Passion UA’s Senzu Debuts with Upset Win — Liquid, NIP & 3DMAX Shocked on Day 1 of ESL Pro League Season 23 Stage 1

Passion UA’s Senzu Debuts with Upset Win — Liquid, NIP & 3DMAX Shocked on Day 1 of ESL Pro League Season 23 Stage 1

Passion UA made a statement on Day 1 of ESL Pro League Season 23 Stage 1, taking an impressive *2-0 victory over Team Liquid in their first match with newly signed Azbayar “Senzu” Munkhbold. Meanwhile, Ninjas in Pyjamas (NIP) and 3DMAX also suffered opening losses, resulting in a dramatic first day of EPL Swiss stage play.

Full Day 1 EPL S23 Results

Passion UA 2–0 Liquid – Dust2 (13-8), Nuke (19-15)

Legacy 2–1 Ninjas in Pyjamas

paiN 2–1 3DMAX

Other winners included PARIVISION, G2, Astralis, HEROIC, and FUT, as they kicked off the online Swiss portion of EPL Season 23.

Passion UA Upsets Team Liquid – Senzu Steals the Spotlight

In one of the standout EPL S23 matches, Passion UA stunned Team Liquid, shutting out the established North American org in straight maps.

Map Scores:

Dust2 – Passion UA 13:8 Liquid

Nuke – Passion UA 19:15 Liquid (Double OT)

Senzu’s debut performance was a key factor: he finished with a 1.31 rating, 48 kills, and top damage on the server, illustrating a strong launch into competitive play with his new team.

The team’s aggressive plays and clutch rounds — including a three-vs-five comeback into a two-vs-four in the final map — marked one of the more exciting upsets of the day.

On social channels, fans reacted to Passion UA’s performance, celebrating their clean map win and Senzu’s impact on a high-profile match.

Performance Trends: NIP & 3DMAX Follow Suit with Early Losses

Legacy vs Ninjas in Pyjamas

Legacy’s win over NIP came in a tight three-map series. Despite NIP grabbing the second map, their Overpass T-side collapsed 1-11, allowing Legacy to close the decider and hand NIP a 0-1 start in the Swiss bracket.

paiN vs 3DMAX

3DMAX entered ESL Pro League after major coaching and roster changes but couldn’t secure a win against paiN. paiN pulled ahead in overtime on the third map, leaving 3DMAX at 0-1 on the first day.

What This Means for the EPL S23 Outlook

Day 1 of ESL Pro League Season 23 Stage 1 already delivered key narratives:

Passion UA’s Surprise Momentum – Their 1-0 start and Senzu debut have immediately elevated them as dark horses in the Swiss stage.
Team Liquid’s Rough Start – Losing 0-2 places Liquid in early elimination danger in the Swiss group.
NIP and 3DMAX Need Bounce-Back Wins – Both established sides must respond quickly in their second round to avoid a deep 0-2 Swiss deficit.