Elisa expands esports operations globally and joins forces in order to form a $2,7m CS:GO tournament tour for 2021-2022, paving a way towards a new tier 1 event for the global esports fans

26.4.2021 - 10:53

The new partnership will bring together the tournament operations of names such as Home Sweet Home, Funspark and Elisa Esports. The tournaments will operate under a shared pointing system for the teams and create a completely new international series with the locally most relevant teams for European esports fans across the continent.

Elisa Esports announces three new partnerships in order to strengthen its position in European esports field, namely with GRID, Relog Media and Funspark. The new Masters tournament tour will bring together the most interesting and fascinating esports teams across Europe, who go head-to-head and compete for a $2,7m total prize pool across 2021 and 2022 – all under the same and easy-to-follow tournament structure. Each tournament organizer (Elisa Esports, Relog Media and Funspark) will continue to provide their own individual prize pools, but now with participating in common tour and thus creating together a $2,7m CS:GO tournament tour.

The partnership with GRID will notably improve Elisa Esports’ capability in making use of the data in the played games, allowing for example a completely new way for spectators to get more insights about the played game in a live form. Furthermore, the tournament partnership with Relog Media and Funspark will significantly increase the amount of content to be available for European and Finnish esports fans and audience.

“With the extended tournament structure co-operated with Relog Media and Funspark, we wanted to provide a new way for European top teams to better their rankings and compete, even if they are not official partners with the largest commercial leagues. Our tour will attract an extraordinary combination of interesting teams in the world, which has been a long-awaited element by our viewers and fans across the Nordics and Europe. For our viewers we wanted to tell that we have listened, and acted accordingly”, says Teemu Koski, Head of Elisa Esports.

“Throughout 2020, we have put a significant effort in order to truly understand what our viewers and fans would love to see us deliver, both in terms of the content for the viewers and the professional opportunities for Finnish and Nordic esports teams. Partnering up with GRID, Relog Media and Funspark proves that we’re on the right track, and we will continue to work hard in order to serve the people who love esports”, adds Pasi Lindqvist, Senior Business Designer from Elisa.

By creating and joining a shared tournament structure through each organizers’ Masters-events, Elisa Esports plans to add a new layer to the existing Elisa Invitational tournament structure. First, Elisa Invitationals are expected to be organized quarterly with a total prize pool of $400k, which furthermore is planned to gather the winning teams of Elisa Invitationals to Elisa Masters events with a separate $250k prize pool. Similarly, the other two tournament organizers will host their Masters-events.

All of the tournaments (Elisa Invitational, Home Sweet Home & Funspark) will operate an overarching Points System which is based on GRID scoring data for the teams, which allows an easy way for teams and spectators to follow the journey throughout the annual seasons. All of the Masters events from each tournament organizer are planned to lead up to a new flagship CS:GO event called “Elisa Champion of Champions” tournament, which is currently expected to take place in the Fall 2022. Champion of Champions will attract a globally significant pool of teams, more information of which will be provided when final decisions about the event are made. More information about the point system and Elisa Champion of Champions event is to follow in coming weeks and months.

The content of Elisa Invitationals, Elisa Masters and Elisa Champion of Champions will be broadcasted on Elisa Esports’ Twitch channels in both Finnish and English. Other language broadcasters and local media partners will be shared before each event.

Next Elisa Invitational will be organized on 28th June to 3rd July 2021. This event will follow the regional and main swiss stages played throughout May and June. The Swiss stages will qualify 8 teams to Elisa Invitational Summer, whereas 4 other teams are receiving direct invites. The invited teams will be announced closer to the event. Elisa Invitational Fall and Elisa Invitational Winter will be organised later in 2021.

“We can expect nothing less than a year-long party for the fans, as the new structure brings together the most interesting teams and players across Europe, week after week”, comments Teemu Koski.

