ESL Pro League Season 3 (shortened as EPL Season 3) was an Electronic Sports League Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament. It was the third season of the ESL Pro League. The Finals took place in London, United Kingdom from May 11 to May 15, 2016. Europe's regular season began on February 9, with Astralis beating Natus Vincere and ended with Ninjas in Pyjamas defeating G2 Esports. North America's season started with Renegades defeating Enemy (which later signed with Selfless Gaming) and ended with Team Liquid defeating Splyce The finals concluded with Luminosity Gaming defeating G2 Esports in a close best of five grand finals, which many consider to be a classic. Teams from two continents, North America and Europe competed in twelve team leagues and play against each other twice to determine the top four teams from each continent that would play in the Finals. The finals will offer a prize pool of US$510,000.
Format Each continent featured the top nine teams from last season's ESL Pro League Season 2, two teams from the ESL Pro League Season 2 Relegation, and one team from the Wild Card. Teams within each continent will play each other twice to determine the top four qualifier to the Finals in London. There will be a total of nine weeks in this phase of the tournament. All games in the preliminaries will be played online.
The top four teams after the conclusion of the regular season moved on to London to play in the Finals; in addition, those teams were invited to next season's ESL Pro League. Teams that placed fifth to eleventh place did not make the Finals, but were invited to next season's ESL Pro League. The teams in 12th place were required to play in Season 3's Relegation match, in which two teams from each continent play to see which team moves on to next season's ESL Pro League
The Finals consisted of eight teams, four from Europe and four from North America. These teams were separated into two groups – the first and third seeds from North America and the second and fourth seeds from Europe will be in one group and the other teams in the other group. The group stage consisted of the highest seed going against the lowest seed and the middle two seeds against each other, both games in a best of one format. The winners will play in a best of one to determine one team in the Playoffs; the losers will play in a best of three to determine which team gets eliminated from the tournament. The remaining two teams will play in a best of three to determine which team will be the second team in the group to move on to the Playoffs. In the Playoffs, the semifinals will be a best of three and the finals will be a best of five. The winner of the finals will win the tournament and the top prize. All games in the Finals were played offline.
Teams North America
Luminosity Gaming (Season 2 Top 9) Team Liquid (Season 2 Top 9) OpTic Gaming (Season 2 Top 9) Cloud9 (Season 2 Top 9) compLexity Gaming (Season 2 Top 9) Splyce (Season 2 Top 9) Selfless Gaming (Season 2 Top 9) Counter Logic Gaming (Season 2 Top 9) KKona (Season 2 Top 9) Winterfox (Season 2 Relegation) NRG eSports (Season 2 Relegation) Renegades (Wild Card) Europe
