The 22nd season of the ESL Pro League is about to begin and the first round of matches has been announced

The 22nd season of the ESL Pro League (EPL S22) will kick off on September 28th. Hailed as a test tournament for Counter-Strike 2, this tournament, with its lengthy format and rich history, has become one of the most significant international tournaments.

The lineup for the first round of this season's matchups has been announced. The eight games cover traditional powerhouses and emerging dark horses, and are destined to provide the audience with a feast that will be hot from the start.

The first day schedule includes:

FURIA vs HOTU

G2 vs Rooster

Astralis vs Fluxo

3DMAX vs TNL

GamerLegion vs NRG

HEROIC vs Lynn Vision

B8 vs Legacy

Virtus.pro vs M80

While every match saw the players give their all, two in particular stood out. The first featured a match between HEROIC and the Chinese team Lynn Vision. Lynn Vision had previously pulled off a surprise upset at the 2025 BLAST Austin Major, advancing to Stage 3 and defeating several strong opponents.

However, subsequent exposure has been limited, and Lynn Vision has experienced ups and downs in regional tournaments. This EPL opening match will be a crucial test for them to see if they can continue their Major performance. Their opponent, HEROIC, has been weakened by the departure of core player tN1R, and whether the new roster can quickly gel is also a focus of attention.

Another key matchup will be between Virtus.pro and M80. Virtus.pro's performance has declined in recent years. Despite signing former CS:GO star Perfecto and handing him the captaincy, their overall strength remains questionable. Facing M80, who shone at BLAST London, Virtus.pro will need to seize this opportunity to regain their rhythm.

As the season begins, whether it is the traditional giants or the dark horse breakthroughs of emerging forces, the 22nd EPL Season will be a test of persistence and breakthroughs.