Gather your teammates and start preparing, because the ESL Benelux Championship is back!
Whether you have never played competitively before or you are a seasoned veteran, sign up for the qualifiers with your team to put your skills to the test!
Not only will you get to play against the best of the best of the Benelux region, but you will also have a shot at winning a share of the €10.000 prize pool, and the winning team gets a beautiful trophy as well as a chance to prove themselves on the international stage, with even bigger teams and bigger prizes!
Sound good? Then let’s dive into some details.
When does it start?
The ESL Benelux Championship will kick off the 23rd of March with the qualifying stage, consisting of 4 Open Qualifiers and a Closed Qualifier. Then on the 17th of April, 8 teams will battle it out in the Group Stage, taking place over 5 weeks. Capping it off are the Finals where the top 4 decide who goes home with all the marbles.
Who will be taking part?
The top 4 of the previous season will be invited to take part in the season 15 Group Stage. The remaining 4 spots will be filled through the Closed Qualifier, consisting of the top 3 of each Open Qualifier as well as the bottom 4 of the previous season.
So how can my team take part?
If your team has not taken part in the previous season, your team can qualify through the Open Qualifiers, which are now played on the FACEIT platform. You are not required to have an FACEIT subscription for the qualifiers, they are accessible to everyone. These are 4 single elimination tournaments where any team can participate as long as 3 out of 5 members have Benelux nationality or residency. Finishing top 3 in a qualifier gets you to the Closed Qualifier, where you face off against the other qualifier teams and the bottom 4 of last season. Finishing top 4 in this double elimination tournament qualifies you for the Group stage.
What is the format?
The format will remain the same as last season.
- Open Qualifiers are 4 single-elimination tournaments. Top 3 of each qualifier goes to the Closed Qualifier.
- Closed Qualifier is a 16-team double elimination tournament. Top 4 qualify for the Group stage.
- Group stage consists of 2 groups of 4 teams. Each group plays a GSL format over 5 weeks, top 2 from each group qualifies for the Finals
- Finals stage consists of 2 semi finals and a grand final, being played on 1 day. More details on this will follow later.
What is there to play for?
Aside from the glory of being the best CSGO team in the Benelux, the teams that reach the Finals stage are playing for a share of the €10.000 prize pool, and a trophy, but that is not all. Winning the ESL Benelux Championship gives Benelux teams the fastest way to the top: a chance to play in the ESL Pro League EU Regional Qualifier, where a lot more prizes and glory can be gained!
Where can I watch it?
The Group Stage and Finals will be livestreamed on the ESL Benelux Twitch channel. More information on potential other channels will follow later.
Want to take part?
Sign up through FACEIT
Qualifier #1 – 23rd of March
Qualifier #2 - 24th of March
Qualifier #3 – 30th of March
Qualifier #4 - 31st of March
Closed Qualifier – 5/6th of April