Astralis (Season 2 Top 9) Fnatic (Season 2 Top 9) Natus Vincere (Season 2 Top 9) Team EnVyUs (Season 2 Top 9) G2 Esports (Season 2 Top 9) Team Dignitas (Season 2 Top 9) Ninjas in Pyjamas (Season 2 Top 9) mousesports (Season 2 Top 9) Virtus.pro (Season 2 Top 9) SK Gaming (Season 2 Relegation) FlipSid3 Tactics (Season 2 Relegation) FaZe Clan (Wild Card)
North America
Broadcast Talent Commentators Cory "megaman" Gilbert John "BLU" Mullen Jason "moses" O'Toole
Final standings Final Standings Place Prize Money TeamW-LRF-RARDPts RosterCoach 1st TBD Luminosity Gaming 18-4 304-223 +81 54 FalleN, coldzera, TACO, fnx, fer zews 2nd TBD Cloud9 16-6 306-229 +77 48 n0thing, Stewie2k, Skadoodle, fREAKAZOiD, shroud lrukandji 3rd TBD OpTic Gaming 15-7 311-211 +100 45 daps, NAF, stanislaw, RUSH, mixwell 4th TBD Team Liquid 14-8 321-245 +76 42 Hiko, nitr0, EliGE, koosta, adreN, s1mple 5th 27,000 NRG eSports 14-8 291-259 +32 42 ptr, just9n, Silent3m, gob b, LEGIJA 6th 23,500 Selfless Gaming 13-9 305-260 +45 39 MAiNLiNE, Relyks, Nifty, mitch, Lucky, Uber Ryu 7th 20,000 Renegades 13-9 287-249 +38 39 AZR, jks, Yam, USTILO, SPUNJ peekay 8th 16,500 Winterfox 11-11 246-271 -25 33 LeX, anger, flowsicK, hades, Xp3 paradox 9th 13,000 Splyce 8-14 226-297 -71 24 arya, abE, Professor_Chaos, jasonR, DAVEY 10th 9,500 Counter Logic Gaming 5-17 220-333 -113 15 reltuC, jdm64, hazed, FugLy, tarik pita 11th 6,000 compLexity Gaming 4-18 257-346 -89 12 witmer, Uber, androidx23 Surreal, dephh Warden 12th 3,500 KKona 1-21 199-350 -151 3 inVert, rooRoooo, vice, dayV1D, OCEAN, els
Scores
Results Liquid LG OpTic CLG coL Cloud9 Splyce Selfless KKona WFX NRG RNG Liquid 13-1611-16 16-1016-12 16-522-19 8-1616-14 16-816-5 14-1616-4 9-1616-11 16-116-1 16-811-16 14-1616-12 11-1616-7 LG 16-1316-11 F-WF-W1 16-916-12 16-216-9 13-1616-7 16-1116-8 16-1416-6 16-1316-5 16-113-16 16-316-9 16-316-13 OpTic 10-1612-16 W-FW-F1 16-716-7 16-1016-4 16-1316-7 16-416-6 10-1614-16 16-1016-11 16-56-16 10-1616-8 16-79-16 CLG 5-1619-22 9-1612-16 7-167-16 19-1716-10 12-165-16 8-1613-16 16-126-16 16-616-10 10-1613-16 F-WF-W1 5-166-16 coL 16-814-16 2-169-16 10-164-16 17-1910-16 15-192-16 7-1616-14 16-1213-16 22-188-16 12-1614-16 13-1613-16 11-1613-16 Cloud9 8-165-16 16-137-16 13-167-16 16-1216-5 19-1516-2 16-716-5 16-104-16 16-916-4 16-716-3 16-1216-5 19-1616-8 Splyce 14-164-16 11-168-16 4-166-16 16-816-13 16-714-16 7-165-16 5-1611-16 16-1216-6 16-23-16 16-1110-16 4-166-16 Selfless 16-911-16 14-166-16 16-1016-14 12-1616-6 12-1616-13 10-1616-4 16-516-11 16-1116-11 10-1616-5 16-710-16 12-1610-16 KKona 1-161-16 13-165-16 10-1611-16 6-1610-16 18-2216-8 9-164-16 12-166-16 11-1611-16 7-166-16 10-1614-16 6-1612-16 WFX 8-1616-11 11-1616-3 5-1616-6 16-1016-13 16-1216-14 7-163-16 2-1616-3 16-105-16 16-716-6 10-1612-16 4-163-16 NRG 16-1412-16 3-169-16 16-108-16 W-FW-F1 11-1616-10 12-165-16 16-1412-16 16-716-10 16-1016-14 16-1016-12 16-216-13 RNG 16-117-16 3-1613-16 7-1616-9 16-516-6 16-1116-13 16-198-16 16-416-6 16-1210-16 16-616-12 16-416-3 2-1613-16 1Luminosity Gaming and Counter Logic Gaming forfeited their matches against OpTic Gaming and NRG eSports, respectively, since both teams were attending DreamHack Masters Malmö 2016 in Sweden.
