ESL Pro League Season 22 Quarter-Finals Preview: Will the favorites prevail?

We are down to the final eight at ESL Pro League Season 22 Stage 2, as the Playoffs come into view. We have four exciting matchups, with the four favourites being Falcons, Vitality, Spirit, and MOUZ. But when has Counter-Strike ever followed the script? The action kicks off tomorrow, but if your curiosity can’t wait that long, we’ve got you covered.

Here’s a closer look at the clashes that will define the Playoffs.

3DMAX vs. Falcons

The games are set to commence with a clash between Falcons and 3DMAX. Out of all the Quarter-Finals, this one feels the most one-sided, and yet, an upset isn’t entirely beyond the realm of possibility. It’s irrefutable that Falcons have appeared to be the strongest at EPL, with clean wins over Astralis, NAVI, and MOUZ speaking volumes. The biggest boon for them, however, is m0NESY, who, after a brief slump, has re-emerged in form with a 1.42 rating. With kyousuke, NiKo, and TeSeS also maintaining consistency, winning seems almost procedural for Falcons.

Yet across the server stand 3DMAX, impressive in their own regard. I do agree that their losses against FURIA and MOUZ were not pretty, but they also defeated FaZe, NAVI, and G2. It’s undeniable that Graviti’s calling has brought about a significant boost in each individual’s output, but will that be sufficient to dismantle Falcons? That’s the million-dollar question. With the kind of form Falcons are in, I still see this ending 2-0 for Falcons, though I wouldn’t rule out a map steal from 3DMAX.

MOUZ vs. NAVI

Next up, we have MOUZ locking horns with NAVI. The latter, fresh off a StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2025 triumph, should seem to have found a renewed sense of direction. Their group stage results, however, were somewhat ambivalent. They lost to Falcons, which, being real, everyone did this stage, and then narrowly to 3DMAX. Yet their victories over The MongolZ and Aurora cannot be dismissed.

b1t has been incandescent this tournament, spearheading NAVI’s charge. If he rediscovers his peak, things could get spicy. MOUZ, conversely, haven’t offered much to criticise. Their sole defeat came at the hands of Falcons, while their wins over Gentle Mates, GamerLegion, and 3DMAX looked effortless. The favourites, without question, are MOUZ, but this matchup carries the scent of a nail-biter.

Spirit vs. FaZe

Now, trust me, if this were any other FaZe lineup this season, maybe barring the s1mple roster, I’d have picked Spirit with my eyes closed. Even this current roster hasn’t exactly been awe-inspiring, as they had to squeeze every ounce of energy to overcome Aurora. Yet the signature FaZe chemistry we’ve all adored seems rekindled. They’re back to their chaotic, unpredictable brilliance, and it’s a joy to witness.

This is vintage FaZe. No matter the opponent, the game always spirals into a tight match. There’s a peculiar reason why the world’s number one team will prove to be an easier foe for FaZe than the number two or three. And it is because FaZe’s greatest weakness right now, Train, isn’t Spirit’s comfort zone either, since the latter last played it back at the Major.

Still, this Spirit is not the same. This tournament, donk has posted a 1.30 rating. It is not the absurdly near-inhuman ratings that we are used to seeing, and that is because he’s not alone. tN1R trails just behind him at 1.24, while even zweih and sh1ro sit above 1.10. That means donk finally has proper scaffolding around him, and that alone could make this the most menacing iteration of Spirit we’ve seen. Expect fireworks.

Vitality vs. FURIA

Think the action stops there? Not quite. The day will end with a game between Vitality and FURIA. Of all possible upsets, none would delight me more than a FURIA win here. The reason’s simple, when FURIA are firing on all cylinders, they are the most entertaining to watch. You will see some crazy flicks from molodoy, some near-impossible clutches from kscerato, some crisp entries from YEKINDAR, and most of all, falleN picking up the AWP and rolling back the years. And when you are facing a team like Vitality, you need to be immaculate to stand a chance.

But that is not all; how is this for another curious detail? Vitality haven’t faced FURIA even once this year. Despite their era of dominance, the Brazilians have remained a mystery opponent. And honestly, an upset isn’t far-fetched, since Vitality have not looked like their imperious selves in the latter half of the year. Even at EPL, they stumbled out of the gates with a loss to Gentle Mates. So perhaps this is the perfect curtain call to the first day of playoffs.