FURIA failed to start successfully in the ESL Pro League Season 22 Stage 1, losing to HOTU with a score of 0:2. On Overpass, chosen by their opponent, FURIA looked uncertain and managed to take only eight rounds (8:13).

On Dust2, their own pick, the situation did not improve—HOTU was stronger again (9:13), finishing the series without extra maps. This result was quite unexpected, especially considering that FURIA had recently won Fissure Playground 2.

The key player of the match was Dmitriy "mizu" Kondratev, who finished the game with a score of 34-29 and an ADR of 92.

This victory means a lot for HOTU, as the team gains valuable experience and VRS points. They are one step closer to the playoffs, having defeated the clear favorites of Stage 1. FURIA, on the other hand, dropped to a 0-1 record in the Swiss system.

ESL Pro League Season 22 takes place from September 28 to October 12. The prize pool will be $850,000. You can follow the progress, results, and schedule of the tournament by clicking on this link.