ESL Challenger League 47 is scheduled to kick off on February 13th, 2024, and will run until June 9th, 2024.
With the participation of 80 teams spanning five distinct regions, ECL Season 47 marks the debut of the online league in South America and Australia / New Zealand. Simultaneously, it upholds a solid foundation for the progression of teams from Europe, North America, and Asia, following the zero-to-hero pathway. Further information regarding the format, slot allocation, prize pool distribution for each region, and specifics about ECL Relegations are provided in the following section.
Europe
In the European region, ECL Season 47 will consist of 24 teams, with a multi-stage format:
Group Stage 1:
- Four groups of six teams.
- Single round-robin format with best-of-three matches.
- Top two teams from each group advance to Group Stage 2 HIGH.
- Third and fourth-placed teams advance to Group Stage 2 MID.
- Last two teams proceed to Group Stage 2 LOW.
Group Stage 2:
- Three groups of eight teams based on performance in Group Stage 1.
- Double-elimination matches with best-of-three format.
- Progression breakdown for each group:
- Group HIGH: Top two advance to Playoffs' Upper-Bracket (UB) Round-of-four (Ro4); 3rd to 6th advance to Playoffs' UB Ro8; last two continue to Playoffs' Lower-Bracket (LB) Round 1.
- Group MID: Top two advance to Playoffs' LB Round 1; remaining six return next season.
- Group LOW: Top two return for the next ECL season; 3rd to 6th compete for next season spot in ECL relegations; last two are relegated to ESEA League Advanced division.
Playoffs:
- Group Stage 2 HIGH and top two from Group MID enter a double-elimination bracket with best-of-three matches.
- Top two teams progress to the best-of-five Grand Final, with the Upper-Bracket team starting with a 1-0 lead.
Winner and runner-up secure spots in ESL Pro League Season 20*.
The EU region features a $100,000 total prize pool:
| Place | Prize Money | Qualification/Relegation |
| 1st | $15,000 | Qualifies for EPL Season 20* & Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 2nd | $10,000 | Qualifies for EPL Season 20* & Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 3rd | $8,000 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 4th | $6,500 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 5th-6th | $5,000 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 7th-8th | $4,000 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 9th-10th | $3,000 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 11th | $2,000 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 12th | $1,500 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 13th-14th | $1,000 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 15th-16th | $500 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 17th-18th | - | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 19th-22nd | - | Competes in ECL Relegations |
| 23rd-24th | - | Relegated to ESEA League Advanced |
| Stage 1 Win Bonuses (featuring 60 matches, Group Stage 1 will see a $500 bonus given to each competing team per match they won) | $500 | |
| Total | $100,000 |
The lineup of teams participating in ESL Challenger League Season 47 Europe will be determined after the completion of ESEA Open 47, ECL Season 46 and the subsequent relegation matches, scheduled to conclude on December 17, 2023.
Asia / North America / South America
Featuring 16 teams, the Asia, North America and South America regions will see the following format:
Group Stage:
- Sixteen teams participate in a double round-robin format, playing two-game series with two best-of-ones played consecutively.
- The top ten teams move on to the Playoffs.
- Teams ranked 11th and 12th continue their journey in the next ECL season.
- Teams placed 13th and 14th compete in ECL relegations for a chance to participate in the next ECL season.
- The two lowest-ranked teams are relegated to the division below ESL Challenger League.
Playoffs:
- The top ten teams from the Group Stage enter a double-elimination bracket with best-of-three matches.
- The two best teams advance to the best-of-five Grand Final, with the Upper-Bracket team starting with a 1-0 lead.
Both the winner and the runner-up secure a spot in ESL Pro League Season 20.*
ESL Challenger League Season 47 marks the inaugural season in South America, and it features a distribution of 16 slots as follows:
- The champion of ESL Brasil Premier League Season 2, 2023.
- Five teams receiving invitations based on their positions in the ESL World Ranking (cutoff date is December 18, 2023).
- Four teams qualifying through Open Qualifiers:
- Six teams earning their spots based on their performance in ESEA League Open Season 47, which concludes on December 17, 2023.
Additionally, registrations for ESEA League's 47th season are currently open to all, with the sign-up period ending on October 18, 2023. Register here.
The lineup of teams participating in ESL Challenger League Season 47 Asia and North America will be determined after the completion of ECL Season 46 and where applicable the subsequent relegation matches, scheduled to conclude on December 17, 2023.
The North America region features a $80,000 total prize pool:
| Place | Prize Money | Qualification/Relegation |
| 1st | $25,000 | Qualifies for EPL Season 20* & Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 2nd | $15,000 | Qualifies for EPL Season 20* & Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 3rd | $10,500 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 4th | $7,000 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 5th-6th | $4,250 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 7th-8th | $3,000 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 9-10th | $2,000 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 11th | $1,600 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 12th | $1,200 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 13th | $800 | Competes in ECL Relegations |
| 14th | $400 | Competes in ECL Relegations |
| 15th-16th | - | Relegated to ESEA League Advanced |
| Total | $80,000 |
The South America region features a $60,000 total prize pool:
| Place | Prize Money | Qualification/Relegation |
| 1st | $20,000 | Qualifies for EPL Season 20* & Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 2nd | $11,500 | Qualifies for EPL Season 20* & Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 3rd | $7,500 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 4th | $5,000 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 5th-6th | $3,000 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 7th-8th | $2,000 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 9th-10th | $1,500 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 11th | $1,200 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 12th | $900 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 13th | $600 | Competes in ECL Relegations |
| 14th | $300 | Competes in ECL Relegations |
| 15th-16th | - | Relegated to the division below ESL Challenger League |
| Total | $60,000 |
The Asia region features a $40,000 total prize pool:
| Place | Prize Money | Qualification/Relegation |
| 1st | $15,000 | Qualifies for EPL Season 20* & Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 2nd | $8,000 | Qualifies for EPL Season 20* & Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 3rd | $5,000 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 4th | $3,000 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 5th-6th | $2,000 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 7th-8th | $1,300 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 9th-10th | $800 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 11th | $500 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 12th | $300 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 13th-14th | - | Competes in ECL Relegations |
| 15th-16th | - | Relegated to the division below ESL Challenger League |
| Total | $40,000 |
Australia & New Zealand
Featuring 10 teams, the ANZ region will see the following format:
Group Stage:
- All ten teams participate in a double round-robin format, playing two-game series with two best-of-ones played consecutively.
