Following the conclusion of an incredible run, Team Vitality secured their place in history by completing ESL Grand Slam VI at IEM Rio, delivering a dominant 3-0 performance against Team Spirit. This victory marked their second ESL Grand Slam title and back-to-back accomplishment, earning them the $1,000,000 prize and cementing ropz’s legacy as the first player to ever win three ESL Grand Slam titles.
Now, the race resets as the world’s best teams prepare for a new challenge. With Team Vitality’s win in Rio, $11,900,000 is guaranteed to be paid to teams and players by ESL in 2026, through a combination of event Total Winnings, the Annual Club Incentive and the ESL Grand Slam.
The race for the ESL Grand Slam VII is officially underway and begins at IEM Atlanta, taking place from May 11-17. This event marks the first opportunity for teams to start their journey toward the next million-dollar prize. Team Vitality will be in attendance, looking to defend their position at the top of the world rankings.
The 2026 season remains packed with high-stakes competition, with four major tournaments remaining on the ESL Pro Tour calendar, including the highly anticipated IEM Cologne Major.
The road to glory is steep, requiring a team to win three ESL Pro Tour Masters tournaments and one ESL Pro Tour Championship tournament within a span of ten consecutive events. With the current pace of competition, there is a distinct possibility of a ESL Grand Slam completion as early as IEM China in November. Should this become the case, then a total of $12,900,000 will be paid to teams and players by ESL in 2026.
A complete overview of the ESL Grand Slam rules can be found aqui.
Can Team Vitality make it three in a row? The race is on!
More information about the ESL Grand Slam history and the previous winners is available aqui.