Europe
Broadcast Talent Commentators Anders Blume Joona "natu" Leppänen Mitch "Uber" Leslie Auguste "Semmler" Massonnat Jason "moses" O'Toole Lauren "Pansy" Scott Niels Christian "NaToSaphiX" Sillassen Matthew "Sadokist" Trivett Analysts Chad "SPUNJ" Burchill Halvor "vENdetta" Gulestøl Janko "YNk" Paunović Leigh "Deman" Smith Observer Alex "Rushly" Rush
Final standings Final Standings Place Prize Money TeamW-LRF-RARDPts RosterCoach 1st TBD Ninjas in Pyjamas 19-3 346-209 +137 57 GeT RiGhT, , Xizt, friberg, THREAT 2nd TBD Astralis 16-6 316-233 +83 48 , karrigan, Xyp9x, dupreeh, zonic 3rd TBD Fnatic 15-7 308-251 +57 45 flusha, olofmeister, JW, , KRiMZ 4th TBD G2 Esports 14-8 306-263 +43 42 , , Rpk, SmithZz, ScreaM 5th 27,000 Natus Vincere 14-8 304-291 +13 42 Zeus, Edward, , , GuardiaN 6th 23,500 Team Dignitas 11-11 264-293 -29 33 Kjaerbye, , Magiskb0Y, MSL, RUBINO 7th 20,000 FaZe Clan 10-12 308-280 +28 30 , , , , kioShiMa RobbaN 8th 16,500 mousesports 9-13 302-321 -19 27 , nex Spiidi, , NiKo 9th 13,000 Team EnVyUs 7-15 275-318 -43 21 kennyS, Happy, , DEVIL, NBK- Maniac 10th 9,500 SK Gaming 7-15 263-347 -84 21 Friis, AcilioN, Magiskb0Y, Pimp, MODDII 11th 6,000 FlipSid3 Tactics 6-16 240-308 -68 18 Blad3, , Shara, WorldEdit, 12th 3,500 Virtus.pro 4-18 233-351 -118 12 TaZ, NEO, , Snax,
Scores
Results Astralis Fnatic Na'Vi EnVyUs G2 Dig NiP mouz VP SK F3 FaZe Astralis 16-519-22 16-1314-16 16-107-16 16-108-16 16-1116-5 8-164-16 16-1216-4 16-316-11 16-716-5 16-716-7 16-1216-9 Fnatic 5-1622-19 16-1113-16 16-45-16 16-516-7 16-616-5 6-1616-10 16-417-19 16-1216-9 16-1116-6 16-1316-14 6-1610-16 Na'Vi 13-1616-14 11-1616-13 16-1116-7 19-163-16 16-1416-3 16-1310-16 16-1010-16 16-916-12 7-1612-16 16-128-16 19-1616-12 EnVyUs 10-1616-7 4-1616-5 11-167-16 11-1612-16 14-167-16 10-163-16 19-228-16 20-2216-13 22-1916-6 16-916-7 14-167-16 G2 10-1616-8 5-167-16 16-1916-3 16-1116-12 16-610-16 16-1310-16 16-1310-16 14-1616-6 16-516-13 16-1216-7 16-1316-10 Dig 11-165-16 6-165-16 14-163-16 16-1416-7 6-1616-10 8-168-16 19-1616-10 16-516-14 25-2316-2 16-316-7 16-97-16 NiP 16-816-4 16-610-16 13-1616-10 16-1016-3 13-1616-10 16-816-8 19-1516-14 16-216-11 16-819-16 16-416-8 16-716-9 mouz 12-164-16 4-1619-17 10-1616-10 22-1916-8 13-1616-10 16-1910-16 15-1914-16 16-515-19 16-811-16 12-1613-16 16-1416-13 VP 3-1611-16 12-169-16 9-1612-16 22-2013-16 16-146-16 5-1614-16 2-1611-16 5-1615-19 11-1612-16 16-146-16 9-1610-16 SK 7-165-16 11-166-16 16-716-12 19-226-16 13-166-16 23-252-16 8-1616-19 8-1616-11 16-1116-12 10-1616-13 25-233-16 F3 7-167-16 13-1614-16 16-128-16 9-167-16 12-167-16 16-37-16 4-168-16 16-1216-13 14-1616-6 16-1013-16 8-162-16 FaZe 12-169-16 16-616-10 17-1912-16 16-1416-7 13-1610-16 9-1616-7 7-169-16 14-1613-16 16-916-10 23-2516-3 16-816-2
Finals The finalized teams are shown below. Each team's world ranking for May 11, 2016 is also shown.