Elisa Invitational and Elisa Masters in a nutshell:

• Four Elisa Invitational events with $100,000 each, Elisa Masters with $250,000
  • Completed: Elisa Invitational Spring 2021 ($100,000 total prize money)
  • Elisa Invitational Summer 2021 ($100,000 total prize money)
  • Elisa Invitational Fall 2021 ($100,000 total prize money)
  • Elisa Invitational Winter 2021 ($100,000 total prize money)
  • Elisa Masters 2022 ($250,000 total prize money)
• New Elisa Invitational format, applied to Elisa Invitational Summer 2021
  • Stage 1 – Qualifiers
    • May 1st – May 2nd
    • 64 Finnish teams in a Single-Elimination Bracket in Saturday’s Open Qualifier
    • hREDS, KOVA, SJ and the winner of the Open Qualifier in Sunday’s Closed Qualifier
    • Winner secures a spot in Stage 2, Regional Swiss
  • Stage 2 – Regional Swiss
    • May 6th – May 30th
    • Every week from Thursday to Sunday at 5pm and 8pm CEST
    • Swiss Group (Best-of-3) with 15 invite teams such as Nordavind and Young Ninjas, and 1 qualifier team
    • Top 8 teams will advance to Stage 3, Main Swiss
  • Stage 3 – Main Swiss
    • June 3rd – June 27th
    • Every week from Thursday to Sunday at 5pm and 8pm CEST
    • Swiss Group (Best-of-3) with 8 invite teams such as HAVU and ENCE, and 8 teams from the Regional Swiss
    • Top 8 teams will secure spots in Stage 4, the Playoffs
  • Stage 4 – Playoffs
    • June 28th – July 3rd
    • Single-Elimination Bracket with 4 rounds of play: Opening Matches, Quarter Finals, Semi Finals and Grand Finals
    • 12 teams in total; 8 teams in the Opening Matches from Main Swiss, 4 teams invited to the Quarter Finals

Elisa Champion of Champions Tour in a nutshell:

• Qualification Stages (2021-2022)
  • Home Sweet Home tournaments ($1,200,000 total prize money)
  • Elisa Invitational tournaments ($400,000 total prize money)
  • Funspark tournaments ($330,000 total prize money)
• LAN Stages (2022)
  • LAN Sweet LAN Masters tournament ($250,000 total prize money)
  • Elisa Masters tournament ($250,000 total prize money)
  • Funspark ULTI Grand Finals ($300,000 total prize money)
• Format
  • Online Qualification Stages, where teams collect points
  • Offline LAN Stages, where teams collect points
  • Elisa Champion of Champions tournament in 2022, where teams with the most points will battle for the title of the Champion of Champions
    
• 2,7 million USD Prize Pool across a handful of tournaments in 2021-2022

25.4.2021 - 19:00

Over half of the teams are already out and fight for the spots in upcoming rounds is getting more serious! 128 teams remaining and these teams are playing with SUPER-rules on 8 groups. Second round is broadcasted by community casters and the links for these streams will be added during gamedays. More info about the tournament you find here.

In the second round, teams will play six maps (3x Miramar & 3x Erangel) and top-8 from the each group will advance to round 2. Come and join the community streams to cheer your favorite team to the next round!

Round 2

Monday 26.4

Group 1

• Broadcast: Chunks (ENG) – Trauni (GER)
• First match starts at 18.00 CEST
• Results: Points

Group 2

• Broadcast: Yarrmosh (RU)
• First match starts at 18.00 CEST
• Results: Points

Group 3

• Broadcast: hStRSH (ENG) – Redemption1950 (CRO) – Zuluxxman (GER)
• First match starts at 18.00 CEST
• Results: Points

Group 4

• Broadcast: HeKsy (FIN) – odesskin (RU)
• First match starts at 18.00 CEST
• Results: Points

Tuesday 27.4

Group 5

• Broadcast: HeKsy (FIN) – Yarrmosh (RU)
• First match starts at 18.00 CEST
• Results: Points

Group 6

• Broadcast: hStRSH (ENG) – Zuluxxman (GER) – Redemption1950 (CRO) – kalterRR (RU)
• First match starts at 18.00 CEST
• Results: Points

Group 7

• Broadcast: Kowo (ENG)
• First match starts at 18.00 CEST
• Results: Points

Group 8

• Broadcast: SpanCargo (ENG) – odesskin (RU) – ImDivinE (CZE)
• First match starts at 18.00 CEST
• Results: Points

To be sure you get all the latest updates, results and news you should follow our twitter!

