ESL One Cologne 2015: The World’s Largest CS:GO Tournament
The eSports League and Valve Corporation have joined forces to announce the highly anticipated ESL One Cologne 2015, which is touted as “the world’s largest CS:GO tournament ever.” This exciting event will be held at the ESL Studio and Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany from August 20-23, 2015.
Top Teams Compete for the ESL One Trophy
Sixteen of the world’s best Counter Strike: Global Offensive eSports teams will battle it out for the prestigious ESL One trophy, currently held by Fnatic. The tournament features a massive prize pool of $250,000 and will take place on August 22-23 at the Lanxess Arena, a state-of-the-art venue that can accommodate up to 15,000 fans.
Invited Legends and Challenger Qualifiers
Eight Legend teams have received direct invitations to the tournament based on their top-eight performance at ESL One Katowice 2015. These teams include Fnatic, Keyd Stars, mousesports, Natus Vincere, Ninjas in Pyjamas, Team EnVy, Team SoloMid, and Team Virtus.Pro. The remaining eight Challenger teams will be determined through LAN qualifiers held in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Exciting Qualifiers in North America, Europe, and Asia
The LAN qualifiers, provided by ESL, will be held in three regions. The North American qualifier will take place in Burbank, California on August 1-2, with eight participating teams. The European qualifier will be held in Cologne, Germany on July 25-26, featuring sixteen teams. The Asian qualifier will be hosted in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on July 18-19, with eight teams battling it out for a chance to compete in the main event.
Book Your Stay and Get Your Tickets
If you’re planning to attend ESL One Cologne 2015, ESL has provided four excellent hotel options in the heart of Cologne. Make sure to secure your accommodations early for a seamless experience.
Tickets are now available for the Lanxess Arena. Choose from a standard weekend ticket or a premium full two-day experience ticket. The standard weekend ticket grants access to the Lanxess Arena on Aug. 22-23, with free seating available. The premium ticket offers free seating, event access, complimentary food and drinks, a goodie bag, and exclusive signing sessions with pro teams. Prices for these tickets are €41 ($46.11 US) and €217 ($243.03 US) respectively.
Will you be attending ESL One Cologne 2015? Let us know on Twitter at @ESNCS.