Skyesports Announces $1m Roadmap for Counter-Strike 2 in 2024: A Comprehensive Look into the Global Esports Tournament
South Asian esports tournament organiser, Skyesports, has unveiled an ambitious $1 million roadmap for Counter-Strike 2 in the 2024 season. With six global IPs, the lineup includes a mix of international and Indian teams and marks a significant investment in the esports industry.
The Skyesports Grand Slam, featuring a franchised esports league named Skyesports Masters, will kick off the season from March 14th-18th, 2024. The Skyesports Championship, a homegrown esports IP, is slated for July, accompanied by a $150,000 (~£118,000) prize pool. The venues for these events will be disclosed at a later date.
In September, Skyesports will host the $150,000 Skyesports Souvenir in Colombo, Sri Lanka, featuring teams from India, Europe, and North America. The most noteworthy addition to the roadmap is the Skyesports Global Tour – a new global esports IP taking place in Bangkok, Thailand, with a $250,000 (~£196,800) prize pool in October 2024. Qualifiers from India, Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia will determine the participating teams.
Shiva Nandy, Founder and CEO of Skyesports, commented on the 2024 roadmap, stating, “Our 2024 roadmap has been planned with a focus on fostering talent, global expansion, and ensuring sustainability for participating teams.” He added, “We have five global IPs planned, offering a total prize pool of $1m, all happening in person. Notably, three of these tournaments will take place in India, showcasing global esports talent and introducing the electrifying world of Counter-Strike esports to a broader audience.”
The Skyesports India vs Pakistan Series, scheduled for December 2024, will take place in Abu Dhabi, UAE, with the two countries sharing a $50,000 prize pool. Furthermore, Skyesports is committed to supporting grassroots-level collegiate and cafe events for Counter-Strike 2 in India, providing monetary and infrastructural support.
Skyesports’ roadmap aims to establish the company as a leading esports tournament organizer. Earlier this year, they hosted India’s first-ever franchised esports league, the Skyesports Masters, and have partnered with Indian streaming platform Loco and hardware brand AMD, among others, to support tournament organization and logistics.
To bridge the gap between traditional sports and esports, Skyesports has also partnered with collegiate esports tournament platform MOGO. Additionally, they have hosted a free LAN event for the fifth edition of the Skyesports Championship’s Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) series.
The $1m roadmap is expected to have a significant influence on the future of esports and serves as a testament to the growing impact and popularity of competitive gaming. As Skyesports extends its reach within the gaming industry, the CS:GO community will likely see increased exposure and opportunities, benefitting players, fans, and the esports industry as a whole.