Joining the teams who battle their way through 288 competitors to round 4 is 12 invitational teams and for round 5 we get 8 more internationally known squads! These invitational teams have shown their strength in last PSL season and/or other international tournaments through this winter. It is great honor to introduce to you these 20 invitational teams! Welcome to PSL Elisa Esports PUBG Spring Challenge!

Round 4 invitational teams

Bystanders

DiNG

fastPay Wildcats

 HEROIC

 Karagümrük

 KitKat

 Natus Vincere

 ORGLESS

 shiftW

 SKADE

 team sniip

 Vis

Round 5 invitational teams

 Adepts

 ENCE

 FaZe Clan

 LUL

 PolishPower

 Team Liquid

 Virtus.pro

 We Live Again

More info about the PSL Elisa Esports PUBG Spring Challenge is available here.

18.4.2021 - 19:00

First round of the PSL actions is finally here and we get to see which teams out of the 288 teams entering the competition will advance to the round 2! First round is broadcasted by community casters and the links for these streams will be added during gamedays. More info about the tournament you find here.

In the first round, teams will play six maps (3x Miramar & 3x Erangel) and top-7 from the group and two best 8th placed teams overall will advance to round 2. Come and join to streams and cheer your favorite team to the next round!

Round 1

Monday 19.4

Group 1

• Broadcast: Kojootti (FIN)
• First match starts at 18.00 CEST
• Results: Points

Group 2

• Broadcast: Redemption1950 (CRO)
• First match starts at 18.00 CEST
• Results: Points

Group 3

• Broadcast: Kowo (ENG)
• First match starts at 18.00 CEST
• Results: Points

Group 4

• Broadcast: Odesskin & Yarrmosh (RU)
• First match starts at 18.00 CEST
• Results: Points

Group 5

• Broadcast: Zuluxxman (GER)
• First match starts at 18.00 CEST
• Results: Points

Group 6

• First match starts at 18.00 CEST
• Results: Points

Group 7

• Broadcast: Chunks (ENG)
• First match starts at 18.00 CEST
• Results: Points

Group 8

• Broadcast: PenaP (FIN)
• First match starts at 18.00 CEST
• Results: Points

Group 9

• First match starts at 18.00 CEST
• Results: Points

Tuesday 20.4

Group 10

• Broadcast: HeKsy (FIN)
• First match starts at 18.00 CEST
• Results: Points

Group 11

• Broadcast: odesskin (RU)
• First match starts at 18.00 CEST
• Results: Points

Group 12

• Broadcast: hope_us (RU)
• First match starts at 18.00 CEST
• Results: Points

Group 13

• Broadcast: Redemption1950 (CRO)
• First match starts at 18.00 CEST
• Results: Points

Group 14

• Broadcast: SpanCargo (ENG)
• First match starts at 18.00 CEST
• Results: Points

Group 15

• Broadcast: ImDivinE (CZE) / Trauni (GER)
• First match starts at 18.00 CEST
• Results: Points

Group 16

• Broadcast: PenaP (FIN)
• First match starts at 18.00 CEST
• Results: Points

Group 17

• Broadcast: Chuba (ESP) / hStRSH (SRB)
• First match starts at 18.00 CEST
• Results: Points

Group 18

• Broadcast: Yarrmosh (RU)
• First match starts at 18.00 CEST
• Results: Points

To be sure you get all the latest updates, results and news you should follow our twitter!

15.4.2021 - 18:00

We are more than happy to announce that PSL Elisa Esports PUBG Spring Challenge will feature a PCS Europe Wildcard slot for PUBG Continental Series 5 tournament. That means that one of the teams competing in upcoming PSL season will be getting a wildcard slot for the PCS5 Regional Playoffs!

Conditions

There are few conditions for the wildcard spot. It is given to the highest placing team that fills all the requirements and conditions.

• All team members must be over 18 years old by the start date of the PCS5 Open Qualifiers.
• A player who was previously banned by PUBG Corp. or by the PCS production team and with his ban still valid in time on any of his accounts is not eligible to take part in PCS5 and cannot be granted a wildcard slot.
• If team is already invited or qualified to PCS5 and wins the wildcard slot, the team next in line is granted the wildcard slot.
• If team consists 2 players from from one region (for example Europe West) and 2 players from another region (for example MEA), team must choose which region they represent in PCS5.

