If you’ve dove into the Counter-Strike 2 section on Twitch and see professional players streaming their gameplay, they’re most likely playing in the FACEIT Pro League, or the FPL, for short. But, what exactly is the FPL? In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about it and how it works.
What is the FACEIT Pro League?
In CS2, the FACEIT Pro League is an exclusive, high-level competitive league in Counter-Strike 2. The system is designed for the best players across various regions, and is a community for professionals or upcoming prospects to play ranked matches against each other.
It has served as a proving ground where pro players and rising stars face off to sharpen their skills, win prize money, and most importantly, make a name for themselves and catch the attention of top esports organizations.
It is an invite-only community, meaning the FACEIT team will determine whether a player is good enough or worthy of participating in the league. This ensures that top professionals can practice against top-tier talent. For upcomers, it’s a way to improve through high-level play and get scouted by pro teams.
How Do FPL Invites Work?
As mentioned earlier, the FPL circuit is exclusive – you can’t get in there that easily. There are two ways to receive an invitation to participate in the FPL.
Pro Player Invites
Most professional players that compete at the highest level will receive automatic invitations – these are self-explanatory. They have proven themselves in tournaments and big stages, and have every right to play matches against other top players.
In the European region, all players from the Top 35 VRS-ranked teams will be eligible to compete in the FPL circuit. However, other regions have different criteria. For example, FACEIT only invites professionals from the Top 10 VRS-ranked teams in North America, and makes a curated list based on elo and tournament performance for the Middle East.
In essence, if you’re a professional player for one of the best teams in the region, you will automatically get invited to play.
Matchmaking Trial Invites
Players who are not yet in FPL or in a professional team can still break into the league through the elo leaderboards:
- The top 15 FACEIT elo-ranked players per region (who are not already in FPL), are offered a two-week trial in the official league.
- To stay eligible, players must maintain their elo ranking every two matches in the FPL.
- Players will be contacted the day before FPL weekends to confirm their participation in the limited trial.
This trial system allows upcoming prospects to prove their skill, and whether they can keep up with the best players. Some young players like Team Spirit’s donk started his professional journey by dominating the FPL and making a name for himself, eventually becoming the best rifler in the world.
However, it is worth noting that FACEIT often kicks players from the league as well, so an invitation doesn’t mean a player’s slot in the circuit is permanent. Kicks may occur due to toxic behavior or consistent underperformance.
FPL Prize Rewards
Actively playing FPL matches aren’t just for improving or simply playing the game – the circuit has a prize pool that is distributed after every season. Players can climb their regional rankings by winning matches and performing well, and once the season timer ends, the top 10 players will be rewarded with cash prizes.
These FPL rankings will be determined by FPL Points, which are a new metric outside of elo points. After each FPL weekend, players will be rewarded with FPL Points based on their placement in the leaderboards. These points will accumulate over the season to reflect a player’s performance in FPL.
For the European Faceit Pro League, here is the prize pool distribution:
| FPL Ranking | Prize Pool |
| 1 | $7,500 |
| 2 | $5,000 |
| 3 | $3,750 |
| 4 | $2,500 |
| 5 | $2,500 |
| 6 | $2,000 |
| 7 | $2,000 |
| 8 | $1,750 |
| 9 | $1,500 |
| 10 | $1,500 |
Why Is FPL Better Than Regular FACEIT
The FACEIT Pro League isn’t just another way to queue for ranked matches. It’s where the best CS2 players and prospects compete, improve, and get discovered. Here are the main reasons why the top players choose FPL over regular FACEIT
Play Against Real Professional Players
In FPL, you’re not grinding pugs against random players – you’re competing with and against top-tier pros. You’ll get to play with your idols, and every match feels like a scrim at the highest level. This gameplay will help you adapt to pro-level decision-making and communication.
Win Weekly Cash Prizes
Back then, you’d only get paid to play Counter-Strike if you were a professional player competing in the biggest tournaments. However, FPL offers real incentives with its structured prize pools. So, there’s money to be made simply by being extremely consistent.
Get Noticed By Esports Organizations
Coaches and scouts for top teams are constantly monitoring players in the FPL. Many prospects have gone from FPL straight into contracted pro teams. Players like donk and m0NESY were discovered in FPL, brought into academy teams, and were eventually promoted to actual Tier 1 rosters.
Improve Your Game Faster
In FPL, you’re playing against the best of the best. There are high stakes and high skill, pushing your mechanics and mental game further than any regular FACEIT game ever could. Playing with and against professionals can result in rapid improvement, especially if you take these matches and constructive criticism seriously. FPL is the pressure cooker that forges elite players.
Make a Name For Yourself
Even if you play Counter-Strike at a high level and don’t want to commit to becoming a professional, just putting your name out there is already good enough. Professional players stream their FPL matches, and if you often appear in these games, your name will start becoming known. This exposure can be the start to a streaming or content creation career, if professional play is not a preferred option.
How To Join The FPL
If you have dreams of joining FPL, the journey will be difficult, but not impossible. With discipline and the right steps, it’s entirely achievable. Here’s how you can get there:
Reach FACEIT Level 10
The first and most compulsory step is to reach Level 10 on FACEIT. This is the bare minimum, and shows you’re a skilled and consistent player. If you struggle to reach Level 10, we’re sorry but you won’t even be in the conversation to join FPL.
Climb the Regional Leaderboards
Once you’re Level 10, you’re just getting started. The next goal is to break into the top 15 elo ranks in your region, which is still a huge challenge. These players are eligible for FPL Challenger or trial invites, which can give direct access to FPL.
Be in a VRS-ranked Team
Yes, being in a VRS-ranked team might not sound super easy, but it isn’t too difficult if you’re in the Middle Eastern or North American regions. Participate in ECL (ESEA Cash Cup League) and slowly build your way up with the team. Being in a team environment will also help you improve and communicate better.
Play Well and Stay Consistent
It’s not enough to have one good week – FPL trials are given to players who consistently perform at the top of the ranking. It’s vital to maintain strong stats and stay focused. You’ll need consistent warmup routines to ensure your aim stays sharp every week.
Do Your Best in Trials
As mentioned earlier, FACEIT provides selected players with FPL trials, where they will have the opportunity to prove themselves. If you have worked your way up and are given this chance, make sure to play your best, but remember that there isn’t too much pressure. Make sure to communicate efficiently and avoid being toxic – that’s the last thing you want to do!