It was the second and last Swiss Stage of Counter-Strike 2’s (CS2) ESL Professional League (EPL) Season 22. Eight groups from the earlier stage confronted off in opposition to eight higher-seeded organizations for the coveted Playoffs spots.
The ultimate results of this competitors was roughly predictable. Nonetheless, the trail to it was stuffed with ups and downs, making the CS2 esports scene particularly thrilling.
The MongolZ stumble and don’t get well
The workforce was progressing steadily with their outcomes and basic degree of efficiency — as much as EPL Season 22.
- The MongolZ confronted 4 underdogs in Stage 2 and misplaced to 3 of them. Seeing the Austin Main finalists and the CS2 EWC 2025 winners failing in matches in opposition to HOTU, Interior Circle, and Mild Mates wasn’t on everybody’s bingo card. Due to a win over GamerLegion, The MongolZ made it to the ultimate decider match. They then confronted NAVI and bought eradicated.
The casters on stream advised that this consequence was partly because of the lack of native competitors. We’ll must see extra from The MongolZ at worldwide occasions to actually know what they’re able to.
The MongolZ at Stage 2 of EPL S22 (Picture by way of ESL)
Flawless Spirit and Falcons
It’s nonetheless fairly early to proclaim their secure arc, however each Spirit and Falcons had been actually sturdy in Stage 2 of ESL Professional League Season 22. This degree of efficiency looks like a great signal after a considerably shaky interval. The Playoffs are their subsequent problem!
- Staff Spirit confronted two underdogs and misplaced one map in these matches. Interior Circle managed to take Nuke with an fascinating rating, 13:4. HOTU wasn’t in a position to do something outstanding in opposition to Spirit. To advance to the Playoffs, Staff Spirit defeated G2 Esports 2:0.
After their victories at IEM Cologne 2025 and BLAST Bounty Fall 2025, Spirit didn’t present correct outcomes at CS2 EWC 2025 and BLAST Open Fall 2025. The workforce bought a brand new participant, Andrey “tN1R” Tatarinovich, and ESL Professional League S22 is the primary match for this roster.
Staff Spirit at Stage 2 of CS2 ESL Professional League S22 (Picture by way of ESL)
- Falcons defeated Astralis in Spherical 1, which was a must-win for them. Then, Staff Falcons confronted two of the match favorites: NAVI and MOUZ. After these two wins, we most likely can hope that the legendary coach Danny “zonic” Sørensen has achieved workforce synergy from his star gamers.
In 2025, Staff Falcons went from reaching the grand finals at massive occasions to being unable to advance to the Playoffs on the Austin Main and IEM Cologne. Reaching the highest 3 on the Esports World Cup and the highest 4 at FISSURE Playground #2 is progress alright, however not the specified outcomes for such a workforce.
Staff Falcons at Stage 2 of CS2 ESL Professional League S22 (Picture by way of ESL)
The final massive match for rain in FaZe?
ESL Professional League Season 22 began with a shock. FaZe Clan determined to bench Håvard “rain” Nygaard. That occurred after nearly 10 years of competing for this esports group.
It didn’t final lengthy, although. FaZe Clan couldn’t full an eligible lineup, and the workforce was pressured to forfeit their Spherical 1 match in opposition to G2. Rain was again for Spherical 2 and ahead.
It’s nonetheless unclear what truly occurred and what would be the subsequent step for this legendary participant.
- Stage 2 of EPL Season 22 wasn’t too clean for FaZe. They misplaced to 3DMAX however then defeated Astralis and Interior Circle with 2:0s. Within the decider match, FaZe performed in opposition to Aurora, and so they fell as little as shedding 2:13 on Map 2, Practice. Nonetheless, the workforce managed to win that sequence with a brilliant shut battle on Mud II.
FaZe entered this occasion with a roster change. Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski returned to Staff Liquid, and the EPL Season 22 was the primary match for FaZe with Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken.
FaZe at Stage 2 of CS2 ESL Professional League S22 (Picture by way of ESL)
A giant yawn from Vitality
We nonetheless count on Staff Vitality to be again on their tournament-winning path, however the gamers stunned us with slightly disappointing losses. Positive, Vitality recovered shortly and delivered dominating maps, however that loss over an underdog workforce was nonetheless disturbing.
- Staff Vitality joined EPL S2, and it appeared like they couldn’t get up for Spherical 1. Mild Mates defeated this powerhouse of a roster with a 0:2. Followers most likely hope such lapses is not going to occur within the Playoffs.
After that gradual begin, Vitality defeated GL with 13:3 and 13:1 on Overpass and Mud II. Additionally they took down HOTU and G2 Esports.
The decider-match opponents, G2, had been the one high workforce standing in opposition to Vitality. There was a 13:2 on Map 1, however then Staff Vitality needed to pull off a comeback on Map 2. We have to see them enjoying in opposition to different high groups to grasp the true energy forward of the Budapest Main.
Staff Vitality at Stage 2 of CS2 EPL Season 22 (Picture by way of ESL)
We see you HOTU, Interior Circle, M8!
It at all times feels nice to be stunned by an honest efficiency of unknown small groups. They didn’t qualify for the Playoffs, however they made a notable influence in Stage 2. Interior Circle, HOTU, and Mild Mates promise a superb future for CS2 esports!
- HOTU dominated Stage 1 and superior with three great wins. You wouldn’t count on that degree of efficiency from a workforce most CS2 individuals have by no means heard of. In Spherical 1, it appeared like this Cinderella story may proceed, as HOTU defeated The MongolZ, one of many high groups in VRS. Three losses got here after that: to Spirit, VItality, and NAVI.
HOTU at Stage 2 of CS2 ESL Professional League Season 22 (Picture by way of ESL)
- Interior Circle additionally defeated The MongolZ, and so they had first rate rounds in opposition to different high groups: FURIA and FaZe. IC Esports even took one map over Staff Spirit. It’s an awesome expertise for the gamers, and we will count on extra surprises from them in different massive CS2 esports tournaments.
CS2 Interior Circle at Stage 2 of EPL Season 22 (Picture by way of ESL)
- Mild Mates is an enormous esports group, however its CS2 roster was fashioned solely in August 2025 — they signed gamers from Spain. M8 carried out properly in Stage 1, and so they defeated Vitality in Stage 2. Losses to MOUZ, Aurora, and The MongolZ didn’t let Mild Mates transfer additional.
Mild Mates at Stage 2 of EPL S22 (Picture by way of ESL)
A fail for G2 and different non-surprising outcomes
As for not-that-surprising elements of Stage 2 at ESL Professional League Season 22, we had shaky however nonetheless profitable performances from FURIA, MOUZ, and NAVI. In the meantime, 3DMAX made it to the highest 8 once more.
G2 Esports stumbled as soon as once more, making their win at BLAST Open Fall 2025 really feel like a shock. The workforce appears to have returned to its standard instability after shedding two key gamers. The EPL Playoffs kick off on Oct. 10, with the grand last scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 12.
NAVI at ESL Professional League Season 22 (Picture by way of ESL)
November 2025 is crammed with CS2 esports tournaments, although. These embrace IEM Chengdu and the StarLadder Budapest Main.