After Wildcard spot is given, it is not transferable in any condition. Team need to keep at least 3 out of the 4 players, who were assigned to the team main roster during the PSL season. Otherwise they lose the wildcard spot.

More info about the PCS Europe Wildcard system is available at PUBG Esports website.

To be sure you get all the latest updates, results and news you should follow our twitter!

13.4.2021 - 17:46

Elisa Invitational Spring 2021 is set to begin on the 15th of April! Here’s how you can catch up with all the content for the Elisa Invitational.

• Where: Online
• When: 15. – 18.4.2021
• Teams: 8
• Prize Pool: $50 000

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FORMAT

Group Stage

• 4 team GSL Double-Elimination Brackets (Group Openers + Winners Match BO1, Elimination + Decider Match BO3)
• 2 best teams qualify to Playoffs from each bracket

Playoffs

• 2 x Semi-Finals (BO3), Grand Final (BO3)

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TEAMS

Group A

• SKADE – Invited
• Nordavind – Invited
• HAVU Gaming – Qualified from Elisa Nordic Championship regional tournament
• Apeks – Qualified from Elisa Nordic Championship regional tournament

Group B

• ENCE – Invited
• DBL Poney – Invited
• Tricked – Qualified from Elisa Nordic Championship regional tournament
• Young Ninjas – Qualified from Elisa Nordic Championship regional tournament

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TALENTS

• Rikumikko “T_Panda” Kangasmäki – Host
• Roope “RobuJohnson” Leppänen – Analyst
• Joona “natu” Leppänen – Analyst
• Josh “Dweg” Nathan – Caster
• Jamie “TheEternalJay” Martin – Caster
• Harvey “Skriv” Rodgers – Caster

• Timo “Stimby” Pölkki – Caster
• Santeri “Uppis” Puusaari – Caster
• Peetro “Torpeedro” Aittola – Caster
• Topi “OfficialToivo” Hirvilammi – Caster

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SCHEDULE

15.4. THURSDAY – Group A

• Opening match 14:00 CEST – HAVU vs. Apeks BO1
• Opening match 15:30 CEST – SKADE vs. Nordavind BO1
• Winners Match 17:00 CEST – TBD BO1
• Losers Match 19:00 CEST – TBD BO3

16.4. FRIDAY – Group B

• Opening match 14:00 CEST – ENCE vs. Young Ninjas BO1
• Opening match 15:30 CEST – DBL Poney vs. Tricked BO1
• Winners Match 17:00 CEST – TBD BO1
• Losers Match 19:00 CEST – TBD BO3

17.4. SATURDAY

• Decider Match 16:00 CEST – Group A TBD BO3
• Decider Match 19:00 CEST – Group B TBD BO3

18.4. SUNDAY

• Semi Final #1 12:00 CEST – TBD BO3
• Semi Final #2 15:00 CEST- TBD BO3
• Grand Final 19:00 CEST – TBD BO3

Follow our Twitter for results and real time schedule.

See you on Twitch!

1.4.2021 - 20:00

31.3.2021 - 11:55

Elisa Invitational Spring 2021 – stronger than ever! Elisa Invitational will be played between qualified teams from Elisa Nordic Championship and some of the most prestigious teams in the world. The tournament takes place from 15th to 18th of April, with a total prize pool of $50,000.

The tournament will feature eight top teams, including the Finnish domestic supersensations; HAVU and ENCE. Four teams have proven themselves worthy and qualified from the local Elisa Nordic Championship tournaments. These teams are HAVU, Tricked, Apeks and Young Ninjas. The rest of the slots will be filled by invites of some of the top teams in the world.

The tournament features Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Elisa Invitational was held twice in 2020, and now it’s returning bigger than ever!

