ESL Pro League Season 24 predictions: NAVI and G2 rebuilt

ESL has confirmed the line-up for ESL Pro League Season 24, the Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) event that anchors the autumn calendar and counts towards ESL Grand Slam VII. Twelve of the 16 teams were invited on the Valve Regional Standings (VRS) snapshot of August 3, 2026; the other four came through ESL Challenger League (ECL) Season 51. No licensed sportsbook had an outright winner market open as of August 18, 2026, leaving the ranking data as the only hard pricing anchor available.

How the 16-team field was filled

The ranking invites went to Team Spirit, Team Falcons, 9z Team, MOUZ, Team Vitality, Natus Vincere (NAVI), Legacy, FURIA, BetBoom Team, Aurora Gaming, G2 Esports and PARIVISION. The four qualifier slots were taken by 1w Team (Europe), M80 (North America), ShindeN (South America) and TYLOO (Asia-Pacific). One name is missing: FaZe Clan sat 10th in the August 10 standings but do not appear among the 16.

Where NAVI and G2 sit before the odds open

NAVI arrive with Aleksib, b1t, iM, w0nderful and makazze under coach B1ad3, ranked sixth — behind Team Vitality but ahead of every qualifier. G2 are the harder read. Their listed line-up of huNter-, HeavyGod, matys, NertZ and r1nkle, coached by sAw, is the product of a full rebuild, and 12th is low by the organisation’s standards.

Part of the reason is where their former star went. Mathieu “m0NESY” Herbaut now plays for Team Falcons and was named most valuable player as they won the IEM Cologne Major in June 2026. Churn across the top tier has been heavy all year, as our coverage of the 2026 CS2 transfer window set out. The gap between Spirit in first and G2 in 12th is 324.6 ranking points.

Format and prize money

Season 24 opens with a 16-team Swiss stage in which every match is best-of-three. The top eight advance to a single-elimination bracket, also best-of-three, with a best-of-five grand final. The split is steep: $295,000 for the winner, $175,000 for the runner-up, $120,000 for third, $85,000 for fourth, then $50,000 each for the quarter-final losers. Details are on the tournament’s Liquipedia page.

What this means for bettors

Market impact: with no outright market posted, the VRS table is the closest thing to a consensus price. On that basis Spirit and Falcons should open shortest, Vitality, MOUZ and 9z Team in a second tier, and NAVI on the fringe of the contender group.

One thing to watch: outright prices on legacy brands often sit shorter than current form supports. If G2 open in line with Vitality or MOUZ rather than with the 12th-ranked side the standings describe, that is a divergence between market and data — and the Swiss draw, published only once the event begins, is what resolves it either way.

Where the regulated markets are: in Great Britain, esports betting sits under the Gambling Commission and the minimum age is 18. In Ontario, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario licenses operators through iGaming Ontario, minimum age 19. Several US states set the threshold at 21.

Ranking data correct as of August 10, 2026; field and format as of August 18, 2026. Informational only — not financial or betting advice. 18+ / 21+ depending on jurisdiction. See Responsible Gambling notice below.

FAQ

Q: When and where is ESL Pro League Season 24?
A: October 3–11, 2026, at the Spodek Arena in Katowice, Poland.

Q: Are NAVI and G2 both in the tournament?
A: Yes, both on Valve Regional Standings invitations.

Q: Can NAVI and G2 meet each other?
A: Only if the Swiss pairings or the playoff bracket put them together; neither had been published as of August 18, 2026.

18+Gambling carries financial risk and can be addictive. If you or someone you know needs help, visit GamCare (UK), call 1-800-GAMBLER (US), or see our Responsible Gambling page. 18+ / 21+ depending on jurisdiction.