North America Luminosity Gaming (1) Cloud9 (15) OpTic Gaming (24) Team Liquid (9) Europe Ninjas in Pyjamas (5) Astralis (4) Fnatic (3) G2 Esports (19) Broadcast Talent Host Oliver James "OJ Borg" Borg D'Anastasi Desk Host Alex "Machine" Richardson Commentators Anders Blume Henry "HenryG" Greer Auguste "Semmler" Massonnat John "BLU" Mullen Jason "moses" O'Toole Lauren "Pansy" Scott Matthew" Sadokist" Trivett Analyst Janko "YNk" Paunović Observers Heather "sapphiRe" Garrozo Alex "Rushly" Rush
Group stage
Group A PosTeamWLRFRARDPts 1 G2 Esports 2 0 32 19 +13 6 2 Luminosity Gaming 2 1 85 82 +3 6 3 OpTic Gaming 1 2 48 55 -7 3 4 Astralis 0 2 48 57 -9 0
Group A Matches Astralis 0 1 OpTic Gaming Luminosity Gaming 0 1 G2 Esports OpTic Gaming 0 1 G2 Esports Luminosity Gaming 2 1 Astralis OpTic Gaming 0 2 Luminosity Gaming
Group A Scores Team Score Map Score Team Astralis 7 Inferno 16 OpTic Gaming Luminosity Gaming 12 Train 16 G2 Esports OpTic Gaming 7 Cobblestone 16 G2 Esports Luminosity Gaming 9 Dust II 16 Astralis Luminosity Gaming 16 Overpass 12 Astralis Luminosity Gaming 16 Train 13 Astralis OpTic Gaming 12 Inferno 16 Luminosity Gaming OpTic Gaming 13 Overpass 16 Luminosity Gaming OpTic Gaming Cobblestone Luminosity Gaming
Group B PosTeamWLRFRARDPts 1 Ninjas in Pyjamas 2 0 38 27 +11 6 2 Fnatic 2 1 57 45 +12 6 3 Team Liquid 1 2 72 80 -8 3 4 Cloud9 0 2 36 51 -15 0
Group B Matches Cloud9 0 1 Fnatic Ninjas in Pyjamas 1 0 Team Liquid Ninjas in Pyjamas 1 0 Fnatic Cloud9 0 2 Team Liquid Fnatic 2 0 Team Liquid
Group B Scores Team Score Map Score Team Cloud9 10 Inferno 16 Fnatic Ninjas in Pyjamas 22 Dust II 18 Team Liquid Ninjas in Pyjamas 16 Train 9 Fnatic Cloud9 16 Dust II 19 Team Liquid Cloud9 10 Cobblestone 16 Team Liquid Cloud9 Cache Team Liquid Fnatic 16 Mirage 13 Team Liquid Fnatic 16 Cache 6 Team Liquid Fnatic Overpass Team Liquid
Playoffs
Bracket
Semifinals Semifinals Team Score Map Score Team G2 Esports 14 Inferno 16 Fnatic G2 Esports 16 Cache 8 Fnatic G2 Esports 16 Train 12 Fnatic Ninjas in Pyjamas 4 Overpass 16 Luminosity Gaming Ninjas in Pyjamas 16 Dust II 8 Luminosity Gaming Ninjas in Pyjamas 10 Cobblestone 16 Luminosity Gaming
Finals Finals Team Score Map Score Team G2 Esports 16 Overpass 10 Luminosity Gaming G2 Esports 13 Train 16 Luminosity Gaming G2 Esports 16 Cobblestone 10 Luminosity Gaming G2 Esports 11 Dust II 16 Luminosity Gaming G2 Esports 16 Inferno 19 Luminosity Gaming
Finals Standings Final Standings Place Prize Money Team 1st 200,000 Luminosity Gaming 2nd 90,000 G2 Esports 3rd 4th 44,000 Ninjas in Pyjamas Fnatic 5th 6th 36,000 OpTic Gaming Team Liquid 7th 8th 31,000 Astralis Cloud9
References