ESL Pro League Season 16 viewer's guide

The sixteenth season of the ESL Pro League will take place from August 31 to October 2 in the ESL's studio area in Malta. 24 teams will compete for a total prize pool of $823,000.

The organizers divided all the teams taking part into four groups of six teams. In the group stage, the squads will play in the Round-robin best-of-three format, after which the group winners will advance directly to the quarterfinals, while those placed second or third will start from the Round of 12. The playoffs will be held in the Single Elimination best-of-three format with a best-of-five grand final.

Seeding of teams in the group stage:

Group A

 NAVI (s1mple, electroNic, Perfecto, b1t, sdy)
 NIP (es3tag, REZ, Brollan, Plopski, hampus)
 fnatic (KRIMZ, mezii, nicoodoz, roeJ, FASHR)
 Vitality (apEX, dupreeh, Magisk, ZywOo, Spinx)
 Team Spirit (chopper, magixx, Patsi, s1ren, w0nderful)
 Endpoint (Surreal, CRUC1AL, MiGHTYMAX, Nertz, Kjaerbye)

Group B

 FaZe (karrigan, rain, Twistzz, ropz, broky)
 G2 (NiKo, huNter-, m0NESY, HooXi, jks)
 BIG (tabseN, syrsoN, faveN, Krimbo, k1to)
 Outsiders (FL1T, Qikert, Jame, n0rb3r7, fame)
 MIBR (exit, Tuurtle, JOTA, brnz4n, HEN1)
 FTW (DDias, arrozdoce, Ag1l, stadodo, kst)

Group C

 ENCE (Snappi, Maden, dycha, SunPayus, valde)
 Heroic (cadiaN, stavn, TeSeS, sjuush, jabbi)
 Astralis (Xyp9x, gla1ve, k0nfig, Farlig, blameF)
 MOUZ (dexter, frozen, torzsi, JDC, xertioN)
 Complexity (JT, floppy, Grim, FaNg, hallzerk)
 HEET (bodyy, afro, Djoko, Ex3rcice, JACKZ)

Group D

 Cloud9 (HObbit, interz, Ax1Le, sh1ro, nafany)
 Movistar Riders (mopoz, ALEX, DeathZz, dav1g, MartinezSa)
 Liquid (nitr0, NAF, EliGE, oSee, YEKINDAR)
 FURIA (arT, yuurih, KSCERATO, drop, saffee)
 Evil Geniuses (Brehze, CeRq, HexT, neaLaN, autimatic)
 Eternal Fire (XANTARES, woxic, imoRR, MAJ3R, paz)

Group stage schedule:

Group A – August 31-September 4
Group B – September 7-11
Group C – September 14-18
Group D – September 21-25

Prize money breakdown:

1. $175,000
2. $70,000
3-4. $35,000
5-8. $17,500
9-12. $12,000
13-16. $9,000
17-20. $7,500
21-24. $6,000