We are excited to announce some changes to the upcoming season of ESL Challenger League.
With Season 46 pushed back to August, and in response to valuable team feedback, we have made the decision to merge the last two seasons of the year into a single season for ESL Challenger League.
We believe that this revised approach will optimize scheduling and create a better experience for teams throughout the remainder of the year.
New Schedule:
- Europe: The season will commence on October 5th, 2023.
- North America: The season will begin on August 15th, 2023, with a break during ESL Pro League 18.
- Asia: The season will also start on August 15th, 2023, with a break during ESL Pro League 18.
The playoffs are scheduled to take place from December 5th to December 10th, 2023.
Please note that match days and times will remain unchanged from previous seasons.
Tuesdays and Wednesdays
- Europe: 7PM CEST
- North America 8PM EDT
- Asia: 8PM CST
We will release the complete schedule as soon as it becomes available.
New formats:
We have implemented new formats for the different regions:
North America and Asia will follow a single group round-robin format leading into playoffs.
In Europe, the tournament will consist of three stages. The first stage will feature four groups competing in a round-robin format. In the second stage, three groups will participate in a double elimination format, leading to the playoffs.
All matches are Best-Of-Three, with the Grand Finals Best-of-Five.
For more comprehensive information about the formats, please see below:
New prize money distribution:
Prize money distribution will be adjusted as following:
- Europe: $100,000
- North America $100,000
- Asia $40,000
The goal with the new prize money distribution is to also pay lower finishing teams in ESL Challenger League Seasons.
Detailed prize money distribution can be found here:
| Europe | ||
| Rank | Description | Prize Money |
| 1 | Playoffs GF Winner | $15,000 |
| 2 | Playoffs GF Loser | $10,000 |
| 3 | Playoffs LB Final (Round 5) Loser | $8,000 |
| 4 | Playoffs LB Round 4 Loser | $6,500 |
| 5-6 | Playoffs LB Round 3 Loser | $5,000 |
| 5-6 | Playoffs LB Round 3 Loser | $5,000 |
| 7-8 | Playoffs LB Round 2 Loser | $4,000 |
| 7-8 | Playoffs LB Round 2 Loser | $4,000 |
| 9-10 | Playoffs LB Round 1 Loser | $3,000 |
| 9-10 | Playoffs LB Round 1 Loser | $3,000 |
| 11 | Group Mid LB Ro2b Loser | $2,000 |
| 12 | Group Mid LB Ro2a Loser | $1,500 |
| 13-14 | Group Mid LB Ro4b Loser | $1,000 |
| 13-14 | Group Mid LB Ro4b Loser | $1,000 |
| 15-16 | Group Mid LB Ro4a Loser | $500 |
| 15-16 | Group Mid LB Ro4a Loser | $500 |
| Stage 1 Win Bonus | $500 x Win | |
| Total | $100,000 | |
| North America | ||
| Rank | Description | Prize Money |
| 1 | Playoffs GF Winner | $35,000 |
| 2 | Playoffs GF Loser | $20,000 |
| 3 | Playoffs LB Final (Round 5) Loser | $12,500 |
| 4 | Playoffs LB Round 4 Loser | $7,500 |
| 5-6 | Playoffs LB Round 3 Loser | $4,500 |
| 5-6 | Playoffs LB Round 3 Loser | $4,500 |
| 7-8 | Playoffs LB Round 2 Loser | $3,000 |
| 7-8 | Playoffs LB Round 2 Loser | $3,000 |
| 9-10 | Playoffs LB Round 1 Loser | $2,000 |
| 9-10 | Playoffs LB Round 1 Loser | $2,000 |
| 11 | Groupstage #11 | $1,700 |
| 12 | Groupstage #12 | $1,400 |
| 13 | Groupstage #13 | $1,100 |
| 14 | Groupstage #14 | $850 |
| 15 | Groupstage #15 | $600 |
| 16 | Groupstage #16 | $350 |
| Total | $100,000 | |
| Asia | ||
| Rank | Description | Prize Money |
| 1 | Playoffs GF Winner | $15,000 |
| 2 | Playoffs GF Loser | $8,000 |
| 3 | Playoffs LB Final (Round 5) Loser | $5,000 |
| 4 | Playoffs LB Round 4 Loser | $3,000 |
| 5-6 | Playoffs LB Round 3 Loser | $2,000 |
| 5-6 | Playoffs LB Round 3 Loser | $2,000 |
| 7-8 | Playoffs LB Round 2 Loser | $1,300 |
| 7-8 | Playoffs LB Round 2 Loser | $1,300 |
| 9-10 | Playoffs LB Round 1 Loser | $800 |
| 9-10 | Playoffs LB Round 1 Loser | $800 |
| 11 | Groupstage #11 | $500 |
| 12 | Groupstage #12 | $300 |
| 13 | Groupstage #13 | |
| 14 | Groupstage #14 | |
| 15 | Groupstage #15 | |
| 16 | Groupstage #16 | |
| Total | $40,000 | |
Qualification to ESL Pro League:
Qualification to ESL Pro League:
The ECL slots will be allocated to the winners and runners-up of each regional tournament*, guaranteeing qualification for the top two teams of each region in ESL Pro League Season 19.
*In the event that any of the winners or runners-up have already secured their qualification for ESL Pro League 19 or are deemed ineligible to participate, additional details regarding the slot allocation can be accessed via the following link: https://pro.eslgaming.com/tour/2023/05/esl-pro-tour-slot-allocation/
Why are we making these changes?
To ensure minimal overlap with our other events, such as ESL Pro League and related ESL Pro Tour tournaments, and to provide participating teams in the ESL Challenger League with ample breathing space and break time.
Looking forward to the start of the new season, and see you in August!
