Spirit posts sweep to start Stage 2 of ESL Pro League Season 21

Team Spirit, The MongolZ, 3DMAX and G2 Esports each recorded a sweep on Friday in the first round of Group Stage 2 at the ESL Pro League Season 21 in Stockholm.

Spirit posted a 2-0 win over TYLOO, and MongolZ bested GamerLegion by the same score. Also, 3DMAX extinguished Eternal Fire with a 2-0 victory while G2 toppled paiN Gaming by the same score.

Also on Friday, Team Vitality bested MIBR, SAW nipped Natus Vincere, MOUZ edged Furia, and Team Falcons jolted Team Liquid -- all by 2-1 scores.

The $400,000 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament seeded eight of its 24 teams straight into Group Stage 2: G2 Esports, Team Spirit, The MongolZ, Team Vitality, MOUZ, Natus Vincere, Team Falcons and Team Liquid.

The other 16 teams began in Group Stage 1, which featured a Swiss System format of best-of-three matches. The top eight teams will advance to Group Stage 2, which will also employ a Swiss System format of best-of-three matches.

Eight teams will advance to the single-elimination playoffs. The quarterfinals and semifinals will be best-of-three before the best-of-five grand final on March 16. The winning team will receive $100,000.

On Friday, Team Spirit posted a 13-11 win on Anubis and a 13-6 victory on Anubis. Russian Danil "donk" Kryshkovets led the way for the winners with 48 kills and a plus-20 kills-to-death differential.

The MongolZ swept GamerLegion following a 13-9 win on Inferno and a 16-14 triumph on Mirage. Mongolian Munkhbold "Senzu" Azbayar had 50 kills and a plus-22 kills-to-death differential for MongolZ.

3DMAX dismissed Eternal Fire with 13-10 wins on both Inferno and Anubis. Frenchman Lucas "Lucky" Chastang had 43 kills and a plus-13 kills-to-death differential for 3DMAX.

G2 toppled pain Gaming, courtesy of a 13-5 win on Nuke and a 13-8 victory on Inferno. Russian Ilya "m0NESY" Osipov had 40 kills and a plus-25 kills-to-death differential for G2.

Also on Friday, MIBR posted a 13-7 win on Anubis before Team Vitality responded with a 13-3 victory on Inferno and a 13-8 triumph on Train.

Natus Vincere also got the early jump Friday with a 13-3 win on Inferno before SAW countered with a 13-9 victory on Nuke and a 13-4 triumph on Ancient.

MOUZ sandwiched a 13-9 victory on Train and a 13-11 triumph on Nuke around FURIA's 16-13 win on Inferno.

Team Falcons recorded a 16-14 triumph on Inferno and a 16-13 win on Ancient around Team Liquid's 13-9 victory on Dust II.

ESL Pro League Season 21 Group Stage 2 standings

T1. Team Spirit, 1-0

T1. MongolZ, 1-0

T1. 3DMAX, 1-0

T1. G2 Esports, 1-0

T1. Team Vitality, 1-0

T1. SAW, 1-0

T1. Team Falcons, 1-0

T1. MOUZ, 1-0

T9. Eternal Fire, 0-1

T9. MIBR, 0-1

T9. FURIA, 0-1

T9. paiN Gaming, 0-1

T9. TYLOO, 0-1

T9, Natus Vincere, 0-1

T9. Team Liquid, 0-1

T9, GamerLegion, 0-1

ESL Pro League Season 21 prize pool

1. $100,000

2. $50,000

3-4. $25,000

5-8. $18,000

9-11. $13,500

12-14. $10,500

15-16. $8,500

17-19. $6,500 -- FlyQuest, M80, Nemiga Gaming

20-22. $4,500 -- HEROIC, Lynn Vision Gaming, NRG

23-24. $3,000 -- Housebets, Mindfreak

--Field Level Media