ESL Pro League Season 18 Betting | Bet on CSGO with Rivalry

History is in the making as ESL Pro League Season 18 is the next big CS:GO Tier 1 event on the calendar, just before CS2's highly-anticipated release. It's the end of an era, but which team will claim the crown this time around?

The ESL Pro League tournament is a bi-annual event reserved for the Spring and Fall of each competitive year, meaning there's plenty of excitement and, of course, plenty of betting opportunities as 32 teams compete in this exciting tournament.

That's where Rivalry joins the party! We're proud to be the first esports betting platform designed by esports lovers for fellow fans. We've got you covered for all of your ESL Pro League betting needs, from live-betting action and competitive betting odds to even Same Game Parlays and welcome bonuses like free bets!

Have fun alongside your favorite CS:GO teams, and bag a jackpot today. Read on for the tournament's format, our favorite teams, and expert betting tips.

What is the ESL Pro League?

The ESL Pro League is a Counter-Strike: Global Offensive professional esports league produced by the Electronic Sports League, otherwise known as ESL. The ESL Pro League is considered the pinnacle of CS:GO esports, bringing tons of viewers with every televised/live-streamed tournament.

ESL Pro League is based on four regions: Europe, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. Usually, around 24-32 participating teams are decided through regional qualifiers and the official ESL World Rankings. The prize pool for ESL events is usually on a grand scale - ESL Pro League Season 18 overall prize pool is currently $850,000, with the lion's share of $200,000 going to the winning team.

The inaugural season of the ESL began on May 5, 2015. Two permanent partner teams hold the most titles, Fnatic and Astralis. The most recent champions were FaZe Clan in ESL Pro League Season 17, earlier in 2023, with Cloud9 and Natus Vincere as the runners-up.

ESL Pro League Season 18: Format

The ESL Pro League S18 format is divided into two stages, the Group Stage and Playoffs, kicking off from August 30 until October 1. 

32 teams will compete in the initial group stage, divided into four triple-elimination format groups. All matches will be best-of-three. 

The top four teams from each group will advance to the playoffs. Games will be played in a single-elimination bracket, with best-of-three matches. The Grand Final itself will be a best-of-five. The winners take home the lion's share, $200,000, of the prize money and get automatic invites to IEM Katowice and the BLAST World Final 2023.

ESL Pro League Season 18: Competing Teams

A whopping 32 teams will participate in the ESL Pro League Season 18 with top CS:GO talents from across the world. 15 of these teams are Permanent Partners and will always receive direct invites to the tournament. The other 17 participating teams fought tooth and nail through regional qualifiers and challengers to earn their spots.

Take a look at all 32 competing teams below, alongside their player rosters (identifiable by their in-game ID.)

ESL Permanent Partner Teams

• Astralis: blameF, dev1ce, Buzz, Staehr, b0RUP
• BIG: tabseN, Krimbo, prosus, s1n, mantuu
• Complexity Gaming: JT, floppy, Grim, hallzerk, EliGE
• ENCE: Snappi, dycha, maden, SunPayus, NertZ
• Evil Geniuses: autimatic, Walco,Jeorge, junior, HexT
• FaZe Clan: rain, broky, Twistzz, karrigan, ropz
• Fnatic: KRIMZ, mezii, roeJ, afro, dexter
• FURIA Esports: huurih, arT, KSCERATO, FalleN, chelo
• G2 Esports: huNter-, NiKo, m0NESY, jks, HooXi
• Heroic: stavn, cadiaN, TeSeS, sjuush, Jabbi
• MOUZ: frozen, torzsi, xertioN, siuhy, Jimpphat
• Natus Vincere: s1mple, b1t, Aleksib, jL, iM
• Ninjas in Pyjamas: REZ, hampus, Brollan, headtr1ck, k0nfig
• Team Liquid: NAF, oSee, YEKINDAR, Rainwaker, Patsi
• Team Vitality: apEX, ZywOo, Magisk, Spinx, flameZ

Other Teams

• 9INE (ESL World Ranking): Goofy, KEi, Kylar, mynio, hades
• Cloud9 (ESL World Ranking): sh1ro, Ax1Le, HObbit,electroNic, Perfecto
• GamerLegion (ESL World Ranking): isak, acoR, Keoz, volt, neaLan
• Movistar Riders (ESL Challenger Melbourne): mopoz, ALEX, Martinez, JUST, adamS
• Virtus.pro (ESL Challenger Katowice): Jame, LK1T, fame, n0rb3r7, Mir
• Monte (ECL S44 Europe): Woro2k, DemQQ, sdy, mr0, kRaSnaL
• MIBR (ECL S44 North America): exit, brnz4n, insani, drop, saffee
• Lynn Vision Gaming (ECL S44 Asia-Pacific): westmelon, z4kr, Starry, Emilia, Jee
• Apeks (ECL S45 Europe): nawwk, STYKO, jkaem, kyxsan, CacaNito
• M80 (ECL S45 North America): reck, Swisher, WolfY, malbsMd, maNkz
• 5yclone (ECL S45 Asia-Pacific): JamYoung, Moseyuh, Mercury, kaze, advent
• Eternal Fire (European Conference): Calyx, woxic, Wicadia, MAJ3R, XANTARES
• ORKS (European Conference): olimp, xNx, mwlky, Vegi, HS
• Imperial Esports (Brasil Premier League): boltz, VINI, JOTA, HEN1, felps
• Grayhound Gaming (ANZ Champs): Sico, INS, aliStair, Liazz, Vexite
• 9z Team (South American Qualifier): dgt, max, dav1deuS, buda, try
• Rooster (Oceanic Qualifier): asap, ADK, nettik, chelleos, TjP

ESL Pro League Season 18: Groups

We have divided the above teams according to their Group Stage group, with four groups lettered from A-D for reader convenience.

