The playoffs of ESL Pro League Season 21 kick off on March 13 and run through March 16. Eight strong teams will compete in a single-elimination bracket, with quarterfinals and semifinals played as best-of-three matches, while the grand final is a best-of-five. The prize pool totals $250,000, with the champion earning $100,000 for players and an additional $150,000 for their club.

Playoffs Prize Breakdown

• 1st Place: $100,000 (Players) + $150,000 (Club)
• 2nd Place: $50,000 (Players) + $75,000 (Club)
• 3rd-4th Place: $25,000 (Players) + $55,000 (Club)
• 5th-8th Place: $18,000 (Players) + $40,000 (Club)

Underdogs

Liquid and G2 are considered the biggest underdogs heading into the playoffs. Liquid had a difficult journey, managing victories only over weaker opponents like FURIA, Eternal Fire, and 3DMAX. Their unstable performance indicates that simply making it to the playoffs is already an achievement.

G2's situation is similar. They secured wins against weaker teams such as paiN, SAW, and GamerLegion but struggled against stronger competitors like NAVI and The MongolZ. Their star player, Ilya "m0NESY" Osipov, has carried them so far, but deeper success in the playoffs seems unlikely unless the entire team improves significantly.

Teams facing challenges

MOUZ, G2's quarterfinal opponent, has shown mixed results. They performed well against teams like Liquid, Falcons, and FURIA but failed dramatically against top-tier team Vitality. While individually talented, especially Ádám "torzsi" Torzsás and new captain Ludvig "Brollan" Brolin, they lack strategic consistency. Their ability to progress will depend heavily on tactical improvements.

Eternal Fire and The MongolZ also face challenging quarterfinal matches. Eternal Fire, despite reaching playoffs consistently this year, faces Spirit—one of the strongest teams currently. Star player İsmailcan "XANTARES" Dörtkardeş has struggled recently, raising concerns about their playoff chances.

The MongolZ have displayed resilience, including an impressive comeback against G2, but their individual form remains inconsistent. Usukhbayar "910" Banzragch, their AWPer, has notably underperformed. Despite Azbayar "Senzu" Munkhbold’s strong form, the rest of the team needs to step up significantly. Their match against NAVI will be difficult, given NAVI's strength and recent form.

NAVI: Potential Contender

NAVI enters the playoffs showing signs of improvement. After early struggles this year, NAVI found better form, securing significant victories against teams like G2 and paiN. Although they lost unexpectedly to SAW, they remain a strong team capable of making deep runs. A lot will depend on their AWPer, Ihor "w0nderful" Zhdanov. Given their prior convincing 2-0 victory over The MongolZ at IEM Katowice 2025, NAVI is favored to reach at least the semifinals.

Clear Favorites: Vitality and Spirit

The strongest contenders for the title are undoubtedly Vitality and Spirit, both undefeated in this tournament stage. Vitality has maintained an impressive winning streak, including a recent 3-0 final victory over Spirit at IEM Katowice 2025. Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut and Robin "ropz" Kool are in outstanding form, giving Vitality immense firepower.

Spirit is equally dominant, with star player Danil "donk" Kryshkovets performing exceptionally. Spirit has not lost a single map so far and benefits from an easier playoff bracket compared to Vitality, who might face NAVI in the semifinals. A repeat of the Vitality vs. Spirit final seems highly probable, setting the stage for an exciting rematch.

The ESL Pro League Season 21 Playoffs promise thrilling matches and intense competition as teams battle for glory and significant prize money.