ESL updates Annual Club Incentive rankings after EPL Season 21
The ESL has published an updated table of viewing points among clubs following the results of ESL Pro League Season 21.
This ranking determines which 16 teams will share $2.95 million from the special Annual Club Incentive fund at the end of 2025. According to the published data, Natus Vincere , G2 Esports , and FURIA Esports hold the leading positions in terms of the total number of points scored and can count on a significant share of this prize pool.
How rewards are calculated
The annual remuneration of clubs is formed according to a special formula: the total number of Viewership Points is multiplied by the number of tournaments in which the team participated during the season (Event Attendance). At the end of the year, ESL will pay a prize pool of $2.95 million to the top 16 teams in proportion to their contribution to the overall performance. All calculations are based on the average number of concurrent viewers (CCV) from Esports Charts, and only matches played in the group stage (Stage 1 or Stage 2) without playoffs are taken into account.
ESL Pro Tour 2025 updates
The ESL Pro Tour 2025 has a new prize distribution system that combines classic payments for places with Club Reward and Annual Club Incentive. In total, more than $22 million is planned to be allocated to clubs and players in 2025-2026. In addition, ESL has already implemented changes to the ESL Pro League format: 24 teams, two Swiss stages, as well as an updated seeding system based on Valve Ratings (VRS). ESL Pro League Season 21 became the second tournament of the year to affect the final ranking. It was played for 126 review points, and the total pot in 2025 is 720 points, of which another 522 remain available at the next five events.
Team reaction and prospects
The ranking participants are already preparing for the next ESL Pro Tour event - IEM Melbourne. Teams that continue to steadily gain viewership points will be able to gain a foothold in the top 16 and claim a significant payout. At the same time, it is important not only to ensure high viewership, but also to participate in more tournaments to maximize your contribution to the overall rating. This is especially true for clubs that plan to be active on the CS2 scene in 2025-2026.
What's next.
The current table is only the second step on the way to the final distribution of $2.95 million, which will take place at the end of 2025, with payments coming in the first quarter of 2026. With five more major ESL Pro Tour events to come, the intrigue is only growing. Teams will have to plan their performance calendar carefully and look for ways to increase viewer appeal, as it will determine what share of the large prize pool they will eventually receive. The next ranking update will come right after IEM Melbourne, so Counter-Strike fans can expect even more emotions and unexpected twists and turns.
