Look Sports Media – The ESL FACEIT Group has unveiled significant format adjustments for ESL Pro League Season 24, marking a triumphant return to Katowice, Poland, for a fully-fledged LAN event. This announcement signals a shift in strategy, prioritizing the live audience experience and the prestige of the Katowice venue.
The most notable change is a reduction in the number of participating teams, slimming down from 24 to a more streamlined 16. ESL Pro League Season 24 is scheduled to ignite the competition from October 3rd to 11th, promising a concentrated dose of high-octane Counter-Strike action.
This move back to Katowice, specifically the iconic Spodek Arena, is a major win for fans, as it represents the first Pro League to feature arena playoffs since 2019. The announcement arrives on the heels of the news that IEM Katowice, a staple event, will be relocating to Krakow in 2026 and rebranded IEM Krakow.
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Unlike recent Pro League seasons that relied on online qualifiers for Stages 1 and 2, ESL Pro League Season 24 will be entirely hosted in Katowice. While ESL aims to capture the spirit of IEM Katowice in Krakow, the "Hall of Heroes" concept, which celebrates past champions, will not be present in Katowice.
In Season 24, the top eight teams will emerge from a single, all-Best-of-3 Swiss Stage, advancing directly to an eight-team, single-elimination playoff bracket. The playoffs will span three days, from October 9th to 11th, with a packed Friday featuring four Best-of-3 matches for the Katowice crowd. The Grand Final will maintain the traditional Best-of-5 format.
These changes result in a condensed schedule, with ESL Pro League Season 24 occupying just two weeks, compared to the three weeks required for Season 23.
Prize Pool, Invites, and Dates:
- Prize Pool: $300,000 + $700,000 Club Share
- First Place: $125,000 + $170,000 Club Share
- Dates:
- Group Stage: October 3-7
- Playoffs: October 9-11
- Invite Parameters: Global Invite VRS 1-12 + Winners of regional ESL Challenger League S51 (Europe, North America, South America, and Asia)
ESL has emphasized that these format changes are specific to Season 24, stating, "These changes only relate to Season 24 for now, we will continue to explore options for future seasons of ESL Pro League. This includes gathering community feedback, interfacing with participating teams and players, and ultimately what makes for an exciting competition in the end."
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