ESL has made the decision to end the ESL National Championships in CS:GO as they prepare for the launch of Counter-Strike 2. The company cited compatibility issues between nation-based CS ecosystems and pan-regional online tournaments as the reason for this change. The CS:GO National Championships will come to an end immediately or after the next season, depending on the country.
The countries affected by this decision include Benelux, France, Spain, and Turkey, who will not have the opportunity to hold their final season this year. Australia & New Zealand, Brazil, Germany, Poland, and the U.K. will have their last season in 2023 before operations cease in 2024. Polish and German teams will still have the chance to qualify for IEM Katowice and Cologne, respectively, which are held in their home countries.
While there is still room for regional and national competitions, ESL emphasized that it will no longer be their active focus. This marks the end of a 20-year tradition of CS:GO National Championships, which played a crucial role in developing local esports scenes and teams.
This decision comes amidst other changes in ESL’s tournament structure. Valve recently announced that Counter-Strike 2 will have an open circuit in 2025, eliminating the unique business relationships between tournament organizers and participating teams. This means ESL will no longer have the opportunity to partner with specific organizations in exchange for direct invites to their events, such as the ESL Pro League.
These changes pose significant challenges for ESL, and they may need to reorganize their business model accordingly. Fans, players, and esports personalities are disappointed by the discontinuation of the CS:GO National Championships, especially with the anticipation surrounding Counter-Strike 2.
Source: DOTESPORTS
