Vitality sweeps Falcons; Season 22 sets new CS viewership highs

Last weekend in Stockholm, ESL Pro League Season 22 came to an epic close — and what a ride it was. The world’s best CS squads went head-to-head for a $400,000 prize pool, delivering nonstop clutch plays and pure chaos. But it wasn’t just about the trophy this time — the event broke viewership records, becoming the most-watched season in ESL Pro League history.

In an epic grand final showdown, Team Vitality bounced back in style, sweeping Team Falcons 3-0 to cement their dominance in 2025. The tournament wasn’t without surprises, though: The MongolZ, despite holding the #1 spot, stumbled out of Stage 2, shocking fans. Meanwhile, FURIA stormed their way into the playoffs, and FaZe Clan, despite a roster shake-up, battled their way to the semifinals, proving they’re still a force to be reckoned with. 

From a streaming perspective, the tournament amassed 27.1 million hours watched, and achieved an average concurrent viewership of 219,000, a high-water mark for the league. Peak viewers hit 631,000, making it the third-highest in EPL history in that metric. With more channels, multistreaming, and a stronger YouTube presence (42 % of hours viewed this season), Season 22 didn’t just deliver epic plays, it validated the global appetite for top-tier CS competition.