An action-packed week of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive awaits as the top six North American and European teams gear up for the fifth edition of the ESL Pro League Finals in Dallas, Texas.
The initial stage will feature a round robin group format with 12 teams split into two groups. Each group consists of three teams from each region, for a total of six teams per group. Every team will face off against the others in their group in a series of five best-of-one matches. Only three teams from each group will advance to the playoffs, while three teams will be eliminated. The groups are:
Group A
Cloud9 (C9)
Fnatic (FNC)
G2 Esports
Immortals (IMT)
SK Gaming (SK)
Team EnVyUs
Group B
Mousesports (mouz)
Natus Vincere (NaVi)
North
NRG Esports
OpTic Gaming
Team Liquid (TL)
Eight Group A and Group B matches will take place on Tuesday, while the remaining matches will be played on Wednesday to culminate the group stage. Here is the schedule for the first two days of matches in Eastern Standard Time:
Tuesday, June 1, 2017
12:30 PM SK versus C9 (Broadcasted)
12:30 PM G2 versus ENVY
1:45 PM G2 versus C9 (Broadcasted)
1:45 PM FNC versus IMT
3:00 PM FNC versus ENVY
3:00 PM SK versus IMT (Broadcasted)
4:15 PM FNC versus SK (Broadcasted)
4:15 PM ENVY versus C9
6:00 PM mouz versus North
6:00 PM TL versus NaVi (Broadcasted)
7:15 PM NRG versus OpTic
7:15 PM mouz versus NaVi (Broadcasted)
8:30 PM TL versus OpTic (Broadcasted)
8:30 PM NRG versus North
9:45 PM North versus NaVi (Broadcasted)
9:45 PM NRG versus TL
Wednesday, May 31, 2017
12:30 PM FNC versus C9 (Broadcasted)
12:30 PM G2 versus IMT
1:45 PM G2 versus SK (Broadcasted)
1:45 PM ENVY versus IMT
3:00 PM IMT versus C9
3:00 PM SK versus ENVY
3:00 PM FNC versus G2
4:45 PM mouz versus OpTic (Broadcasted)
4:45 PM NRG versus NaVi
6:00 PM North versus OpTic (Broadcasted)
6:00 PM mouz versus TL
7:15 PM OpTic versus NaVi
7:15 PM TL versus North
7:15 PM NRG versus mouz
The top team from each group will secure a spot in the semifinals, while the second and third-place teams will compete in the quarterfinals the following day. Both the group stage matches and quarterfinals will be held in ESL’s private studio.
Once the quarterfinals are over, the four teams advancing to the semifinals will have a day off to rest and strategize. All playoff matches will be in a single-elimination, best-of-three format. The matches on Saturday and Sunday will be held at the Verizon Theatre in Dallas, Texas.
Here is the schedule for the playoffs in Eastern Standard Time:
Thursday, June 1, 2017
1:00 PM Quarterfinal #1
4:50 PM Quarterfinal #2
Saturday, June 3, 2017
1:00 PM Semifinal #1
4:50 PM Semifinal #2
Sunday, June 4, 2017
2:00 PM Grand Final
Following the conclusion of the tournament, the $750,000 prize pool will be distributed among the 12 teams. The champions will take home nearly a third of the total. The teams reaching the semifinals will secure third and fourth place, while those reaching the quarterfinals will be awarded fifth and sixth place. Seventh and eighth place are for the fourth-placed teams in the group, ninth and tenth place for the fifth-placed teams, and eleventh and twelfth place for the sixth-placed teams. The prize distribution is as follows:
1st $225,000
2nd $100,000
3rd/4th $60,000
5th/6th $45,000
7th/8th $40,000
9th/10th $35,000
11th/12th $32,500
Cloud9 aims to defend their 2016 Pro League title, where they emerged victorious in Season 4 in Sao Paulo, Brazil against SK Gaming. They face tough competition in Group A, which could turn out to be a highly competitive group.
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