- What Is ESL Pro League?
- Full List of ESL Pro League Winners by Season
- 2015–2016: The Early Fnatic Era and Brazilian Breakthrough
- 2017: Superteams, SK’s Second Wind, and French Flair
- 2018: Astralis Start an Era
- 2019: Liquid’s Grand Slam Run and Mousesports’ Rise
- 2020: Online Era Splits Europe and North America
- 2021: Heroic’s Breakthrough and NAVI’s Peak
- 2022: FaZe on LAN, Vitality Go International
- 2023: FaZe’s Intel Grand Slam and Young MOUZ
- 2024: CS2 Era Begins with MOUZ and NAVI
- 2025: Vitality’s Dominant Grand Slam Year
- 2026: NAVI Rebuild Succeeds, Vitality Become EPL Kings
- Quick CS2 Skins Tip: Budget Loadouts for Ranked
What Is ESL Pro League?
ESL Pro League (EPL) is one of Counter-Strike’s longest-running and most prestigious tournament circuits. Launched in 2015, it started as a regional league system and grew into a global, invite-and-qualifier-based league that regularly features the best lineups in the world.
Across CS:GO and now CS2, winning an ESL Pro League title has always meant more than just a big paycheck. It usually signals that a team is at or near the top of the meta, and EPL trophies have often been part of Intel Grand Slam and Major-winning eras. From Fnatic’s early dominance to Vitality’s modern CS2 dynasty, EPL is a timeline of Counter-Strike history.
Full List of ESL Pro League Winners by Season
Here is the complete season-by-season list of ESL Pro League champions from Season 1 through Season 24.
| Season | Year | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 2015 | Fnatic |
| Season 2 | 2015 | Fnatic |
| Season 3 | 2016 | Luminosity Gaming |
| Season 4 | 2016 | Cloud9 |
| Season 5 | 2017 | G2 Esports |
| Season 6 | 2017 | SK Gaming |
| Season 7 | 2018 | Astralis |
| Season 8 | 2018 | Astralis |
| Season 9 | 2019 | Team Liquid |
| Season 10 | 2019 | mousesports |
| Season 11 | 2020 | Fnatic (EU), Team Liquid (NA) |
| Season 12 | 2020 | Astralis (EU), FURIA (NA) |
| Season 13 | 2021 | Heroic |
| Season 14 | 2021 | NAVI |
| Season 15 | 2022 | FaZe Clan |
| Season 16 | 2022 | Team Vitality |
| Season 17 | 2023 | FaZe Clan |
| Season 18 | 2023 | MOUZ |
| Season 19 | 2024 | MOUZ |
| Season 20 | 2024 | NAVI |
| Season 21 | 2025 | Team Vitality |
| Season 22 | 2025 | Team Vitality |
| Season 23 | 2026 | NAVI |
| Season 24 | 2026 | Team Vitality |
The latest champions are Team Vitality, who swept MOUZ in Season 24 at the iconic Spodek Arena in Katowice, becoming the most decorated EPL team ever.
2015–2016: The Early Fnatic Era and Brazilian Breakthrough
ESL Pro League Season 1 (2015) – Fnatic
Key roster: olofmeister, flusha, JW, KRIMZ, pronax
The very first ESL Pro League Finals in Cologne crowned the team that defined early CS:GO: Fnatic. Already double Major champions in 2015, they closed out the year by beating Cloud9 3–1 in the grand final. With olofmeister at his peak and pronax calling the shots, Fnatic set the tone for EPL as a tournament where only elite, battle-tested squads lift the trophy.
ESL Pro League Season 2 (2015) – Fnatic Again
Key roster: olofmeister, flusha, JW, KRIMZ, dennis
Fnatic didn’t just defend their crown; they did it right after making a major roster change. Dennis replaced pronax, and many expected a slow adjustment period. Instead, Fnatic went back-to-back, surviving a five-map brawl against NAVI in Burbank and closing the series on Cobblestone. That win cemented them as the first true EPL dynasty.
