MAJ3R eyes revenge against NAVI as Aurora reach ESL Pro League Season 23 grand final

MAJ3R eyes revenge against NAVI as Aurora reach ESL Pro League Season 23 grand final

Aurora captain Engin 'MAJ3R' Küpeli says his team is motivated by the opportunity to face Natus Vincere in the grand final of ESL Pro League Season 23, describing the matchup as a chance to settle unfinished business after their previous defeat to the Ukrainian squad in an earlier EPL championship series.

Aurora secured their place in the title match after defeating Astralis in the semi-finals, continuing a strong tournament run that follows respectable playoff finishes earlier in 2026 at events such as IEM Kraków 2026 and PGL Bucharest 2026. The victory over Astralis guaranteed Aurora at least a second-place finish and put them within reach of their first trophy of the year.

“I feel like it’s revenge”

Speaking to HLTV after the semifinal victory, MAJ3R admitted he was both exhausted and excited following the late-night series. The veteran in-game leader emphasized that the upcoming clash with NAVI carries emotional significance due to the teams’ history.

“I like playing against NAVI… I feel like revenge for when we lost to them in the EPL final,” MAJ3R said after the match.

The Aurora core previously fell short against NAVI in the grand final of ESL Pro League Season 20 in 2024, where the Ukrainian squad edged out the Turkish lineup in a tightly contested series to claim the title. That result has lingered with the team and adds extra motivation ahead of their rematch on the big stage.

Recovering from a difficult map against Astralis

The semifinal against Astralis was far from straightforward. Aurora dropped Nuke despite holding multiple advantageous situations, something MAJ3R acknowledged after the series. According to the captain, the team lost several key rounds on both sides of the map and ultimately allowed Astralis to punish their mistakes.

Despite the setback, MAJ3R believed his squad’s firepower gave them the edge on more aim-heavy battlegrounds. That confidence paid off on Dust2, where Aurora posted a dominant scoreline, and on Inferno, where they managed to close out the series in a tense decider.

Praise for soulfly’s rapid development

The Turkish leader also highlighted the impact of Caner 'soulfly' Kesici, Aurora’s younger rifler, who has quickly adapted to the team since joining the lineup.

MAJ3R described soulfly as a “very intelligent player” who listens carefully and continues to improve rapidly within the squad’s system. His growth has been an important factor in Aurora’s deep run at ESL Pro League.

NAVI’s path to the final

Aurora’s opponent in the championship match, Natus Vincere, secured their own place in the final with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over FUT Esports in the semifinals. The series featured standout performances from Mihai 'iM' Ivan and a decisive ace clutch from Drin 'makazze' Shaqiri, which helped NAVI recover from difficult moments in the match.

The result marks NAVI’s first appearance in a Big Event final since IEM Rio 2024, setting up a high-stakes showdown against Aurora for the EPL Season 23 trophy.

A final loaded with narrative

With Aurora seeking their first title of the year and NAVI returning to a major final, the ESL Pro League Season 23 championship match carries multiple storylines. For MAJ3R and his team, however, one motivation stands above all others: avenging their previous EPL defeat and proving they can overcome one of Counter-Strike’s most consistent elite teams.