Monte Triumph at DreamHack Knockout Stockholm — Secure ESL Pro League S23 Berth

Monte Triumph at DreamHack Knockout Stockholm — Secure ESL Pro League S23 Berth

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Monte’s Road to ESL Pro League S23

At the conclusion of DreamHack Knockout Stockholm 2025, Monte emerged victorious, defeating FUT 2-1 in the grand final and securing a coveted invite to ESL Pro League Season 23 Stage 1. 

Final Match Summary

• The grand final began on Nuke — Monte’s map pick. The map was tight throughout regulation, with both teams posting 6-6 halves before FUT edged out a 16-14 win in overtime.

• On Ancient, Monte initially built a commanding 9-3 lead on the attacking side. FUT’s chances looked alive when they rallied to lead 10-9, powered by strong play from FUT’s standout youngster. However, Monte regrouped and closed the map 13-10, forcing a decider.

• The decider on Dust2 favored Monte from the start — they dominated with an 8-2 CT half and sealed the map 13-6 to win the series.

Key Performers

• On Nuke, Monte’s win-maker was Dmytro "dem0n" Myroshnychenko (FUT), who posted a rating of 1.81, 103 ADR, and 31 kills across 30 rounds — the highest on the server that map.

• On Dust2, Aurimas "Bymas" Pipiras delivered a standout performance for Monte, finishing with a 1.49 rating and leading his team to victory.

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Event Context & Significance

DreamHack Knockout Stockholm 2025 was a BYOC-style LAN featuring 16+ teams, with a $10,000 prize pool. Beyond the cash prize, the main reward was a direct berth to ESL Pro League S23.

For Monte — currently ranked #60 in the world — this victory marks a major milestone. Their lineup (Bymas, afro, ryu, Gizmy & AZUWU) has proven that they can compete under pressure. 

As a result:

• Monte earns $5,000 and the Pro League invite.

• FUT takes $3,000 as runner-up.

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What’s Next

With the win, Monte’s next stop is ESL Pro League Season 23 Stage 1, scheduled for February 27 to March 3, 2026. 
This will be a crucial test — Monte will join a stacked field of 16 teams and face higher-tier competition under the Swiss-format Bo3 group stage. 

For FUT, while the finals loss hurts, the performance (especially by dem0n and their young core) shows promise — they could be one to watch in upcoming tournaments.