What is FPL in CS2 and How to Get There?

The ultimate dream for any Counter-Strike enthusiast is securing a spot on the top-tier team, complete with a jaw-dropping salary in the thousands and lucrative event bonuses. Some might think that the only route to the professional scene is through CS2 academies, where young players sharpen their skills and earn a ticket to the elite level. However, seasoned high-rank players know that the FACEIT Pro League (FPL) serves as a brilliant alternative. It doesn’t require academy membership and focuses on individual talent. What’s more, this league offers genuine opportunities to join a pro team and even rake in monthly cash prizes. So, what is FPL in CS2, and how can you make your way there? Read on to find out.

What is FPL in CS2?

If you ever questioned yourself, “What is the FACEIT Pro League?”, we need to break down its purpose, concept, and key features as a tournament for top-tier players and emerging contenders.

Idea and Purpose

Launched in 2015, the FPL had two main objectives:

• Build a high-level community where professionals and top talents could compete regularly, often on-stream.
• Give emerging players a stage to showcase their skills in the competitive matches while earning monthly cash rewards.

Despite the demanding schedules of competitive Counter-Strike 2, the FPL remains a prime platform for talent scouting by organizations. At the same time, it offers pros an excellent venue platform for outside-bootcamp training.

Advantages and Differences from Traditional FACEIT

FPL represents the elite tier of FACEIT, where the place is guaranteed only for professional players and proven talents who are knocking at the doors of the pro scene. FACEIT Pro League also comes with tangible rewards for the best players, distributing $50,000 among the best performers every month.

However, this exclusivity means that pros cannot join the lobby with their lower-tier friends for fun, as they might on standard FACEIT. Thus, the FPL is strictly a space for the confirmed elite. On the bright side, it opens wider streaming opportunities for all league participants, drawing attention of both game fans and pro-team managers.

Requirements for Joining FPL in CS2

Many aspiring talents often wonder how to get into FPL in CS2 and what the requirements are. There are basically three main paths to get there:

Be a Pro Player

The most straightforward way is to already belong to a top team. Players from the top 35 in Europe, top 10 in North America, or top 30 in South America automatically receive FPL invites for an entire season. While this route doesn’t apply to the average player, it’s still worth knowing.

Be an FPL Challenger

The FPL Challenger is regarded as the second division. Each month, by results of this competition, the top two players from every region are promoted to the FPL. Additionally, FACEIT admins closely monitor performances and occasionally grant direct invites to exceptional talents who were held back by poor teammates.

Have High ELO & Exceptional Performances

Due to the intense schedule of the Pro teams, the FPL has created an additional pathway for the best performers. Thus, players with the highest FACEIT ELO rankings (top 10 in Europe and top 30 in other regions) receive weekly invites to the FPL invites. They can retain their spot for the next 7 days by maintaining their ELO ranking position.

How to Get to FPL in CS2?

In addition to the rules about how to get into FPL described above, there are also recommendations for those who want to play with the best.

Play FACEIT & Improve Skills

Your journey starts with signing up on FACEIT and grinding pickup games through its matchmaking system. Once you push your starting 1,000 ELO points to 2,000+ (10th Rank), you’ll be in the race for an FPL spot.

Shine on the Regional Level

Reaching the 10th FACEIT level doesn’t guarantee entry, as there are often hundreds of players with 2,000+ ELO points in your region. So, you should aim for top spots on the country leaderboard, then climb the rankings at the regional level.

Demonstrate Consistency and Positive Behavior

You’ve probably shown enough progress and consistency, but developing positive teamplay behavior and mastering strong communication skills can never be overestimated. Building a reputation for positive behavior around your nickname will always benefit you, as stronger players eager to team up with you, further boosting your chances.

Success Stories From FPL

While the intense schedules of pro teams have somewhat shifted attention away from the FACEIT Pro League, its track record for producing esports talent is undeniable. However, an 8-year period in CS:GO was pretty prosperous in terms of bringing talents from the FPL to pro teams, with some incredible success stories.

The most famous name picked by a tier-1 team directly from FPL was Robin “ropz” Kool, who was signed for MOUZ and then went to FaZe. There is also a story of a Turkish AWPer Ozgur “woxic” Eker, who joined HellRaisers, then transferred to MOUZ while now being in the main roster of the Eternal Fire project. A pretty similar beginning was for Issa “ISSAA” Murad, who started with “woxic” in HellRaisers but then later joined OG.

And these are just a few examples. Hundreds of players have advanced from the FPL to professional teams, proving that with talent and determination, you can too.

***

Just a few years ago, FPL was one of the few places outside top-tier events where you could see matchups like “s1mple” vs. “NiKo” or “ZywOo” vs. “device” back-to-back with other professionals. While the FACEIT Pro League in CS2 might not carry the same influence as it did in CS:GO, it remains a prime stage for young talents to showcase their skill and earn substantial rewards. If you’re ready to take on the challenge, the FPL could be your gateway to the professional scene. Keep grinding, stay positive, and aim high — you might just be the next big name in CS2!