ESL announce this year’s final events to replace the CS:GO Rio Major, culminating in the first CS:GO LAN competition in the second half of 2020 with IEM Global Challenge

Intel® Extreme Masters New York will be followed by IEM Beijing-Haidian and the IEM Global Challenge in Cologne in December, offering a total of US$1,000,000 in those three events.

Cologne, September 9, 2020: ESL, the world’s largest esports company, has today revealed details of Intel® Extreme Masters: Global Challenge, a transatlantic tournament that will close 2020 in extraordinary style. Set to take place in December, the tournament will bring North American and European players together to compete offline and in person for the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak, subject to the condition that the global health situation does not dramatically deteriorate.

The tournament will replace the CS:GO Rio Major, which was due to take place in November, after much effort and deliberation resulted in ESL and Valve having to cancel it due to the ongoing disruption caused by the pandemic. ESL and Valve are committed to returning with the CS:GO Major to Brazil when it is safe to do so.

IEM Beijing-Haidian will be held online from 6th to 22nd November and will consist of European, North American, Oceania and Asian divisions with teams competing for US$250,000 in prize money.

IEM Global Challenge will take place across December 15-20 in Cologne and will feature the best eight North American and European teams. It will feature US$500,000 in prize money and is planned to be played in a studio in Cologne, Germany, building on the broadcasting innovation demonstrated at ESL One Cologne.  Due to its cross-region nature and in person competition, the tournament will also count towards the Intel® Grand Slam.

Michal “CARMAC” Blicharz, VP ProGaming at ESL said: “It is with great sadness that we needed to cancel this year’s CS:GO Major, but we are doing everything we can to resume running tournaments like we used to as soon as it is possible. The IEM Global Challenge will be our first step towards that. All plans are of course subject to change as we continue to monitor guidance around the COVID-19 situation, and ESL’s top priority is always the health and well-being of teams, coaches, managers and crew.”

More information can be found at esl.gg/NewYork2020, esl.gg/Beijing2020 & esl.gg/GlobalChallenge2020 and check out Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for the latest news.

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About ESL

ESL is the world’s largest esports company. Founded in 2000, ESL has been shaping the industry across the most popular video games with numerous online and offline esports competitions. The company operates high profile, branded international leagues and tournaments under the ESL Pro Tour including ESL One, Intel® Extreme Masters, ESL Pro League, and other premier stadium-size tournaments, to more clearly define the path from zero to hero. ESL also produces the ESL National Championships, grassroots amateur cups, and matchmaking systems, creating a world where everybody can be somebody. With offices all over the world, ESL is leading esports innovation on a global scale through the combination of global ESL competitions, amateur leagues, publisher activations, and more. ESL is a part of MTG, the leading international digital entertainment group. eslfaceitgroup.com

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