ESL Impact League Season 8 Finals – Teams Locked In For Final Women’s CS2 Event

ESL Impact League Season 8 Finals – Teams Locked In For Final Women’s CS2 Event

On November 28–30, 2025 the global all-female CS2 circuit reaches its final stop: the ESL Impact League-Season 8 Finals in Stockholm, Sweden. Eight teams have been confirmed for the event, which carries a prize pool of US $223,000 (player share US $123,000; club share US $100,000) and marks the end of the ESL Impact era. 

Confirmed Teams & Road to Stockholm

The attending teams for the finals were revealed in a recent announcement on HLTV .org:

• Shimmer (USA) — Runners-up of Season 7’s LAN final.

• FlyQuest RED (North America) — Qualified through NA group stage with dominant 6–1 and 7–0 records.

• MIBR fe (Brazil) — Represents South America.

• BIG EQUIPA (Europe) — One of the invited/qualified European squads.
  The full roster of eight teams is listed on the event overview.

Event Format and Importance

The finals adopt a GSL-style group stage followed by playoffs:

• 8 teams, split into two groups of four.

• In the group stage matches: opening matches Bo-1, winners matches Bo-1; elimination and decider matches Bo-3.

• Playoffs: Single-elimination bracket, all matches Bo-3.
  Crucially, this event is the final chapter for the ESL Impact League. ESL announced that after Season 8, the circuit will suspend operations, citing economic sustainability concerns despite its contribution to women’s CS2 growth.

Legacy and Significance

Since its inception in 2022, ESL Impact has served as one of the few global platforms exclusively for women in Counter-Strike. The league’s closure following Season 8 represents a pivotal moment for the ecosystem. During its run the circuit helped raise visibility for female players, build teams and put many talents on an international stage. 
With the finals combining regional champions and globally-invited squads, this event stands both as the culmination of the league’s ambitions and as a moment of transition for women’s esports.

What to Watch

• Momentum and pressure: Teams like Shimmer and FlyQuest RED bring strong credentials; how they handle the final LAN stage will speak to readiness under pressure.

• Regional balance: With participants from Europe, North America and South America, the event will highlight which region has best developed its female CS2 scene ahead of the league’s end.

• Future of participants: For many players this may be the last major stage under the ESL Impact banner. Organisations and athletes alike will be looking to build opportunities beyond this event.

• Prize & points impact: The $223K prize and Valve Regional Standings (VRS) weight associated with the finals make the results meaningful for club and player reputations.

Final Outlook

As the ESL Impact League draws to a close, the Season 8 Finals are loaded with meaning beyond trophies. They signal both a celebration of what the league achieved and a closing door on a dedicated female CS2 platform. For the eight teams set to compete in Stockholm, the stakes are high—not just in competition but in legacy. The coming days will tell which squads rise to that occasion and which will have to pivot into whatever comes next for women’s Counter-Strike.