Stage 2 of the ESL Pro League S23 kicks-off tomorrow, and the eight teams that pushed through Stage 1 now join the invited squads. The bracket resets for another run through the Swiss format, and every team starts at 0-0 again, but as we’ve seen at Stage 1, the opening matches can set the tone for the rest of Stage 2.

Natus Vincere vs Monte

NAVI will be in a revenge mood after Monte reverse-swept them at BLAST Bounty Winter 2026 Closed Qualifier (Nuke 13-11, Mirage 11-13, Dust2 8-13), cutting their run short in the first round. But Monte are coming in Stage 2 with real momentum, going 3-1 after grabbing a key 2-1 win over the favorite PARIVISION to book their spot. But again, NAVI is still the favorite here, where their higher ceiling, firepower, and structure matters more. If they don’t mess up the vetoes, NAVI should be the ones cutting Monte’s win-streak short.

Prediction: NAVI 2-1.

FUT vs Astralis

These two teams have met several times over the past month alone. This is their fourth clash in little over a month, and FUT lead the overall map score with 5-2. Astralis reverse-swept FUT at IEM Kraków 2026, but since then FUT have hit back hard with two straight sweeps – first at Cluj-Napoca (13-7 Overpass, 13-4 Mirage), and the second series right here at ESL Pro League S23 Online Stage three days ago, on the same maps (13-3 Overpass, 13-11 Mirage). FUT are looking like they’re reading Astralis well, and they’re comfortable closing maps against them. I’m taking FUT again to keep the win-streak going, but not a sweep this time.

Prediction: FUT 2-1.

Team Spirit vs 3DMAX

The two teams haven’t met eachother a long time, the last time being at the ESL Pro League Season 20’s Group Stage. Their rosters have had minor changes since then, but the basics are still there – Team Spirit brings more firepower overall, and they don’t need weird games to win. Also, this is one of the instances where the eye test and the “on paper” stuff matches – Spirit have simply more punch, reliable closers, and yes, donk still feels like a cheat code in these kinds of openers. I’m calling a controlled 2-0, and from what I’ve seen this event, 3DMAX would need an overperformance just to be relevant against Spirit.

Prediction: Spirit 2-0.

Aurora vs Legacy

This one might be a lot closer than I would’ve predicted a month ago, mostly because Legacy have shown teeth lately. They’ve met twice in the last year: Aurora swept Legacy at PGL Bucharest 2025 2-0, and the last official matchup between these two is in November 2025 at the PGL Masters Bucharest 2025 Grand Final – Aurora won again in a thriller five maps series. The main change since their November clash is a minor roster swap in both teams: Aurora now have soulfly, and Legacy are a different team with arT’s calling – and by the looks of it, the latter is not just a fluke vibe.

In spite of Legacy’s recent spike in form, Aurora still feels like the more dominant team overall, but it will be a close series.

Prediction: Aurora 2-1.

G2 vs FaZe

The last game these two played against was at the quarterfinals of the BLAST Open Fall 2025, where G2 won 2-0 (and eventually won the trophy), which is sadly the most recent reference point.

G2 are not exactly looking bulletproof at this event – they went 3-2 in Stage 1, including losses to Legacy and paiN. But FaZe’s recent slump is even more worrying, because their most recent games where they looked at competitive against a top team was at the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025. Don’t get me wrong – it’s still FaZe, and they have more than enough firepower to bring down any opponent. But their most recent matches’ performances tell me otherwise. So even if G2 are not at their peak, they’re still getting my vote to win this duel.

Prediction: G2 2-1.

The MongolZ vs paiN

The last time paiN won a series against MongolZ was back in 2024. Since then, MongolZ have stacked 5 wins in a row against them, with a map score of 10-3. Their most recent head-to-head is pretty brutal – MongolZ destroyed paiN at PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026: 13-1 (Mirage) and 13-2 (Dust2) after losing the opener map 7-13 (Nuke). Add the fact that cobrazera looks to be more “at home” in every other game, makes this that easier of a call.

PaiN will need a near-perfect series and a good veto outcome to have a chance in a matchup against MongolZ. But if MongolZ just stick to their normal pace and don’t gift freebies early, the pressure will shift onto paiN fast. I’m calling a sweep here.

Prediction: The MongolZ 2-0.

MOUZ vs HEROIC

There are no any official matches between these two, at least not any recent ones, so we’re taking styles, and recent form path.

HEROIC are coming in hot after upsetting PARIVISION in the decider Round 5 of Stage 1, and they can absolutely ride the momentum and make it rough for MOUZ. But MOUZ are the better prepared team that doesn’t rely on individual plays to close out maps, and the team with more reliable mid-round decisions if the opening picks don’t go their way. History shows they’ve also handled lower-ranked teams very well in the past, so that’s why I’m not overthinking it: HEROIC will need an even better showing than the one against PARIVISION today in order to break MOUZ’s resilience. And I simply can’t see that happening here.

Prediction: MOUZ 2-0.

FURIA vs B8

FURIA have consistently come out on top against B8, and the head-to-head reflects that – they’ve won every series against them, with the most recent one being at Cluj-Napoca three weeks ago (13-11 Mirage, 13-10 Inferno) – and this was at an event where FURIA were looking shaky. So even when it’s not a blowout, FURIA are simply superior at closing tight rounds and finishing maps.

B8’s form took a dip since benching headtr1ck – they have six losses in their last eight matches. So even if I wanted to, I can’t sell the upset angle when the history is pretty much one-sided and FURIA simply looks like the stronger team – both on paper, and on the battleground. So I’m calling it FURIA 2-0 – clean enough, with maybe one map ends up being close.

Prediction: FURIA 2-0.