NAVI move past FUT to reach EPL Season 23 final

Natus Vincere booked their place in the grand final of ESL Pro League Season 23 after defeating FUT Esports 2–1 in a tense semifinal series. The match delivered a mixture of dominant stretches, clutch moments, and momentum swings before NAVI ultimately secured the decider to advance to the championship match.

The victory sends the Ukrainian organization to their first grand final at a top-tier event since IEM Rio 2024, marking an important milestone for Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen’s squad as they continue to rebuild their presence among Counter-Strike’s elite.

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Strong start on Mirage

The series began on Mirage, where NAVI delivered a commanding performance. Their defense quickly set the tone, building a large advantage and limiting FUT’s opportunities to gain momentum.

By halftime NAVI had already established control, and they closed the map comfortably 13–5, demonstrating sharp team coordination and individual impact across the lineup.

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FUT punish mistakes on Ancient

The second map, Ancient, proved far more competitive. NAVI initially looked poised to close the series quickly after gaining an 8–4 lead, but the Turkish side mounted a strong comeback on the T side.

FUT capitalized on several key clutch rounds to flip the momentum, gradually dismantling NAVI’s defensive setups and eventually securing the map 13–11 to force a decider.

After the match, NAVI’s Drin “makazze” Shaqiri admitted the team allowed the map to slip away:

“We trolled on Ancient… we should have closed it.”

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makazze clutch swings the decider

The deciding map, Dust2, initially went FUT’s way as they raced to a 6–2 lead. However, NAVI regained control thanks to a crucial highlight moment from makazze, who delivered a heroic ace clutch that reignited his team’s momentum.

From there NAVI stabilized the game, shutting down FUT’s attacks and pulling away to win the map 13–7, sealing the series 2–1.

Romanian rifler iM was widely considered one of the standout performers in the match, helping NAVI maintain impact throughout the series.

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A reunion against former academy players

The semifinal also carried a unique narrative. FUT’s lineup features several former NAVI Junior players, including makazze’s former teammates, turning the series into a matchup between the main roster and a group of players who once represented the organization’s academy program.

FUT entered the semifinal after a breakthrough victory against MOUZ in the quarter-finals, where the Turkish side upset the European contenders in a closely contested three-map series to reach the last four.

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Road to the final

NAVI’s path through ESL Pro League Season 23 included several ups and downs. Earlier in the tournament they suffered a loss to Legacy during Stage 2, but recovered in the following matches to secure a playoff spot and eventually reach the semifinals.

With the victory over FUT, NAVI now advance to the grand final, where they will face the winner of the semifinal between Astralis and Aurora Gaming.

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Series result — ESL Pro League Season 23 Semifinal

• Mirage: NAVI 13–5 FUT

• Ancient: FUT 13–11 NAVI

• Dust2: NAVI 13–7 FUT

Final score: NAVI 2–1 FUT.