Team Liquid Crash Into 0-2 Pool at ESL Pro League Season 23 Stage 1 After Gaimin Gladiators Loss

Team Liquid’s ESL Pro League Season 23 (EPL S23) campaign took a dramatic turn, as the North American CS2 squad suffered a 1-2 defeat at the hands of Gaimin Gladiators, sending them into the 0-2 elimination pool and jeopardizing their path to Stage 2. This result compounds Liquid’s struggles after already dropping their opener earlier in the event.

The online Swiss-format group stage of ESL Pro League Season 23 features 24 elite Counter-Strike 2 teams battling for advancement. Each team must win two out of three best-of-threes to reach the next round; losing two pushes squads into the elimination bracket where one more defeat ends their run.

Key Match Results from Day 2

Gaimin Gladiators 2–1 Team Liquid — Liquid falls to 0-2 and faces another must-win series.

Legacy 2–0 G2 Esports — The Brazilian squad upsets G2 and improves to 2-0.

Liquid’s loss was marked by inconsistent performance and struggles from key players, as they were unable to close out pressure situations on crucial rounds.

What This Means for Liquid

Liquid now sit with a 0-2 record in EPL S23 Stage 1, joining other notable teams like Ninjas in Pyjamas and NRG in the elimination bracket — one loss away from being knocked out.

They will now face SemperFi in a high-stakes elimination match, where only a win will keep their hopes of advancing to Stage 2 alive.

Additional Highlights from ESL Pro League S23

In the Swiss 2-0 pool, Legacy joined teams such as Astralis and PARIVISION with unbeaten records so far.

Passion UA shocked Liquid on Day 1, adding to Liquid’s uphill climb in the competition.

Ninjas in Pyjamas have also fallen to 1-2, putting themselves in a similar do-or-die situation.

Why This Matters for ESL Pro League Season 23 Rankings

With only a limited number of spots available for Stage 2 of EPL S23, every match has increased importance, and early losses can significantly impact a team’s competitive journey. The online stage continues through March 9, 2026, with only the top performers securing advancement.