FUT Esports and Legacy Secure Early Advancement to ESL Pro League Season 23 Stage 2; NRG and SemperFi Eliminated

FUT Esports and Legacy secure the first Stage 2 spots in ESL Pro League Season 23. NRG and SemperFi are eliminated. Get the full March 2026 tournament results.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 4, 2026, 7:40 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Esports Insider

Dominant Openers for FUT and Legacy

The opening stage of ESL Pro League Season 23 has seen two teams rise quickly above the competition. FUT Esports and the Brazilian roster of Legacy have secured the first available spots in Stage 2. Legacy's path was particularly notable as it marked the successful debut of Andrei ‘arT’ Piovezan in their starting lineup. The team overcame high-tier opponents, including Ninjas in Pyjamas and G2 Esports, before clinching their qualification with a 2-0 sweep over Parivision. Legacy displayed significant resilience, mounting second-half comebacks on both Inferno and Dust II to prove their tactical depth.

FUT Esports Maintains Post-Major Momentum

Coming off a strong performance at the PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 Major, FUT Esports has transitioned seamlessly back into Pro League play. Led by the consistent fragging of Aulon ‘Krabeni’ Fazlija, the team bested M80 and Passion UA before facing a veteran Astralis squad. Their victory over the Danish side solidified their 3-0 record and confirmed their advancement. Analysts note that FUT’s ability to maintain high-pressure momentum during online stages makes them a formidable threat as the tournament moves into the more intensive Stage 2.

Early Exits for NRG and SemperFi

While the top of the bracket saw celebrations, the bottom of the table brought the first eliminations of the season. NRG’s return to the Pro League ended prematurely following a string of defeats. Their final stand against Ninjas in Pyjamas saw them trade maps, but a heartbreaking overtime loss on the Anubis decider—fueled by a standout performance from NiP’s Kacper ‘xKacpersky’ Gabara—sealed their fate. Similarly, the Australian-majority roster of SemperFi Esports was sent home by Team Liquid. Despite a strong response on Mirage to level the series 1-1, SemperFi could not overcome Liquid’s 10-round defensive half on Inferno, eventually falling 13-9 on the final map.