one.

Group A

When it comes down to Group A, you will find the following teams:

• Outsiders
• MiBR
• Fnatic
• IHC Esports
• Cloud9
• Evil Geniuses
• Eternal Fire
• G2 Esports

Although all teams have good chances of finishing in the Top 4, a couple of names stand out. G2 Esports and Outsiders will probably be the names we focus on the most, but EG and C9 are also potential winners.

Group B

The situation in Group B is similar to the one in Group A. However, 3 teams from the list definitely stand out, so we expected them to be among the top 4. Speaking of the devil, here are the teams that will be a part of ESL Pro League’s Group B:

• Heroic
• FURIA Esports
• Movistar Riders
• Complexity 
• SAW
• MOUZ
• Imperial Esports

MOUZ, Heroic, and FURIA Esports are undoubtedly the three big names, but the other teams also have what it takes to win. In other words, don’t be surprised the odds for some of the matches are not as high as you’ve thought.

Group C

A quick look at Group C reveals some big names that will most likely dominate. However, we can also see several squads that will be eager to prove they have what it takes to be among the best. Consequently, this group will be exciting to watch.

• Rooster
• FaZe Clan
• Grayhound
• 00 Nation
• OG
• Ninjas in Pyjamas
• Team Vitality
• paiN Gaming

Team Vitality and FaZe Clan are the two big names that are above the rest, but teams like NiP and OG are also very dangerous. It will be interesting to see whether they can go up against some of the best in the world.

Group D

Lastly, we have Group D of the ESL Pro League Season 17, and it’s safe to say it is as exciting as the rest. Here, you can find the following teams:

• Natus Vincere
• forZe
• Astralis
• Team Spirit
• Team Liquid
• Rare Atom
• ATK
• ENCE

Team Liquid and Astralis are probably two of the big favorites in the group, but Na’Vi and Team Spirit are also worth keeping an eye on. By the looks of it, this will be one of the most competitive groups yet, so we’ll make sure to pay close attention to everything that happens.

Conclusion

Aside from everything mentioned so far, you can also watch the event in real time by visiting the official ESL CSGO Twitch channel. Of course, the event will also be broadcast in other languages, so watch it. Those who are interested in online betting will most likely find a dedicated live-streaming feature inside the bookie, meaning you can watch it while punting.