The Swiss stage of ESL Pro League Season 22 kicked off in Copenhagen. In the opening round, two series stood out: Spirit battled past Inner Circle 2:1, while MOUZ dismantled GamerLegion with ease — 2:0.
Spirit 2:1 Inner Circle — a hard-fought win for the favorite
- Ancient — confident start from Spirit
The series began on Ancient, picked by Inner Circle. It seemed the team would have the upper hand on their own map, but Spirit quickly destroyed those hopes. sh1ro and donk completely shut down their opponents in the first half (8:4), and after switching sides, Spirit closed it out without issue — 13:4. Everything was going according to plan for the favorites, and it looked like the series might end quickly.
- Nuke — a shocking response from Inner Circle
The second map, however, brought a surprise. Nuke, picked by Spirit, turned into a showcase for Inner Circle. They broke their opponent’s game plan in the first half (11:1), using aggressive executes and excellent coordination. Flierax (48-32, rating 1.14) and cairne were the driving force, leaving Spirit with no chance. The final result — a stunning 13:4 for Inner Circle, who not only fought back but produced one of their best matches in recent times.
- Mirage — Spirit’s experience prevails
The decider was Mirage. Inner Circle again looked competitive, with the first half ending narrowly in Spirit’s favor (7:5). But after the switch, Spirit’s class and individual skill shone through. sh1ro once again confirmed his star status, finishing with 49-32 K-D and a 1.26 rating. donk also chipped in (43-41, rating 1.08). In the end, Spirit closed it 13:11, winning the series 2:1.
Individual performances
- Dmitry “sh1ro” Sokolov was the standout: 49-32 K-D, 84 ADR, 1.26 HLTV 3.0 rating. His consistency and clutches were decisive on Mirage.
- donk posted solid numbers — 43-41, 79.7 ADR, 1.08 rating, playing a key aggressive role.
- tN1R and chopper were less impactful statistically but contributed to holding balance in crucial rounds.
- For Inner Circle, Flierax deserves credit — 48-32 K-D, 77.5 ADR, 1.14 rating, carrying his team on Nuke. cairne (37-41, rating 1.14) also had a solid showing in the attack.
- The rest of the roster couldn’t keep up: Dawy and nifee ended the series with ratings below 0.95.
Conclusions
- Spirit secure a winning start but revealed weaknesses that stronger teams may exploit.
- Inner Circle proved their potential, sensationally taking a map from a top-tier team. Their discipline on Nuke suggests they could cause more surprises in the upcoming rounds.
MOUZ 2:0 GamerLegion — total domination
- Overpass — control from the very first rounds
The second highlight of the day saw MOUZ face GamerLegion. On Overpass, Lotan Spinx Giladi’s team immediately took control. A dominant 10:2 first half set the tone, and although GamerLegion tried to rally, the map ended predictably 13:9 for MOUZ.
- Nuke — a demolition job by MOUZ
The second map was a complete blowout. On Nuke, MOUZ gave their opponents no chance: a 12:0 first half effectively ended the contest. GamerLegion managed just three rounds after the switch, with the final score 13:3 underlining MOUZ’s superiority.
Individual performances
- The trio of Spinx (33-17, rating 1.58), torzsi (33-15, rating 1.46), and Jimpphat (36-17, rating 1.46) played at an exceptional level, all finishing above 1.45 rating.
- Spinx in particular impressed, not only securing 33 kills but also recording the highest ADR of the match — 95.7.
- For GamerLegion, no player stood out. The best was hyp3x with a 0.97 rating, but even he ended with a negative K-D.
What this means for the tournament
- Spirit begin with a win but conceding a map to a lower-ranked team may worry their future opponents.
- Inner Circle showed they can fight against top-tier sides and could emerge as a “dark horse” in this stage.
- MOUZ look like one of the main playoff contenders, displaying cohesive teamwork and excellent individual form.
- GamerLegion start with a loss and will need to seriously regroup if they want to stay in the competition.
The opening day of ESL Pro League S22 proved that even underdogs can create drama. Inner Circle stole a map off Spirit, while MOUZ looked like a trophy contender. With many matches ahead, the tournament is only just heating up.