- The top five teams move on to the Playoffs.
- Team ranked 6th will continue its journey in the next ECL season.
- Teams placed 7th and 8th compete in ECL relegations for a chance to participate in the next ECL season.
- The two lowest-ranked teams are relegated to the division below ESL Challenger League.
Playoffs:
- The top five teams from the Group Stage enter a double-elimination bracket with best-of-three matches.
- The two best teams advance to the best-of-five Grand Final, with the Upper-Bracket team starting with a 1-0 lead.
ESL Challenger League Season 47 marks the inaugural season in Australia & New Zealand, and its 16 slots are distributed as follows:
- The champion of ESL ANZ Champs Season 17.
- One team receiving an invitation based on its position in the ESL World Ranking (cutoff date is December 18, 2023).
- Four teams qualifying through Open Qualifiers:
- Four teams securing their spots based on their performance in ESEA League Open Season 47, concluding on December 17, 2023.
Additionally, registrations for ESEA League's 47th season are currently open to all, with the sign-up period ending on October 18, 2023. Register here
The ANZ region features a $10,000 total prize pool:
| Place | Prize Money | Qualification/Relegation |
| 1st | $3,250 | Qualifies for EPL Season 20* & Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 2nd | $2,000 | Qualifies for EPL Season 20* & Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 3rd | $1,400 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 4th | $1,050 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 5th | $800 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 6th | $600 | Returns for ECL Season 48 |
| 7th | $450 | Competes in ECL Relegations |
| 8th | $300 | Competes in ECL Relegations |
| 9th | $150 | Relegated to the division below ESL Challenger League |
| 10th | - | Relegated to the division below ESL Challenger League |
| Total | $10,000 |
Both the winner and the runner-up secure a spot in ESL Pro League Season 20.*
ESL Challenger League Relegations
Starting in 2024, the promotion process from a region's highest ESEA League division to ESL Challenger League will adopt a point-based system. Points will be awarded to teams based on their placements in each ESEA League season.
For the first next ECL season, the direct qualification will go to the winners of the two seasons that feed into it. Specifically, the winners of ESEA League Season 48 and 49 will secure a direct spot in ECL Season 48. Additionally, the teams from Europe ranked first through seventh with the most points, and teams from the other four regions ranked first through third in points, will qualify for the ECL Relegations in their respective regions.
The ESL Challenger League Relegations will follow this format in Europe:
Stage 1:
- Eight teams will compete in a double-elimination bracket.
- These teams consist of the third through seventh teams with the most points from the two corresponding ESEA League seasons, the 21st and 22nd placed teams from the previous ECL season, and a possible invited team based on its position in the ESL World Ranking.
- The top four teams from Stage 1 proceed to the next phase.
Stage 2:
- Eight teams will face off in another double-elimination bracket.
- This stage includes the first and second teams with the most points from the two corresponding ESEA League seasons, the 19th and 20th placed teams from the previous ECL season, and the four teams that advanced from Stage 1.
- The top four teams from Stage 2 will qualify for the next ESL Challenger League season.
The ESL Challenger League Relegations will follow this format in North America, South America, and Asia:
Stage 1:
- Four teams will participate in a double-elimination bracket.
- These teams include the second and third teams with the most points from the two corresponding ESEA League seasons, the 14th placed team from the previous ECL season, and one team invited based on its position in the ESL World Ranking.
- The top two teams from Stage 1 will advance to the next phase.
Stage 2:
- Four teams will compete in a double-elimination bracket.
- This stage comprises the first team with the most points from the two corresponding ESEA League seasons, the 13th placed team from the previous ECL season, and two teams that have advanced from Stage 1.
- The top two teams from Stage 2 will secure qualification for the upcoming ESL Challenger League season.
The ESL Challenger League Relegations will follow this format in Australia & New Zealand:
Stage 1:
- Four teams will participate in a double-elimination bracket.
- These teams consist of the second and third teams with the most points from the two corresponding ESEA League seasons, the 8th placed team from the previous ECL season, and one team invited based on its position in the ESL World Ranking.
- The top two teams from Stage 1 will advance to the next phase.
Stage 2:
- Four teams will compete in a double-elimination bracket.
- This stage includes the first team with the most points from the two corresponding ESEA League seasons, the 7th placed team from the previous ECL season, and two teams that have progressed from Stage 1.
- The top two teams from Stage 2 will secure qualification for the upcoming ESL Challenger League season.
*In the event that a team has already secured their spot in ESL Pro League Season 20, declines the invitation, or is otherwise ineligible to participate, the third place team can inherit the slot. If this team has a slot already or declines the invitation, the procedure continues for the fourth placed team of the season. If none of the top four teams takes the slot, it will be transferred to the regional ESL World Ranking (at the time of the cutoff date). Additional details regarding the slot allocation for ESL Pro Tour competitions can be accessed here.
