NAVI secure ESL Pro League Season 23 Grand Final by beating young FUT roster

NAVI are the first team to progress through to the Grand Final of ESL Pro League Season 23, after defeating FUT across a 2:1 thriller. What threatened to be one-way traffic in favor of NAVI transformed into a real contest, as the former NAVI Junior (now FUT) roster showed they had what it takes to keep up with the main lineup.

NAVI overcome strong FUT challenge to make first Final of 2026

The students have a bit to go before they can become the masters. We can see that now. But FUT were able to provide a spirited showing against NAVI, keeping them on their toes until the end. Too much, too soon for FUT on this occasion, but plenty of positive signs to take forward.

Admittedly, Mirage felt like a total blowout. NAVI ran to a 10:2 lead, and it really felt as though the young FUT players were feeling the pressure. Not just of the occasion, but also the pressure of facing the organization that sold them to FUT in the first place. NAVI quickly found 12, and though FUT grabbed a few rounds back, they were able to close it out 13:5. Absolutely no trouble, featuring a star showing from iM that saw him put up a 2.39 rating. That’s 26 kills, and just eight deaths. A massacre.

Into the second map of Ancient, an 8:4 half in favor of NAVI threatened to become a swift 2:0 series. After the buildup towards this match, it certainly would’ve felt like an anticlimax. But a near-perfect T-side from FUT saw the likes of lauNX, cmtry, and dem0n come to the fore, allowing them to bounce back 13:11 and tie up the series 1:1. Suddenly, NAVI losing to their former youth lineup felt like a real possibility.

FUT ran out to an excellent start on the Dust2 decider, claiming an early 6:2 lead. NAVI fought back to a 6:6 T half, and were able to carry that momentum onto CT. They lost just one round on CT, a ridiculous Scout ace from Krabeni that will ultimately end up in every single end-of-year highlight reel.

WHAAAAAAAAAAT??? THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS@KrabeniCS #ESLProLeague pic.twitter.com/XRIKkNB4sL

— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) March 14, 2026

Other than that one round, the door was completely locked for FUT on their own T side. They ultimately fell 13:7, and NAVI’s Grand Final spot at ESL Pro League Season 23 was secure. Map three was makazze‘s time to shine, the youngster showing his former NAVI Junior teammates why he, and not they, was the one given the chance to impress on the main lineup.