The second stage of ESL Pro League Season 21<\/a> is set to kick off on Friday, March 7, with 16 teams battling through a Swiss bracket to secure a spot in the playoffs.<\/p>\n
The Counter-Strike 2<\/a> event will feature eight invited teams and eight teams that earned their place through Stage 1.<\/p>\n
Below you will find each of the opening round clashes, with odds courtesy of the best esports betting sites<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Stage 2 will take place over five days, concluding on Tuesday, March 11, with three decider matches determining the final playoff spots.<\/p>\n
Most first-round matchups feature an invited team against a Stage 1 qualifier, with two exceptions: Eternal Fire vs 3DMAX and Falcons vs Liquid.<\/p>\n
Following the Swiss stage, the top eight teams will advance to the playoffs, which begin on March 13.<\/p>\n
The playoffs will be played in a single-elimination format, culminating in the best-of-five grand final on Sunday, March 16, where one team will claim the ESL Pro League Season 21 title.<\/p>\n
Natus Vincere, the defending champions from Season 20, are among the favourites but have yet to secure a title in 2025.<\/p>\n
Spirit, Vitality, and MOUZ have already lifted trophies this year, with Spirit winning BLAST Bounty, Vitality conquering IEM Katowice, and MOUZ claiming PGL Cluj-Napoca<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\n#ESLProLeague<\/a> S21 STAGE 2 IS HERE 2\ufe0f\u20e3@Team__Spirit<\/a> @tyloogaming<\/a> @TeamVitalityCS<\/a> @MIBR<\/a> @natusvincere<\/a> @mousesports<\/a> @FURIA<\/a> @G2CSGO<\/a> @paiNGamingBR<\/a> @1mongolz<\/a> @GamerLegion<\/a> @eternalfirecs2<\/a> @3DMAXGaming<\/a> @TeamFalconsGG<\/a> @TeamLiquidCS<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/HaZaMjCYpj<\/a><\/p>\n
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) March 6, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n