ESL Pro League S22 — Stage 1: Day Two Matchups Confirmed

ESL Pro League S22 — Stage 1: Day Two Matchups Confirmed

The second round of ESL Pro League Season 22 – Stage 1 is set, with matchups released for September 29. While no teams will yet be eliminated or promoted purely from these matches, the results are particularly crucial for squads like Gentle Mates and ENCE, who are vying for spots at the StarLadder Budapest Major. 

Key Matches & Stakes

Gentle Mates (1-0) will face G2 Esports (1-0) in the 1-0 pool — a challenging test after Gentle Mates upset HEROIC in their opening match. 

ENCE (1-0) will take on Astralis (1-0) in another 1-0 bracket.

In the 0-1 pool, the slate includes FURIA vs Fluxo, 3DMAX vs Rooster, NRG vs Legacy, and HEROIC vs M80. 

This stage employs a Swiss-style format: all matches are best-of-three, and the top 8 of the 16 teams will advance to Stage 2. 

Additionally, two last-minute roster changes were made: ENCE replaced Virtus.pro in the tournament.

Recap: Day One Highlights

Gentle Mates pulled off a surprise 2–1 victory over HEROIC, taking full advantage of their late invitation. 

ENCE, likewise, started strong by defeating M80 in their opener. 

HOTU stunned FURIA, marking one of the day’s more eye-catching upsets.

Inner Circle debuted with a win over 3DMAX. 

These results thrust several underdogs into favorable positions going into Round 2. 

Match Previews & Odds

G2 vs Gentle Mates

G2 enters as a strong favorite, with odds putting them at around 1.18 versus Gentle Mates’ 6.60 in some markets.  Bookmakers and predictions largely lean toward G2: eGamersWorld gives Gentle Mates only about a 17% chance of winning. 

Astralis vs ENCE

Astralis is similarly favored — odds place them near 1.40–1.50, while ENCE is closer to 2.90 in some analytic overviews. Astralis’ map strengths and recent form give them an edge in analysis.

Broader Context & Implications

Because each team is fighting for VRS points (which factor into Major invitations), even early-stage matches carry extra weight. 

With only 8 of the 16 starting teams advancing past Stage 1, every match is high stakes. 

Gentle Mates are making full use of their late invitation — their upset over HEROIC underscores their hunger to prove themselves.

Meanwhile, ENCE’s performance is under the spotlight, as many see them as dark horses in the Major qualification race.