NAVI open ESL Pro League S24 by getting revenge on G2

NAVI have kicked off their ESL Pro League Season 24 campaign with a convincing win over G2, according to HLTV. The team led in-game by Aleksib got rid of the bitter taste the European side had left them with at BLAST Open Porto. With this result, they now have four wins in official matches so far this season.

Beyond the result itself, the win matters because of the timing and the opponent. HLTV describes this campaign as an important one for NAVI, and opening it with a win over one of the biggest names on the circuit carries a lot of weight. Even more so when it comes against the same team that had stopped them not long ago. Wins like this change the mood in a team and also the way the rest of the scene looks at them.

What you need to know

• Winning start: NAVI beat G2 in their first match of ESL Pro League Season 24, and they did it convincingly.
• Revenge secured: G2 had beaten NAVI at BLAST Open Porto, so this matchup had unfinished business.
• Fourth win of the season: with this result, Aleksib's team reach four match wins this season.
• Key campaign: HLTV, the source of this report, calls this Pro League an important competition for NAVI.

A revenge with a name on it

ESL Pro League is one of the most storied tournaments in competitive Counter-Strike. It is the kind of competition where one good day is not enough: you have to keep up your level match after match. That is why the opening game matters more than it might seem. Losing first means playing catch-up from the start, while beating a top-tier opponent right away gives you breathing room and confidence.

The matchup also came with recent history. In Porto, it was G2 who came out on top. At the top level, losing to the same opponent twice in a row tends to leave a mark. It is not just about the standings: it is the feeling that the other team has you figured out. The fact that NAVI answered with a clear win suggests something was fixed between one tournament and the next. It could be the preparation, the read on the opponent or simply the execution.

What changes for each team

For NAVI, the message is twofold: the team knows how to bounce back from a painful loss, and Aleksib once again shows his ability to adjust the game plan against a specific opponent. For G2, the blow is minor in numerical terms, since it is just one match, but it comes at the start of a long competition. It forces them to regroup quickly if they do not want to make things harder for themselves. The source does not give the score or the maps played, so it is best not to draw too many tactical conclusions. The result and the context, however, speak for themselves.

Our take

At the Underworld Lordz newsroom, we are clear on this: this win is worth more for what it says about NAVI's mentality than for what it adds to the standings. Losing to a direct rival and paying them back the next time you meet is what separates teams that compete from teams that just show up. That said, it is worth tempering the hype a little. Four wins in a season is not, on its own, enough to talk about a dominant team. One good afternoon against G2 does not make anyone a title favorite.

If you play competitively, take away the underlying lesson: a loss is information. Top teams do not run the same plan against the team that beat them. They review, adjust and come back with a different approach. That applies just as much to an international final as to an amateur league match with your team. Analyzing why you lost is what wins you the next one.

If you create content, this story is gold: rivalry, revenge and a tense start to a tournament. But be careful with the easy headline. Claiming that NAVI are back or that G2 are in crisis after a single match is an exaggeration, and esports audiences notice. The revenge narrative works better if you follow up on it: how both teams perform in the coming matchdays is what will really tell us whether this was a turning point or a one-off result.

What do you think?

NAVI needed to respond and they did, but the Pro League is long and G2 have more than enough talent to bounce back. Do you think this win marks the start of a great season for Aleksib's team, or is it just a one-off revenge? Drop by the team chat or our Discord and tell us your prediction.