
Most Promising Ad-Free Mobile Games Coming in 2025
The ESL Pro League Season 21 Play-In stage features 16 CS2 teams competing for the final 8 spots in the regular season. This high-stakes tournament combines established organizations and emerging talents, all vying for their chance at the $850,000 prize pool.
Teams are divided into two double-elimination brackets, with the top 4 teams from each bracket advancing to the regular season. The tournament runs from February 6-11, 2024, featuring best-of-three matches throughout.
Bracket A Teams:
- Eternal Fire
- Imperial
- Complexity
- paiN
- FURIA
- Fluxo
- Apeks
- Nouns
Bracket B Teams:
- Aurora
- MIBR
- BIG
- Permitta
- OG
- Monte
- AlterEgo
- GamerLegion
Tournament Favorites:
- FURIA: Strong track record and consistent performance
- Complexity: Recent impressive showings in tier-1 competitions
- BIG: Experienced roster with proven tactical approach
- OG: Promising lineup with potential for deep runs
Underdogs to Watch:
- Eternal Fire: Turkish squad showing improved form
- Monte: Young roster with upset potential
- GamerLegion: Known for surprising higher-ranked teams
Key Factors:
- Teams must win three matches to qualify
- Single loss sends teams to lower bracket
- Two losses result in elimination
- All matches are best-of-three format
The Play-In stage serves as a crucial gateway for teams seeking to establish themselves in the competitive CS2 scene, with successful teams earning their spot among the world's elite in the regular season.