Natus Vincere have been crowned champions of ESL Pro League Season 23 after defeating Aurora 3–1 in the grand final. The Ukrainian organization delivered a confident performance across the best-of-five series, winning Mirage, Nuke and Dust2 to secure the trophy and complete a strong playoff run. Aurora managed to claim one map on Anubis, but NAVI maintained control of the series overall, powered by consistent team play and standout performances from w0nderful and makazze.
Path through the tournament
Both teams had impressive runs through the playoffs before meeting in the grand final.
NAVI reached the title match after defeating The MongolZ in the quarterfinals and FUT in the semifinals. The team showed strong form throughout the playoffs, steadily improving as the tournament progressed before delivering their best performance in the final.
Aurora, meanwhile, arrived in the grand final following victories over Legacy in the quarterfinals and Astralis in the semifinals. The Turkish roster entered the final on a strong win streak and proved to be one of the biggest surprises of the event.
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NAVI 3–1 Aurora
Mirage — NAVI start strong (13–7)
The grand final opened on Mirage, NAVI’s map pick, and the team quickly established control of the match. Early round aggression and confident mid control allowed NAVI to dictate the pace of the game.
Aurora struggled to consistently break through NAVI’s defensive setups, while makazze and w0nderful repeatedly found key opening duels. NAVI steadily extended their lead and closed the map 13–7, taking the first point of the series.
Anubis — Aurora strike back (13–11)
Aurora responded on Anubis, their map pick, delivering a much more competitive performance. The Turkish roster found early success on their T side, winning several key mid-round situations to build momentum. Despite a late comeback attempt from NAVI, Aurora held their composure in the closing rounds. Strong impact from woxic and MAJ3R allowed Aurora to secure the map 13–11, tying the series.
Nuke — NAVI regain control (13–8)
On Nuke, NAVI quickly regained control of the series. Their defensive structure proved extremely difficult for Aurora to break, forcing the Turkish side into several unsuccessful late-round executes.
With strong coordination and consistent trading, NAVI gradually built a comfortable lead. Aurora struggled to adapt to NAVI’s setups, allowing the Ukrainian organization to close the map 13–8 and move one map away from the title.
Dust2 — NAVI seal the championship (13–9)
The fourth map, Dust2, ultimately decided the grand final. Both teams traded rounds early, with Aurora attempting to force a fifth map through aggressive T-side plays. However, NAVI’s experience began to show as the map progressed. Well-timed rotations and clutch moments helped them secure crucial rounds in the late stages of the game. NAVI eventually closed Dust2 13–9, securing the 3–1 series victory and becoming ESL Pro League Season 23 champions.
Match statistics
Player of the Match — Ihor “w0nderful” Zhdanov
Across four maps:
- 82–46 K-D
- 83.8 ADR
- 74.7% KAST
- 1.56 rating
The NAVI AWPer delivered a dominant performance throughout the grand final, consistently finding opening picks and shutting down Aurora’s attacks. His impact across multiple key rounds helped NAVI maintain control of the series and ultimately secure the ESL Pro League Season 23 title.
VRS impact
The result also affected the Valve Regional Standings (VRS). With the victory, Natus Vincere gained +35 VRS points, strengthening their position in the global rankings. Aurora, despite finishing second, lost −14 VRS points, slightly affecting their standing heading into the next events.
Team reactions
Both teams reacted quickly on social media following the conclusion of the grand final. NAVI celebrated their victory with a triumphant message to fans:
WE’RE SOOOOO BACK! PLEASE WELCOME YOUR ESL PRO LEAGUE SEASON 23 CHAMPIONS!
The post quickly gained thousands of reactions from fans celebrating the organization’s return to the top. Aurora, meanwhile, acknowledged the defeat while thanking supporters for their support throughout the tournament run:
We finish ESL Pro League Season 23 in second place. Thank you to everyone who supported us — one day it will happen.
Despite the loss, Aurora’s players emphasized that the team had given everything during the final.
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NAVI return to the top
For NAVI, the ESL Pro League Season 23 victory marks another major title for the organization and confirms their return among the top contenders in international Counter-Strike. Aurora leave the tournament with a runner-up finish and an impressive playoff run that further establishes them as a serious threat in the Tier-1 scene.