ESL Pro League Season 3 (2016) – Luminosity Gaming
Key roster: FalleN, fer, coldzera, fnx, TACO
Fresh off their Major win at MLG Columbus, Luminosity Gaming brought Brazilian Counter-Strike into its golden age. In London, they edged out G2 3–2 in a dramatic final. FalleN’s calling and coldzera’s superstar impact confirmed that the Major title wasn’t a fluke – Brazil was now firmly on top of the world.
ESL Pro League Season 4 (2016) – Cloud9
Key roster: n0thing, shroud, Skadoodle, Stewie2K, autimatic
Season 4 in São Paulo delivered one of the biggest upsets in EPL history. Cloud9 silenced the Brazilian crowd by beating SK Gaming (the evolved Luminosity core) 2–1 in the final. For North America, this was a landmark win: an NA lineup finally proved it could take down the best in a high-pressure arena environment.
2017: Superteams, SK’s Second Wind, and French Flair
ESL Pro League Season 5 (2017) – G2 Esports
Key roster: shox, apEX, kennyS, NBK-, bodyy
Dubbed the French superteam, G2 finally clicked at the EPL Season 5 Finals in Dallas. With kennyS in peak form, they dispatched North 3–1 to secure the title. For apEX, this victory would be his first of several EPL trophies across different eras and rosters.
ESL Pro League Season 6 (2017) – SK Gaming
Key roster: FalleN, fer, coldzera, TACO, boltz
The Brazilian core of Luminosity returned to the top under the SK Gaming banner. In Odense, they faced FaZe Clan’s star-studded squad and came out 3–1 on top. This second EPL title wrapped up their dominance in 2017 and remains one of the last truly great runs for that legendary core.
2018: Astralis Start an Era
ESL Pro League Season 7 (2018) – Astralis
Key roster: dev1ce, dupreeh, Xyp9x, gla1ve, Magisk
With Magisk joining the lineup, Astralis evolved into the most efficient and structured CS:GO team the game had seen to that point. In Dallas, they defeated Team Liquid 3–1 in the final, kicking off their run of international dominance that would define 2018 and 2019.
ESL Pro League Season 8 (2018) – Astralis Defend Their Title
Key roster: dev1ce, dupreeh, Xyp9x, gla1ve, Magisk
Back in Odense for Season 8, Astralis once again faced Team Liquid for the title – and the result was the same. Another 3–1 victory gave the Danes their second straight EPL trophy and further reinforced the Liquid vs. Astralis rivalry that defined the late CS:GO 1.6/GO transition period.
2019: Liquid’s Grand Slam Run and Mousesports’ Rise
ESL Pro League Season 9 (2019) – Team Liquid
Key roster: nitr0, EliGE, Twistzz, NAF, Stewie2K
After repeatedly falling short against Astralis, Team Liquid finally lifted an EPL trophy in Montpellier by beating G2 3–1. This win came during Liquid’s insane 2019 summer run, where they collected trophy after trophy en route to completing the Intel Grand Slam in record time.
ESL Pro League Season 10 (2019) – mousesports
Key roster: karrigan, ropz, frozen, woxic, chrisJ
mousesports, led by in-game leader karrigan, ended their year with a statement win in Odense. They swept Fnatic 3–0 in a dominant display, securing the org’s first EPL title. For karrigan, it was proof that he could build and lead international lineups to championship level.
2020: Online Era Splits Europe and North America
The COVID-19 pandemic forced EPL online and split it into separate European and North American divisions for Seasons 11 and 12. That didn’t stop big storylines from emerging.
ESL Pro League Season 11 Europe (2020) – Fnatic
Key roster: Brollan, KRIMZ, JW, flusha, Golden
In Europe, Fnatic took revenge on mousesports for their Season 10 defeat, winning 3–2 in a tense online final. A 17-year-old Brollan starred in the series, earning MVP honors and signaling a new generation of Swedish talent.
