5 Best Campaigns in ESL Pro League History, Ranked

In Counter-Strike, the ESL Pro League has always been one of the most prestigious tournaments where legends are crowned. Over the seasons, we have observed multiple team dominations, underdogs breaking through and making a name in the industry. The previous 21 editions have also witnessed numerous legendary plays and moments.

These legendary runs remain in the hearts of Counter-Strike fans for the history they added to the game. From Natus Vincere's unparalleled domination to Cloud9's emotional win, these campaigns not only brought home trophies but also shaped eras in Counter-Strike 2. With ESL Pro League 2025, teams are fighting for one more opportunity at the trophy. Let's take a look at some of the ESL Pro League best campaigns.

ESL Pro League Best Campaigns: Top 5 Ranked

The previous 21 editions of ESL Pro League have crowned several top talents in Counter-Strike. From Astralis' back-to-back triumph against Team Liquid to Na'Vi winning the Grand Slam, this storied ESL tournament has seen it all. Today, we will take a deeper dive into some of those memorable runs as we await the 22nd season's arrival.

Natus Vincere | Season 14

Natus Vincere's 2021 achievement at ESL Pro League Season 14 can easily be listed as one of the best modern campaigns in Counter-Strike. After putting together their dream roster with S1mple, B1T, and Electr0nic kicking into gear, NAVI smashed through the tournament without dropping a series. They defeated Team Vitality in the Grand Finals. What made the victory more iconic was that it clinched them the Intel Grand Slam, one of the hardest accomplishments in Counter Strike.

Cloud9 | Season 4

Cloud9’s win at ESL Pro League Season 4 in 2016 was a historic moment for North American Counter-Strike. After being viewed as underdogs for years by European teams, Cloud9 became the first NA team to win on the big stage.

The roster, including Shroud, Stewie2K, n0thing, autimatic, and Skadoodle, fought their way through the playoffs. Over the entire tournament, they provided nail-biting performances that had fans on the edge of their seats. In the final, they defeated SK Gaming, whom they had lost to in the group stage. This win had added more legacy to Michael “Shroud” Grzesiek's career, as it turned out to be his largest title in professional CS before moving on to streaming.

Heroic | Season 13

Adding further to our iconic ESL campaigns involves the Heroic season 13 campaign. In the grand final against Gambit, with the match hanging in the balance, Casper "cadiaN" Møller secured a legendary 1v4 clutch on Mirage that went immediately viral in the esports scene.

They delivered under immense pressure, silenced their critics, and showed they belonged among elite teams. HEROIC's victory was the passing of the torch for Danish Counter-Strike, with the legacy of Astralis left behind. The cadiaN clutch will now be remembered as an incredibly defining play in the ESL Pro League for many years to come.

SK Gaming | Season 6

SK Gaming has always been a consistent name among top teams in ESL history. In 2017, Brazil was by far the strongest region for CS:GO, and at the centre was SK Gaming, under the leadership of Fallen and Marcelo “coldzera” David, who was playing at a peak level. Their ESL Pro League Season 6 victory in Odense was a highlight of the Brazilian golden era of Counter-Strike. Coldzera, in particular, showcased why he was, at least to some people and at that time, the best player in the world. The team's entire run rested on coldzera’s consistent individual performance, combined with their tactical sharp plays.

Astralis | Season 8

Probably one of the most interesting redemption stories of ESL history. Astralis won ESL Pro League Season 8 by defeating their arch-rival Team Liquid. Interestingly, at that time, Liquid was hunting Astralis relentlessly.

There was nothing truly historical about the game, apart from the fact that Astralis had defended their ESL Pro League title for a second consecutive season.

This was more than just defeating Liquid on their home turf; this was destroying their momentum, proving their system and synergy were still unbeaten. Powered once more by the strategy of gla1ve and the sharpshooting of Dev1ce, Astralis prevailed once again. Also, check out Dev1ce's CS2 pro settings on our official website.

ESL Pro League Defending Champions and 2025 Favourites

As we approach the ESL Pro League 2025 tournament, there seems to be newfound parity in the competition. The defending champions, Team Vitality, will once again be heavy favourites owing to their consistency with ZywOo, as well as their depth of experience in the current roster. That said, the favourites somehow don't seem to stop there. G2 Esports, MongolZ and Team Spirit also enter the season with a bang after their success in international tournaments.