The ELEAGUE Major: Boston – the first international tournament of 2018
The ELEAGUE Major: Boston is set to kick off later this week, marking the beginning of the esports competition calendar for 2018. Fans of Counter-Strike are in for an exciting year ahead.
From Jan. 12 to 28, ELEAGUE will host 24 of the world’s best CS:GO teams, who will battle it out over the course of three weeks to claim the title of CS:GO champion.
The Prize Pool and Format
Competing for a prize pool of $1 million, the teams will go head to head in one or two Swiss format group stages, depending on their status. The teams will aim to secure a spot in the playoffs bracket. Defending champions, Gambit Esports, are set to face the largest team pool in Valve Major history.
The Team Statuses
- Space Soldiers (Europe)
- Team Envy (Europe)
- Team Liquid with substitute Wilton “zews” Prado (North America)
- Misfits (North America)
- Renegades (Asia)
- Flash Gaming (Asia)
- AVANGAR (CIS)
- Quantum Bellator Fire (CIS)
- Cloud9
- FlipSid3 Tactics
- G2 Esports
- Natus Vincere
- Mousesports
- Sprout Esports
- FaZe Clan
- Vega Squadron
- Gambit Esports
- 100 Thieves
- Astralis
- Virtus Pro
- Fnatic
- SK Gaming with substitute Joao “felps” Vasconcellos
- BIG
- North
The New Challengers stage
The New Challengers stage, taking place from Jan. 12 to 15 in Atlanta, Georgia, brings together eight minor champions and eight Challengers. The teams will compete in a Swiss system format, with randomly paired best-of-one matches based on win-loss records. The bottom eight teams will be eliminated, while the top eight teams will advance to the New Legends stage.
Favorites to win this stage include FaZe, C9, G2, Na’Vi, Envy, Liquid, Renegades, and Mouz. Space Soldiers and Misfits are notable underdogs in the Minor Champion pool.
The New Legends stage
Following the Challengers stage, the eight surviving teams will compete against the previous Major’s Legends in the New Legends stage. This stage will also feature a Swiss format. The top eight teams will progress, while the remaining eight teams will be eliminated.
Legends who are favored to advance to the next stage include SK, Gambit, Astralis, and Fnatic. Possible Challengers who could also advance are FaZe and G2.
The New Champions stage
In the final stage of the Major, the New Champions stage, eight finalists will compete in a single-elimination, best-of-three match bracket to determine the first Counter-Strike champion of 2018. All teams in this stage will have “Legend” status for the following Major.
To support the players and teams, fans can purchase team/player autograph stickers and graffiti sprays. Fifty percent of the proceeds from in-game cosmetic sales go directly to the players and organizations. Fans can also participate in the Pick’Em Challenge to make predictions for the best teams in each stage.
For more information on the Boston Major, visit ELEAGUE’s website. Stay tuned for further updates.