Wednesday, September 6, 2023, Cologne/New York – ESL Impact League returns for the second time this year, with Season 4 beginning on September 13. The all-women Counter-Strike circuit sees 28 teams competing for eight spots at the ESL Impact Global Finals set to take place at DreamHack Valencia in Valencia, Spain, on December 8 – 10, a share of the $150,000 total prize pool and a chance to be crowned the ESL Impact Season 4 Champions. Nigma Galaxy, the undefeated title-holder, will be aiming to maintain their incredible winning streak and obtain the sixth consecutive ESL Impact trophy. 

Here is all you need to know about ESL Impact Season 4:

ESL Impact Season 4 will see 28 all-women Counter-Strike rosters compete for a total prize pool of $150,000 and the coveted trophy. Commencing September 13, teams from Europe, North America, and South America will compete against one another, with the eight best teams facing off live in front of a packed-out audience at the Feria de Valencia during DreamHack Valencia on December 8 – 10. 

Valencia is a city that, through the years, has established itself as a hotspot for women’s esports tournaments, including CS:GO DreamHack Showdown Valencia 2019. Additionally, ESL Impact has a previous history in Valencia, with Nigma Galaxy taking the crown in a standalone live ESL Impact event at DreamHack Valencia 2022.

ESL Impact was launched at the beginning of 2022 as one of the initiatives of ESL FACEIT Group’s (EFG) #GGFORALL program. For almost two years, it has inspired all-women Counter-Strike teams and broadcast talent to follow their dreams of being a part of the professional esports scene. ESL Impact provides teams, talent, players, fans, and more with a dedicated ecosystem, creating a more diverse and equal gaming environment for everyone.

Schedule and Format

League Season: September 13 – October 29:

• North and South America:
  • Each region has one group of eight teams.
  • The Group Stage will be a single round-robin, and all matches will be best-of-three.
  • The winner and runner-up of the groups will advance to the season’s Global Finals.
• Europe:
  • The EU region has two groups of six teams.
  • The Group Stage will be a single round-robin, and all matches will be best-of-three.
  • The first-placed team from each group advances to the season’s Global Finals.
  • The second-placed team from each group plays a decider best-of-three match. The winner advances to the Global Finals.

Wildcard Qualifiers: October 6 – 8:

• Asia

• The Wildcard Qualifier for Asia will take place on October 6 – 8 at 10:00 GMT.
• Teams can sign up here and will fight for one spot at the Season 4 Global Finals at DreamHack Valencia. 
• The qualifiers will be a single bracket, and matches will be best-of-three.

Season 4 Global Finals: December 8 – 10:

• Group Stage
  • The eight qualified teams will be split into two groups of four teams.
  • These two groups will face off in double-elimination matches, with upper bracket matches played as best-of-one and lower bracket played as best-of-three.
  • The top two teams per group will advance to the Playoffs.
• Playoffs
  • The best four teams will compete in a single elimination bracket in a best-of-three format, with two teams advancing to the Grand Final.
  • The Grand Final will also be played in best-of-three.

Teams attending:

Europe:

• 9Pandas Fearless 
• Aces
• BIG EQUIPA
• G2 Oya
• Guild
• NAVI Javelins
• Nigma Galaxy
• Ninjas in Pyjamas
• Let Her Cook (From EU Qualifier)
• Shinigami (From EU Qualifier)
• YeYo (From EU Qualifier)
• VP.Angles (From EU Qualifier)

North America:

• Hyperion
• Evil Geniuses Gold
• FlyQuest Red
• Shimmer
• Cherry Bombs (From NA Qualifier)
• FA White (From NA Qualifier)
• Team Karma (From NA Qualifier)
• Totsugeki (From NA Qualifier)
  

South America

• B4 Esports
• FURIA 
• MIBR
• Cafeina (From SA Qualifier)
• Divina (From SA Qualifier)
• Mocreias (From SA Qualifier)
• Ravens (From SA Qualifier)
• TBD

Prize Money:

Where to Watch

ESL Impact Season 4 and its Global Finals will be streamed live on Twitch and Youtube. 

The live finals at DreamHack Valencia on December 8 – 10 are open to the public, with tickets for the immersive three-day gaming lifestyle festival also granting access to the dedicated ESL Impact stage. More information can be found on the DreamHack Valencia website.

Assets for ESL Impact Season 4 can be found in the press kit, which is available here.

For more information about the all-women Counter-Strike ecosystem, please visit the official website and follow ESL Impact on X (Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram. 

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About ESL FACEIT Group

ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) is the leading esports and video game entertainment company dedicated to creating worlds beyond gameplay where players and fans become community. EFG is built on a legacy of world-renowned brands including ESL, FACEIT, DreamHack and DreamHack Sports Games, providing innovative ecosystems for global communities of players, fans and creators around the games they love. Working alongside leading partners, brands and global IPs, EFG operates an unmatched portfolio of live events, digital platforms and developer tools that reach and engage millions of gamers worldwide. For more information visit www.eslfaceitgroup.com.

About ESL

ESL creates a world where everybody can be somebody. For more than two decades, we have been shaping the industry and leading esports and gaming innovation globally across the most popular video games, creating a comprehensive ecosystem with opportunities for players to go from zero to hero and for fans to witness the best stories esports has to offer. The ESL portfolio consists of high-profile products such as the ESL Pro Tour, Intel® Extreme Masters, the Snapdragon Pro Series, and many more, ranging from grassroots to global elite competitions. ESL is part of ESL FACEIT Group, the leading esports and video game entertainment company.