ESL Pro League Season 11 North America (2020) – Team Liquid
Key roster: nitr0, EliGE, Twistzz, NAF, Stewie2K
In North America, Team Liquid reasserted their dominance with a clean 3–0 win over Evil Geniuses in the final. While the online era is often discussed differently from arena events, Liquid’s control of the NA region remained impressive.
ESL Pro League Season 12 Europe (2020) – Astralis
Key roster: dev1ce, dupreeh, Magisk, gla1ve, es3tag
Season 12 Europe featured one of the wildest EPL finals ever. NAVI started with a 1–0 map advantage from the upper bracket and quickly made it 2–0. Astralis then pulled off a reverse sweep, winning three maps in a row to claim their third EPL title. With gla1ve returning from a break and es3tag in the mix, the Danes showed they could still clutch out massive series.
ESL Pro League Season 12 North America (2020) – FURIA
Key roster: arT, KSCERATO, yuurih, VINI, HEN1
In NA, FURIA overwhelmed the competition with their aggressive style, sweeping 100 Thieves 3–0. It was the org’s first EPL title and marked the peak of their online-era dominance.
2021: Heroic’s Breakthrough and NAVI’s Peak
ESL Pro League Season 13 (2021) – Heroic
Key roster: cadiaN, stavn, TeSeS, refrezh, sjuush
With regions recombined into a single global league, Heroic shocked many by winning Season 13. They defeated Gambit 3–2 in a classic final that featured one of the most iconic clutches in EPL history: cadiaN’s 1v4 play to close out the tournament. That moment alone instantly secured Heroic’s place in EPL lore.
ESL Pro League Season 14 (2021) – NAVI
Key roster: s1mple, electroNic, Boombl4, Perfecto, b1t
Season 14 came during NAVI’s legendary 2021 run, when they were nearly unbeatable on LAN. They edged out Team Vitality 3–2 in the final, adding EPL to a trophy cabinet that already featured a Major and multiple elite event wins. s1mple’s form during this period is still considered one of the highest peaks any player has ever reached.
2022: FaZe on LAN, Vitality Go International
ESL Pro League Season 15 (2022) – FaZe Clan
Key roster: karrigan, rain, Twistzz, broky, ropz
With LAN events back in full swing, FaZe Clan became the team to beat. After winning IEM Katowice 2022, they carried that form into EPL Season 15, dispatching ENCE 3–1 in the final. This win was a crucial piece of their historic year, which included a Major title and an Intel Grand Slam.
ESL Pro League Season 16 (2022) – Team Vitality
Key roster: apEX, ZywOo, dupreeh, Magisk, Spinx
Season 16 in Malta marked the first big trophy for Team Vitality’s new international roster. They clawed past Team Liquid 3–2 in a long, grueling final. ZywOo earned MVP, while dupreeh and Magisk secured a remarkable fourth EPL title each, adding another chapter to their already elite careers.
2023: FaZe’s Intel Grand Slam and Young MOUZ
ESL Pro League Season 17 (2023) – FaZe Clan
Key roster: karrigan, rain, Twistzz, broky, ropz
The same FaZe lineup that won Season 15 returned to Malta for Season 17 and did it again. They beat Cloud9 3–1 in the final, and this time the trophy carried extra weight: the win completed FaZe’s Intel Grand Slam run. Two EPL titles in roughly a year cemented this roster as one of the greatest international lineups ever assembled.
ESL Pro League Season 18 (2023) – MOUZ
Key roster: siuhy, frozen, torzsi, xertioN, Jimpphat
Season 18 was the last Tier-1 CS:GO LAN before the switch to CS2, and MOUZ claimed it in style. With one of the youngest rosters in elite Counter-Strike, they swept NAVI 3–0 in the final. 17-year-old Jimpphat earned MVP, and MOUZ closed out the CS:GO era with a statement: the new generation had arrived.
