ESL Pro League Season 9 Finals viewer's guide

Sixteen teams from across the globe fought for the title share of the $600,000 prize pool at the ESL Pro League Season 9 Finals in Montpellier, France, which starts on Tuesday, June 18. This is the first event featuring both Team Liquid and Astralis after the North Americans became the #1 in HLTV's World Rankings.

Here’s everything you need to know about the ninth season of ESL Pro League.

Teams & Format
The tournament will feature a double-elimination GSL format. Teams in attendeance were split into two groups of eight each. The first round will be played as best-of-one games while the rest of the competition consists of best-of-three series, except the Grand Finals, which will be played in a best-of-five series.

Schedule
The ninth season of ESL Pro League will begin at 12:00 CET on Tuesday.

Tuesday, June 18

12:00 -  fnatic vs.  NRG
12:00 -  G2 vs.  Grayhound
13:10 -  Astralis vs.  Cloud9
13:10 -  Heroic vs.  DETONA
14:20 -  Liquid vs.  North
14:20 -  FaZe vs.  TYLOO
15:30 -  mousesports vs.   MIBR
15:30 -  HellRaisers vs.   Luminosity
16:40 - Group A lower bracket first match round one
16:40 - Group A upper bracket first semifinal
20:10 - Group A lower bracket second match round one
20:10 - Group A upper bracket second semifinal

Wednesday, June 19

12:00 - Group B lower bracket first match round one
12:00 - Group B lower bracket second match round one
15:30 - Group A lower bracket first semifinal
15:30 - Group B upper bracket first semifinal
19:00 - Group A lower bracket second semifinal
19:00 - Group B upper bracket second semifinal

Thursday, June 20

12:00 - Group B lower bracket first semifinal
12:00 - Group B lower bracket second semifinal
15:30 - Group A upper bracket final
15:30 - Group A lower bracket final
19:00 - Group B upper bracket final
19:00 - Group B lower bracket final

Friday, June 21

15:00 - First quarterfinal
18:50 - Second quarterfinal

Saturday, June 22

15:00 - First semifinal
18:50 - Second semifinal

Sunday, June 23

16:00 - Grand finals

*All times in CET

Talent list & Prize
The European and North American talent lineups will feature four people: a host, an expert and two casters. Tres "stunna" Saranthus and Jason "moses" O'Toole in the North American studio, and Australian Chad "SPUNJ Burchill and Alex "Machine" Richardson in the European side. In Asia, there will be four casters, featuring Sudhen "Bleh" Wahengbam and Jordan "Elfishguy" Mays.  

Below is the complete talent lineup for the event:

Olivier Morin - Host

Tres "stunna" Saranthus - Desk host

James "BanKs" Banks - Sideline reporter

Chad "SPUNJ" Burchill - Analyst
Jacob "Pimp" Winneche - Analyst
Mathieu "Maniac" Quiquerez – Analyst

Anders Blume – Commentator
Jason "moses" O'Toole – Commentator
Henry "HenryG" Greer – Commentator
Alex "Machine" Richardson - Commentator

The prize pool will be distributed in the following manner:

1st - $250,000 + Intel Grand Slam Season 2 point
2nd - $80,000
3-4th - $40,000
5-6th - $20,000
7-8th - $17,000
9-12th - $15,000
13-16th - $14,000