Turner and WME | IMG have unveiled the regular season tournament format for the debut of ELEAGUE groups, which will pit four teams against one another in group stages each week. The schedule for the first three weeks of regular season competition has also been revealed with Astralis, Luminosity Gaming, Ninjas in Pyjamas (NiP) and more facing off for a chance to earn one of eight seats in the playoffs.
ELEAGUE will debut Tuesday, May 24, with the world’s elite Counter-Strike: Global Offensive teams facing off in a monumental eSports spectator experience that will be presented live across digital platforms on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays with a Friday night showcase televised live on TBS (weekly at 10 p.m. ET).
During ELEAGUE groups stages, each of the four teams will play one another twice in a round-robin system on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Each victory will award the winning team with one point, which will be added up at the end of play on Wednesdays to rank the group. A semifinal for the group will be held on Thursdays matching up the 1st and 4th ranked teams and 2nd and 3rd ranked teams, with the winners of those matches competing in the Friday night showcase on TBS.
The winner of the group will punch their ticket to the playoffs, beginning in Week 9, while the runner-up will get a second opportunity in the “Last Chance Qualifier” round in Week 8.
“Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to eSports, each week of ELEAGUE will feature compelling storylines as the top CS:GO teams in the world compete to earn a spot in the playoffs,” said Min-Sik Ko, Commissioner of ELEAGUE. “The premiere season of ELEAGUE is set to provide world class competition and ‘must-see’ live event coverage in which every match has meaningful implications.”
ELEAGUE Groups
The first three weeks of ELEAGUE group stages include:
- Week 1 (Week of May 23) – Cloud9, Liquid, Luminosity Gaming and Renegades
- Week 2 (Week of May 30) – G2 eSports, Ninjas in Pyjamas (NiP), Optic and TyLoo
- Week 3 (Week of June 6) – Astralis, Counter Logic Gaming (CLG), NRG and SK Gaming
For the latest information on ELEAGUE, including the roster of teams competing in the debut season and additional information on the inaugural season, visit http://www.e-league.com and join the conversation on Facebook (facebook.com/eleaguegaming) and Twitter (@EL).
