The ESL Pro League returns to Saint Julian’s, Malta, for its 19th season. The tournament will feature top competitive CS2 teams, including IEM Chengdu champions FaZe Clan, along with the rest of the top pack, like G2, Natus Vincere, and MOUZ. Our Counter-Strike 2 ESL Pro League preview article unwraps the event.
Only a few teams from the Top-20 ranking will be absent from the ESL Pro League Season 19 – Cloud9, Spirit, Gaimin Gladiators, and paiN. However, the event will still feature 32 top-tier teams battling it out for three weeks.
Tournament winners will receive a $170,000 grand prize. They will also secure a direct qualification spot for the prestigious 2024 IEM Cologne group stage. The playoff matches will unfold at the iconic InterContinental Hotel, a fitting stage for the clash of the CS2 titans.
| ℹ️ Tournament: | Counter-Strike 2, ESL Pro League Season 19 |
| 🧾 Format: | CS2 LAN S-tier tournament with 32 teams and a few stages |
| 🏟️ Venue: | InterContinental Hotel, Saint Julian’s, Malta |
| 🗓️ Dates: | Tuesday, April 23rd – Sunday, May 12th, 2024 |
Thirty-two teams will compete to win part of the $750,000 prize pool. The tournament format involves four groups of eight teams each. The group stage will commence with a double-elimination bracket for the opening games. However, teams will have a last-chance stage before progressing to the playoffs. Overall, each group will witness 16 best-of-three matches.
Group winners will advance directly to the playoff quarter-finals, and second-place teams will proceed to the second round of playoffs. Third-placed teams and last-chance stage winners (fourth place) from each group will compete in the first round of the playoffs.
All playoff matches will be a single elimination best-of-three bracket. The grand final will traditionally follow the best-of-five game format.
The best live Esports bookies have offered odds for each team competing in this tournament. The following teams have the best CS2 ESL Pro League Season 19 odds to win the tournament:
FaZe Clan has quickly established itself as the dominant force in the CS2 scene. They have won several prestigious tournaments, including the Thunderpick World Championship, CS Asia Championships, and IEM Sydney. Additionally, they have secured second-place finishes in four major events: BLAST Premier World Final, BLAST Premier Fall Final, PGL Major Copenhagen, and IEM Katowice.
Their most recent triumph came in China, where they defeated MOUZ 2:0 in the IEM Chengdu grand finals. Remarkably, FaZe Clan has reached the grand finals in their last eight S-tier CS2 tournaments, claiming four trophies in the process. FaZe Clan’s roster remains unchanged, boasting top performers like karrigan, frozen, ropz, broky, and rain. The team is known for its exceptional performances on the grandest stages. Given their abilities, high odds CS2 bookmakers place them as top favorites to win this tournament.
Team Vitality emerges as a formidable contender for the title. The French powerhouse concluded 2023 triumphantly with victories at both the BLAST Premier Fall Final and the prestigious BLAST Premier World Final. Although they finished 13th at IEM Katowice, they have improved on that performance. They secured a victory at the BLAST Premier Spring Groups and an impressive 4th-place finish at the Copenhagen Major.
With ZywOo and Spinx on their roster, Team Vitality possesses a potent combination of talent. They are not new to the spotlight and have the experience needed to climb back to the top. Given their recent performances, this upcoming tournament presents an opportunity for them to reassert their dominance. They have all the potential to win this event.
NaVi has emerged as a strong contender thanks to their recent performances. Despite the absence of their star player, Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev, the Ukrainian team continues to showcase their abilities. Their triumph at the PGL Major Copenhagen sent shockwaves through the Esports community.
Prior to this remarkable victory, NAVI showcased their prowess by securing a 3rd place finish at the prestigious BLAST Premier World Final. They also finished as runner-up finish at the ESL Pro League S18. With a lineup boasting exceptional talents like Aleksib, iM, b1t, jL, and w0nderful, this team has the potential to claim their second title at Malta.
G2 Esports remains a top contender in CS2, consistently placing within the top six. However, their dominance falters against elite competition. They have consistently secured impressive finishes, such as 3rd at the PGL Major Copenhagen and 4th at IEM Chengdu. Yet they have not been consistent, as shown by their 5th-6th place at BLAST Premier Spring Groups.
Despite recent struggles, G2 boasts past victories like IEM Katowice and Cologne in 2023. If they can overcome top competitors at the upcoming Malta event, they have a strong chance of claiming their first title of the season.
MOUZ entered this tournament as the potential title winner after securing a predicted second-place finish at IEM Chengdu 2024. Prior to that finish, they managed a 4th place finish at the IEM Katowice 2024 and also finished 5th at the PGL Major Copenhagen tournament. Currently ranked third on the HLTV rankings, MOUZ boasts a solid roster, and their team has been excellent at recent tournaments. However, all their main players, Brollan, Jimpphat, siuhy, and torzsi must up their performances at Saint Julian’s to secure victory.
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With four trophy wins in their last eight tournaments, FaZe Clan has what it takes to win this tournament. Their tenacity cannot be overlooked, as they have secured a place in the grand finals of their previous eight tournaments. One of their most compelling qualities has been their ability to rise to the occasion and deliver exceptional performances when it matters the most.
Even in matches where they fell short, FaZe has consistently pushed their opponents to their limits, forcing them to give their all. Considering these factors, our 2024 CS2 ESL Pro League S19 predictions anticipate a victory for this team.
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NaVi has been excellent so far this year. Many expected the Ukrainian team to falter with the absence of star man “s1mple.” However, they have defied the odds by remaining among the top teams in CS2. With several top-three finishes at major CS2 tournaments, this team has proven its ability to perform when it is crunch time. Their win at the PGL Major Copenhagen also indicates their ability to win on the grand stage. Given the current performance of coach Andrij B1ad3 Gorodenskiy’s team, we expect them to reach the grand final of this tournament. The best bet application is offering this option at 2.00 (1/1) odds.
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By their standards, Vitality is having a quiet year. However, they remain a formidable side with the reigning HLTV’s 2023 MVP ZywOo on their roster. The current BLAST Premier World Final champions are expected to finish top of their group. Bar the 13th-place finish at IEM Katowice, Vitality has performed pretty solid in all other competitions this year. Most ESL Pro League S19 betting tips expect Vitality to progress to the playoffs as Group B winners.
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MOUZ stands out as a strong contender to top Group C. The German squad has shown consistent improvement throughout the year, punctuated by impressive performances. In their best performance so far, Mouz finished second place at IEM Chengdu. Their solid track record and favorable group composition, having only Furia and Team Liquid as potential main contenders, make them favorites to claim the group lead. Since the team is especially good at the group stages, CS2 predictions for S19 ESL Pro League position MOUZ to finish top of Group C are the options to take.
Here are our betting picks for this tournament:
Given their recent performances, FaZe Clan is best placed to secure a CS2 S19 ESL Pro League victory in Malta. As the tournament unfolds, use our betting predictions to bet on CS2 ESL Pro League Season 19 for more joy from the event.