Group A will be completing their Group Stage matches first on August 30, proceeding onwards in alphabetical order, with Group D being the last group to give their performance.

• Group A: Astralis, FURIA Esports, GamerLegion, Grayhound Gaming, Movistar Riders, Ninjas in Pyjamas, ORKS, Team Vitality
• Group B: BIG, ENCE, Evil Geniuses, Heroic, MIBR, Monte, MOUZ, Rooster
• Group C: 5yclone, 9z Team, Apeks, FaZe Clan, Fnatic, Imperial Esports, M80, Natus Vincere
• Group D: 9INE, Cloud9, Complexity Gaming, Eternal Fire, G2 Esports, Lynn Vision Gaming, Team Liquid, Virtus.pro

Check out our dedicated ESL Pro League S18 overview for the specifics of the EPL Season 18 schedule and more!

ESL Pro League Season 18: Where to watch

All ESL Pro League Season 18 matches will be live-streamed through Twitch in English. Two live streams will be available for matches happening simultaneously, with A as the primary streaming channel and B as the secondary. We have linked both, so you don't have to miss a second of the action!

Primary and secondary streams will also be available for regions and languages like China, Spain, and France.

For anyone who can't make it to watch the live matches, don't worry! You can catch VODs on the official ESLCS YouTube channel. Here, you can also watch all the match highlights and interviews, which are useful when placing your next bet!

CS:GO fans can even purchase tickets straight to the ESL Pro League S18 finals, hosted at InterContinental Malta in the heart of St. Julians! One-day tickets are €10, while three-day tickets are €25 - grab them while you can on Eventbrite!

Bet on ESL Pro League Season 18 with Rivalry!

Welcome to Rivalry, the home of CS:GO betting and your number 1 destination for all things esports betting. From Valorant to League of Legends, we've covered all the popular esports bases!

We do esports betting like no other because we understand our audience and users to the max! Rivalry.com is:

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 Your money is 100% safe with Rivalry. We are a fully registered and licensed online sportsbook governed under the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission, so you can place your bets with complete peace of mind.

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We are the first esports betting site to incorporate fun and innovative new ways of betting. We have chicken-out features and even same game parlays for you to dive into! If that's not enough, we have plenty of casino games, 24/7 customer support, and a free bet when you make an account with us. What are you waiting for? Sign up today!

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Did you think CS:GO and ESL Pro League games were all we offered? Wrong! Rivalry is a leader in esports betting markets. If you're looking to dip your toes in the waters of other esports tournaments, check out our markets for Dota 2, MLBB, and even Arena of Valor!

What else does Rivalry offer fans? Here's a few spoilers of what you'll get when you create an account with us!

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Looking to add some of that Rivalry spice to your ESL Pro League matches? Create an account with us today and get a free bet with your first deposit. We also offer many event-specific bonuses, so check out our promos page often!

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At Rivalry, we want everyone to get involved in the betting fun. Our online learning resource, Rivalry Academy, is there for you, whether you're a newbie or a seasoned betting pro. It has expert betting tips, from learning how to read our decimal esports odds to learning which betting markets are best!

ESL Pro League Season 18 Betting Tips

Betting on the ESL Pro League Season 18 can be daunting, with so many different teams and betting markets. Even if you're a betting pro, there can still be room for improvement in your betting gains.

Luckily, we have some simple but effective ESL Pro League betting tips so you can level up your betting game in no time!

Watch Old Streams and Matches

If your favorite team is competing against a new professional team, check out their match history by watching previous games on YouTube or digging on Liquidpedia.

Research

Knowledge is power in the esports betting sphere - having as much information as possible is the best way to make informed betting predictions, so do your homework! Look at each team's recent roster changes, success rates, and other statistics to gain the upper hand when betting. You may uncover a potential underdog!

Manage your bankroll

Setting a budget and keeping to it assures that betting always stays fun and stress-free. Luckily, we have a guide on how to carefully manage your bankroll! Do not bet more than you can afford to lose, and never try to recover any losses. Always gamble responsibly, 18+ only.

FAQs about CS:GO and ESL Pro League Season 18 betting

Is betting on ESL Pro League S18 legal?

Yes! Counter-Strike: Global Offensive betting practices are completely legal, so rest assured that all bets placed with Rivalry are 100% legal as we are registered under the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission. 

Do you offer any welcome bonuses for ESL Pro League betting?

We like to go above and beyond for our customers, so we offer new bettors a generous welcome bonus so you can test the waters and bet on ESL Pro League Season 18 matches. Terms and Conditions apply!

Who is the favorite team to win ESL Pro League Season 18?

The ESL Pro League Season 18 is still ongoing, so determining the outright winner can be difficult. According to the ESL World Ranking, Team Vitality, Heroic, and G2 Esports comprise the top three teams. We expect Monte to climb their way into the top 10, too.

Can I place ESL Pro League bets from my phone?

Yes, you can! Our website is mobile-friendly, so you can use your smartphone or tablet to safely place bets. If you're an Ontario user, our iOS app "Rivalry - Esports Betting" is available from the Apple App Store today!

What betting markets do you offer for ESL Pro League Season 18 matches?

We are proud to offer several betting markets for CS:GO matches like ESL Pro League Season 18; look at some of them below. Win big with Rivalry today and try them out for yourself!

• Same Game Combos, includes markets like Total Rounds Odd/Even and Over/Under, Correct Score, Map Winner, and more!
• Winner
• Map Winner
• Handicaps (Map and Round)
• Totals