2024: CS2 Era Begins with MOUZ and NAVI
ESL Pro League Season 19 (2024) – MOUZ Back-to-Back
Key roster: siuhy, Brollan, torzsi, xertioN, Jimpphat
EPL Season 19 was the first top-tier CS2 Season, and MOUZ transitioned flawlessly from CS:GO. With Brollan replacing frozen, they again swept the final 3–0, this time against Team Vitality in Malta. That made MOUZ only the third team in history to win back-to-back EPL titles after Fnatic and Astralis.
ESL Pro League Season 20 (2024) – NAVI’s New Core
Key roster: Aleksib, iM, b1t, jL, w0nderful
Six months after winning the PGL Copenhagen Major, NAVI added their second EPL trophy. Their rebuilt international squad edged out Eternal Fire 3–2 in a tense final, proving that the new Aleksib-led lineup could win big trophies on CS2 as well, not just ride the legacy of the s1mple era.
2025: Vitality’s Dominant Grand Slam Year
ESL Pro League Season 21 (2025) – Vitality Crush MOUZ
Key roster: apEX, ZywOo, flameZ, mezii, ropz
With ropz joining the lineup, Team Vitality entered 2025 as a terrifying superteam. Season 21 in Stockholm was one of their early big wins. They swept MOUZ 3–0, with ZywOo once again securing MVP. This trophy was a key piece in Vitality’s run towards an ESL Grand Slam and solidified them as the new CS2 superpower.
ESL Pro League Season 22 (2025) – Vitality Defend the Throne
Key roster: apEX, ZywOo, flameZ, mezii, ropz
Six months later, the same five players returned to Stockholm for Season 22 and defended their title in dominant fashion. Team Vitality swept Team Falcons 3–0, collecting their eighth trophy of the year. It was an outrageous haul that showcased just how far ahead they were from the rest of the CS2 field.
2026: NAVI Rebuild Succeeds, Vitality Become EPL Kings
ESL Pro League Season 23 (2026) – NAVI Return to the Top
Key roster: Aleksib, iM, b1t, w0nderful, makazze
Season 23 in Stockholm was a rematch of the Season 20 final, but with a twist: Eternal Fire had rebranded as Aurora. NAVI once again came out on top, winning 3–1. It was their first Tier-1 trophy since IEM Rio 2024, and new signing makazze earned his first-ever Tier-1 MVP, giving the roster fresh momentum in the CS2 era.
ESL Pro League Season 24 (2026) – Vitality Become the Most Successful EPL Team
Key roster: apEX, ZywOo, flameZ, mezii, ropz
Season 24 took place at the legendary Spodek Arena in Katowice, and Team Vitality rose to the moment. They dismantled MOUZ 3–0 in the final, securing their fourth EPL title. That win officially made Vitality the most decorated organization in ESL Pro League history and strengthened the argument that this lineup is one of the greatest in Counter-Strike as a whole.
Quick CS2 Skins Tip: Budget Loadouts for Ranked
If you follow ESL Pro League closely, you’ve probably noticed how much pros care about their loadouts. While you don’t need a $1,000 AK to enjoy CS2, having a clean, good-looking setup can actually make you more confident in ranked and FACEIT.
For players building a budget inventory, it’s smarter to pick up several affordable pieces instead of blowing everything on a single flashy item. Sites like uuskins.com specialize in value picks, and you can easily build a full set of pistols and rifles without going broke.
- Grab a few cheapest red skins cs2 options to get that high-tier look without the premium price tag.
- If you like spamming mid on Mirage or locking down Banana, upgrading to stylish five seven skins can make your eco and force-buy rounds feel much cleaner.
- CT mains who anchor bombsites every game should look at affordable usp skins to give their one-taps a bit more flair.
None of this will suddenly make you play like ZywOo or ropz, of course. But just like the elite pros you see in ESL Pro League, having a loadout you enjoy looking at makes grinding practice and ranked that little bit more satisfying.
Whether you’re watching Vitality farm another trophy or MOUZ’s young guns upset a favorite, EPL is a great reminder of why people still love Counter-Strike after so many years – and why it’s worth investing a bit into a game you play every day.
