Victories for ENCE and Inner Circle put them ahead in ESL Pro League S22

ENCE defeated Astralis (2:1), while Inner Circle overcame GamerLegion (2:1) in the second round of the group stage at ESL Pro League Season 22. The winners’ next challenge will be head-to-head matchups against Gentle Mates and HOTU, while Astralis and GamerLegion will battle each other for the right to stay in the tournament.

ESL PRO LEAGUE S22

ESL Pro League is one of the most prestigious regular tournaments in CS2. Advancing to the second stage of the group guarantees teams valuable ESL ranking points and a chance to reach the playoffs. For ENCE, this is an opportunity to return to a high level after a series of disappointing results, while Inner Circle are fighting to climb into the top 30 of the world rankings and strengthen their status.

ENCE VS ASTRALIS — 2:1

1. Ancient (Astralis pick) — 16:13 for Astralis. The Danes started strong thanks to device and Staehr, taking a closely contested first map point.
2. Nuke (ENCE pick) — 13:7 for ENCE. Total dominance from the Finns on defense: the team didn’t give up a single round in the first half.
3. Overpass (decider) — 13:7 for ENCE. rigoN and Neityu led the team forward, closing the series with no chances left for the opponent.

Player of the match — Ville “myltši” Vilkman

• K-D: 45–36
• ADR: 69.6
• Rating 3.0: 1.22

Impact: a series of clutches and a stable role on Nuke, where his aggression changed the course of the game.

INNER CIRCLE VS GAMERLEGION — 2:1

1. Ancient (Inner Circle pick) — 13:3 for Inner Circle. Cairne and Davy set the tempo immediately, and the opponent couldn’t respond.
2. Overpass (GamerLegion pick) — 22:20 for GL. A tense overtime battle, where PR saved the team from defeat.
3. Dust2 (decider) — 13:1 for Inner Circle. The Ukrainian roster closed the series without a fight, completely breaking the opponent’s defense.

Player of the match — Artem “cairne” Mushynskyi

• K-D: 61–38
• ADR: 89.6
• Rating 3.0: 1.58

Impact: best player of the match, carried Ancient and Dust2 with confident entries and stability in clutches.

ANALYSIS: WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE TEAMS

1. ENCE. For the Finns, this victory became a step forward after a poor summer. The team showed flexibility in pick-ban and stability in the play of key newcomers. The next match is a chance to solidify themselves as playoff contenders.
2. Inner Circle. For the Ukrainian lineup, this is a breakthrough: rising from #40 to #35 in the world rankings and a significant confirmation of progress. However, their next opponent will be much stronger, and the series against Gentle Mates will be a real test.
3. Astralis. The defeat was a painful blow for the Danes, who lost momentum after Ancient. Now they are under pressure: their next group match will determine if they remain in the race.
4. GamerLegion. GL showed character on Overpass but completely collapsed on Dust2. The team has time to correct mistakes, but their next matchup will be a “life or death” battle in the group.

UPCOMING HEAD-TO-HEAD MATCHUPS

Gentle Mates vs Inner Circle. Gentle Mates have the advantage in experience and cohesion, but Inner Circle have already shown they can break predictions. The key will be in the play of cairne and Davy, who set the tone in the previous series. For Gentle Mates, it’s important to impose their pace and not allow the opponent to open up early.

HOTU vs ENCE. ENCE come in as favorites after their victory over Astralis and look more confident. HOTU will try to use an aggressive style and individual plays to break the Finns’ structure. Control of pistol and clutch rounds will be crucial.

Astralis vs GamerLegion. This is a survival match in the group, where defeat could be fatal. Astralis will rely on the experience of device and Staehr to stabilize their play. GamerLegion must show composure and avoid sudden collapses on maps.