Astralis Finish Third at ESL Pro League Season 23 as HooXi Says Team “Learned a Lot”

Astralis secured a third-place finish at ESL Pro League Season 23, capping off a deep playoff run that began from the early stages of the tournament. Despite entering through Stage 1, the team fought through the bracket and established itself among the top CS2 teams at the event.

Team captain Rasmus “HooXi” Nielsen praised the squad’s progress after the event:

“We made it through Stage 1 and ended up placing third at EPL. Proud of the team — we learned a lot during the tournament.”

The result marks one of Astralis’ strongest finishes with its current roster and signals steady improvement in the international lineup.

Long Road to the ESL Pro League Playoffs

Astralis had a more demanding path than most playoff teams. Starting in Stage 1, they posted a 3–1 record, defeating teams like HEROIC and Monte to advance further into the competition.

Their momentum carried into the later stages, ultimately reaching the LAN finals in Stockholm, where the top eight teams competed for a share of the $776,000 prize pool.

Dominant Win Over Spirit Highlights Astralis’ Peak Form

One of Astralis’ standout performances came in the quarterfinals, where they defeated Team Spirit 2–0 in convincing fashion.

AWPer Love “phzy” Smidebrant delivered an exceptional showing, leading the server with a dominant performance. HooXi highlighted both tactical preparation and individual form after the match:

“We always had a good take on the tactical side against them. It was all about the shooting.”

phzy also credited the Swedish crowd for boosting his performance:

“You can feel the Swedish support while you’re playing — maybe that’s why I had a life game.”

Aurora End Astralis’ Grand Final Dreams

Astralis’ run was stopped in the semifinals by Aurora, who completed a reverse-style victory after losing the opening map.

Aurora players had already acknowledged Astralis’ rising form ahead of the match. Wicadia noted:

“They’re playing really well individually… we should be careful about them.”

Despite a strong start, Astralis couldn’t maintain consistency across all maps — a recurring theme highlighted by HooXi after the event.

Astralis Defeat FUT to Secure Third Place

In the third-place decider, Astralis overcame FUT Esports in a tight 2–1 series, finishing the match with a strong overtime performance.

Key players stepped up in crucial moments, with Victor “Staehr” Staehr delivering impact rounds late in the series.

HooXi emphasized the team’s confidence under pressure:

“Everyone was not afraid to take initiative, and I think that’s when we play our best.”

HooXi Responds to Criticism and Highlights Team Growth

Following the event, HooXi addressed external criticism and reflected on the team’s development:

“It’s showing that we are doing something right… we still have some way to go, especially consistency.”

He also made it clear that outside opinions do not affect his mindset:

“I know how much work I put in… all the noise outside the server will always be that.”

New Astralis Roster Shows Long-Term Potential

The ESL Pro League result reinforces the upward trajectory of Astralis’ international CS2 roster, featuring additions like phzy and ryu.

Earlier in the season, HooXi stressed the importance of long-term planning:

“Now I can actually think long term… it gives way more motivation.”

This long-term approach appears to be paying off, with Astralis eliminating top teams like FaZe earlier in the tournament.

What’s Next for Astralis?

Astralis are set to continue their season at PGL Bucharest 2026, where they will face another stacked field of top-tier CS2 teams.

With momentum from ESL Pro League Season 23, the team will look to convert deep runs into a championship title.