NAVI Secures ESL Pro League Title Against Aurora, Reclaims Top-Four Global Ranking

ESL Pro League Season 23 Concludes

According to Главком: In Stockholm, Sweden, on March 15, 2026, Natus Vincere (NAVI) triumphed over Aurora with a 3:1 scoreline to win the ESL Pro League Season 23 final. This victory propelled NAVI from seventh to fourth place in the Valve world rankings, marking a significant milestone for the storied organization. This win is a major statement in the competitive Counter-Strike scene, signaling a powerful resurgence.

This final marked the fifth meeting between the two teams, with NAVI maintaining a perfect record against Aurora. The championship represents NAVI's first tier-1 tournament victory since October 2024. Their previous significant win was the StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2025 title in September of the previous year, which served as a crucial stepping stone.

Team Rosters and Match Results

The playoff match featured the following lineups:

• Natus Vincere – Aleksib, iM, b1t, w0nderful, makazze
• Aurora – MAJ3R, XANTARES, woxic, Wicadia, soulfly

The map scores were as follows:

• Mirage (13-7) - NAVI's pick
• Anubis (11-13) - Aurora's pick
• Nuke (13-8) - NAVI's pick
• Dust2 (13-9) - Aurora's pick

As of March 14, 2026, NAVI held the seventh position in the Valve rankings, where Team Vitality led with 2034 points. NAVI's path to the final included a 2:0 quarterfinal victory over The Mongolz, demonstrating consistent form and strategic prowess throughout the tournament.

NAVI's ESL Pro League Season 23 championship is a landmark achievement, not only boosting their global standing but also serving as definitive proof of the team's return to top-tier form on the international stage after a prolonged absence from major titles.

The event further underscores the critical importance of stable, cohesive teamwork, which was undoubtedly the cornerstone of this successful campaign.

In their remarkable journey to the ESL Pro League Season 23 title, NAVI showcased their dominance by first defeating The Mongolz in the quarterfinals. This pivotal victory set the stage for their triumphant performance against Aurora in the finals. To explore how NAVI's strategy and teamwork led them to this significant win, read more about their quarterfinal clash with The Mongolz here.