NAVI Win ESL Pro League Season 23, B1ad3: “Nice to Lift a Trophy Again After a Long Time”

Natus Vincere claimed the ESL Pro League Season 23 title after defeating Aurora Gaming in the grand final, marking the organization’s first major Counter-Strike 2 trophy in months.

NAVI defeat Aurora to win ESL Pro League Season 23

Natus Vincere (NAVI) are back at the top of the Counter-Strike 2 scene after winning ESL Pro League Season 23. The team defeated Aurora Gaming 3–1 in the grand final to secure the championship and a $100,000 prize.

The final series unfolded across four maps. NAVI started strong on Mirage, winning 13-7. Aurora responded with a narrow 13-11 victory on Anubis, but NAVI regained control on Nuke (13-8) and closed the match on Dust2 (13-9).

Aurora finished second and earned $55,000, while Astralis secured third place and took home $37,500.

The victory marked an important milestone for NAVI, ending a trophy drought at the top tier of Counter-Strike tournaments.

B1ad3 reacts to NAVI’s ESL Pro League victory

After the win, NAVI head coach Andrey “B1ad3” Gorodenskiy shared his reaction to the team lifting the trophy.

“Nice to lift a trophy again after a long time,” B1ad3 said after the final.

The coach also praised the team’s performance throughout the tournament and highlighted the contribution of AWPer w0nderful, who delivered a standout performance in the grand final.

According to B1ad3, the victory was the result of the collective work of the players, analysts, and support staff.

w0nderful shines in the grand final

One of the key figures in NAVI’s triumph was w0nderful, who played a crucial role in the final series against Aurora.

His performance helped NAVI secure decisive rounds on Nuke and Dust2, allowing the team to maintain momentum and close the series.

The strong showing in the final also reinforced NAVI’s reputation as one of the most dangerous teams in the CS2 competitive scene.

NAVI’s road to the ESL Pro League Season 23 final

Before the grand final, NAVI defeated FUT Esports in the semi-finals with a 2-1 scoreline.

The series was intense and included several clutch moments. NAVI player makazze admitted the team made things harder for themselves on one of the maps.

“We trolled on Ancient. It could have been easier. We should have closed it. But sometimes it doesn’t happen,” makazze said after the match.

Despite the difficulties, NAVI managed to secure the victory and advance to the championship match.

On the other side of the bracket, Aurora Gaming reached the final after defeating Astralis in the semi-finals.

makazze celebrates first MVP and major title

Following the grand final victory, makazze shared his excitement about winning the tournament and receiving the MVP award.

“I feel incredible. They played well, but we were hitting very hard too. It was our day, and we just destroyed them,” he said.

The ESL Pro League Season 23 title became makazze’s first MVP medal and his first major trophy since September 2025.

NAVI set their sights on more trophies

Prior to the playoffs, B1ad3 spoke about NAVI’s goals for the season, emphasizing that the team needs to win trophies consistently.

According to the coach, NAVI aim to secure at least one major title during the first half of 2026.

Winning ESL Pro League Season 23 could be the first step toward achieving that goal as the team looks to establish itself once again among the elite of the Counter-Strike 2 scene.