Elisa Invitational Spring 2021 in a nutshell:

• Tournament Play
  • Group Stage 15. – 17.4.
  • Playoffs 18.4.
• Format
  • Group Format
    • 4 team GSL Double-Elimination Brackets (Group Openers + Winners Match BO1, Elimination + Decider Match BO3)
    • 2 best teams qualify to Playoffs from each bracket
  • Playoff Format
    • 2 x Semi-Finals (BO3), Grand Final (BO3)
• Teams
  • 4 qualified teams from their own regional Elisa Nordic Championship tournaments
    • HAVU (Finland), Tricked (Denmark), Apeks (Norway) and Young Ninjas (Sweden)
  • 4 world top teams invited
    • ENCE (Finland) and 3 other teams to be announced soon
• $100,000 Prize Pool
  • A total of $50,000 shared between the regional leagues
  • $50,000 up for grabs in Elisa Invitational
    • 1^st Place $25,000
    • 2^nd Place $10,000
    • 3^rd and 4^th Place $5,000
    • 5^th and 6^th Place $1,500
    • 7^th and 8^th Place $1,000
• Exact schedule: elisaviihde.fi/sport/lajit/e-urheilu
• You can find more information about the tournament, as well as current esports news at elisaesports.fi
• For the latest news regarding everything Elisa Esports, follow @elisaesports in Twitter and Instagram!

5.3.2021 - 13:49

Sweden wraps Elisa Nordic Championship on March 25th with the prize pool of $12.500. However only a winner can join for couple weeks later hosted Elisa Invitational.

Teams for playoffs are Galaxy Racer, paperplanes, Lilmix, Team Denied, Young Ninjas, gravediggerss, Sygytt and BRB Shooters.

Bullets starts flying in the opening match when Galaxy Racer and BRB Shooters meet each other at March 25th 16CET. Later Young Ninjas and Team Denied closes the Thrusday night at 19CET. Lilmix and Gravediggers leads the March 26th and in the last quater final match we see Sygytt and paperplanes going head-to-head.

Schedule – Qualifiers

Date CET	VS.
Quater Finals #1 25.3.2021 16.00	Galaxy Racer vs. BRB Shooters
Quater Finals #2 25.3.2021 19.00	Young Ninjas vs. Team Denied
Quater Finals #3 26.3.2021 16.00	Lilmix vs. Gravediggers
Quater Finals #4 26.3.2021 19.00	Sygytt vs. paperplanes

On March 27th we have two semi-final matches. The first match up starts at 16CET while the second one at 19CET. Despite the results, all teams are seen March 28th when the Bronze match takes in place at 16CET. But just a few hours later, the Grand Final will plant the biggest bomb deciding ranks one and two.

Schedule – Finals

Event	Date CET
Semi-finals #1	27.3.2021 16.00
Semi-finals #2	27.3.2021 19.00
Bronze Match	28.3.2021 16.00
Grand Final	28.3.2021 19.00

All Elisa Nordic Championship matches are shown in Twitch and in Elisa Viihde Sport.

2.3.2021 - 13:38

As only eight teams left, Norway starts their playoff marching on March 18th. With total prize pool $12.500, only a winner claims the ticket to the Elisa Invitational.

Quarterfinal teams are Nordavind DNB Talent, FOXED, Oilers Esports, Team Bitfrost, Team Midgard, 777 Esports, Apeks and Wizard Esports.

The first quarter final is between Apeks and FOXED on the Thursday evening March 18th at 16CET followed by the day`s second match between Midgard and Team Bitforst at 19CET. Oilers Esports challenges 777 Esports on the Friday`s first match at 16CET and in the last quater final Nordavind DNB Talent goes against Wizard Esports at 19CET.

Schedule – Qualifiers

Date CET	VS.
Quater Finals #1 18.3.2021 16.00	Apeks vs. FOXED
Quater Finals #2 18.3.2021 19.00	Team Midgard vs. Bifrost
Quater Finals #3 19.3.2021 16.00	Oilers Esports vs. 777 Esports
Quater Finals #4 19.3.2021 19.00	Nordavind DNB Talent vs. Wizard Esports

Norway`s first semi-final begins at 16CET on March 20th. At 19CET starts the second one as there are two semi-final matches on the same day. The Bronze match will take in place on March 21st just before the main event, Grand Final at 19CET.

Schedule – Finals

Event	Date CET
Semi-finals #1	20.3.2021 16.00
Semi-finals #2	20.3.2021 19.00
Bronze Match	21.3.2021 16.00
Grand Final	21.3.2021 19.00

All Elisa Nordic Championship matches are shown in Twitch and in Elisa Viihde Sport.