The venue for ESL Pro League Season 22 revealed - it's not Malta

The ESL Pro League Season 22 tournament will be held in Sweden , marking the second consecutive season organized in this country. Previously, from the 16th to the 20th seasons, the tournament was held in Malta , but it has now settled in Sweden since the 21st season.

Format
The ESL Pro League Season 22 tournament will consist of three stages. In the first stage, 16 teams will compete in a Swiss system format, where all matches will be in a BO3 format, and the top eight teams will advance. In the second stage, another 16 teams will play, also in a Swiss format and with BO3 matches.

The top eight from this stage will move on to the playoffs. The final stage will be held in a Single-Elimination system: quarterfinals and semifinals will be in a BO3 format, and the winner will be determined in the grand final, which will be held in a BO5 format.

Participants
The list of tournament participants has not yet been announced. However, it is known that 15 teams will receive direct invitations based on the Valve rankings. An additional 5 teams will qualify through the ESL Challenger League Season 49, representing different regions. The remaining 4 slots will be decided through regional qualifiers. This selection format ensures a variety of participants and high competition at all stages of the tournament.

ESL Pro League Season 22 will take place from September 27 to October 12, 2025, where 24 teams will compete for a prize pool of $400,000.