HOTU’s ESL Pro League Run Ends in Disappointment After Dazzling Start

HOTU’s ESL Pro League Run Ends in Disappointment After Dazzling Start

In a tournament full of surprises, HOTU’s rise in ESL Pro League Season 22 proved to be short-lived. After an electric beginning, the Russian-led squad petered out, exiting Stage 2 with a disappointing 1–3 record following a 0–2 defeat to Natus Vincere. 

From the Upsets to the Exit

HOTU kicked off their campaign boldly, upsetting FURIA in Stage 1 — a result few expected. They followed this with wins over B8 and ENCE, securing a smooth path to Stage 2. 

Their momentum continued at the outset of Stage 2: HOTU stunned the No. 1-ranked The MongolZ in a tight 2–1 match.  As dukefissura explained, the team targeted maps they felt The MongolZ struggled on:

“We wanted The MongolZ because they don’t play well on Overpass and pick Mirage, one of our best maps.” 

In that match, n0rb3r7 stood out, producing 25 kills on Mirage and averaging a 1.29 rating across all maps.

However, the last three matches became the undoing of HOTU’s run. They fell 2–0 to Spirit, Vitality, and finally Natus Vincere, often struggling to even reach double-digit rounds per map. 

Against NaVi:

Ancient: 13–7

Train: 13–9 

That loss sealed their elimination. HOTU’s "machine ran out of steam," as HLTV put it, despite the surprising envelope they pushed earlier in the event. 

A Breakthrough — and a Bittersweet One

While their finish might seem underwhelming, the tournament marks HOTU’s best performance yet on the LAN stage. Their run propelled them from No. 46 in the global standings to No. 25, overtaking Virtus.pro in the process — a symbolic feat given the trajectory of their star player David "n0rb3r7" Danielyan. 

In fact, n0rb3r7 was instrumental to HOTU’s resurgence this season. Reflecting on his return to LAN play after a long absence, he remarked:

“It’s nice to win [against] good teams again on LAN because... [after] nine months on the bench, I was so sad, I really missed LAN CS.” 

“We had one month of preparation before EPL … we’re just playing default, with confidence and preparation against opponents.” 

“Everyone is good … dukefissura, he’s 29 years old, and before, he was an analyst for HOTU. Right now he’s IGLing and fragging.” 

Notably, n0rb3r7 joined HOTU on a short-term loan in September, after having been benched by Virtus.pro earlier in December 2024. 

What Went Wrong — and What’s Next

The decline during Stage 2 was stark. In their final three series, HOTU only managed about seven rounds per map, facing stiff opposition with no room for error.  Their inability to adapt or reset under pressure became costly.

Still, the campaign gives HOTU and its roster a confidence boost. Moving forward, key questions remain:

Will n0rb3r7’s loan be extended or lead to a permanent position?

Can HOTU build upon these upsets and mitigate consistency issues?

Will their newfound ranking momentum translate into future LAN success?

In the short term, Natus Vincere advance to a deciding match in ESL Pro League, while HOTU look ahead, hoping this breakthrough is a springboard rather than a peak