ENCE unexpectedly withdrew from Birch Cup 2025 ahead of their decisive match against Liquid, choosing instead to participate in ESL Pro League Season 22, where they were invited as a replacement for Virtus.pro. The decision gave Liquid a free pass to the playoffs without playing, while for ENCE it became an opportunity to return to a top-tier tournament after several unstable months.
HOW ENCE ENDED UP IN ESL PRO LEAGUE
Virtus.pro were unable to compete in Pro League due to staffing and logistical issues, and ENCE received an invite from ESL as the next team in the rankings. For the roster, which has been hovering between the 20th and 30th spots in the world rankings in recent months, this is a chance to return to a big LAN after a series of mixed results at tier-2 events.
🇫🇮 ENCE:
-Birch Cup 2025
+ESL Pro League S22 https://t.co/VnX7M4YHqE— ENCE (@ENCE) September 27, 2025
LIQUID GET PLAYOFFS WITHOUT PLAYING
For Liquid, who have just gone through EliGE’s return and are building new synergy with siuhy, ENCE’s withdrawal was a bonus — the Americans move directly to the Birch Cup quarterfinals. Still, their form is far from consistent: their last 10 matches resulted in only a 43.5% win rate, though victories over FaZe and Heroic show the roster’s potential.
CURRENT ENCE ROSTER
The current lineup:
- rigoN
- sdy
- myltzi
- podi
- Neityu
- Coach — enkay J
The team’s average age is 23.4 years, and their main strength is flexibility across different maps, especially Anubis, Overpass, and Dust2.
RISKS AND BENEFITS OF THE DECISION
On the one hand, ENCE lost the chance to fight for additional VRS points at Birch Cup. On the other hand, ESL Pro League carries much greater weight for future invites and the team’s overall status. Their current form — a 56.1% win rate over the past three months — shows they are capable of upsets, though they still struggle significantly against top-tier opponents.
NEXT STEPS ON THE ROAD TO STABILITY
ENCE will begin their Pro League run on September 28 against M80. After that, they will play in NODWIN Clutch Series 1. If the team can show results in Europe, this could become a starting point for reentering the top 20.
ENCE BET ON LONG-TERM PERSPECTIVES
Withdrawing from Birch Cup is a strategic decision for ENCE, giving them another chance to test themselves among the elite. For Liquid, it is a relief and a chance to focus on playoffs, but the main challenges still lie ahead. Both teams enter fall 2025 in search of stability, and the coming weeks could prove decisive for their ambitions.
