Counter-Strike organizations can now have two teams in the Krakow Major and qualifiers
Counter-Strike organizations will be allowed to have two teams participate in the upcoming Krakow Major and qualifiers, as long as they have their own individual branding. This announcement was made by PGL, the organizer of the Major, in response to criticism about how academy teams are currently treated.
Addressing the issue of academy teams
PGL made this ruling necessary because both Team Spirit and Team Spirit’s academy team will be competing in the CIS Minor, where two winners will advance to the Major qualifier. This raises concerns about competitive integrity if the two teams were to face each other at any stage.
The rise of academy teams in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Academy teams in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive have become more common recently as established organizations look to recruit young talent. However, unlike traditional sports where developmental teams cannot compete in the same competitions, Counter-Strike does not have these restrictions in place. The recent ESL ruling attempted to address this issue, but further measures are needed.
Other teams in the same situation
In addition to Team Spirit, Fnatic also has two teams in contention for the Major. Fnatic Academy will compete in the European Minor, while the main Fnatic team has already secured a spot in the Major.
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