Counter-Strike skin betting platform CSGOEmpire has announced it will host an online Counter-Strike 2 tournament.
Known as the CSGOEmpire Cup, the tournament will feature a total prize pool of $50,000 (~£39,602).
The CSGOEmpire Cup is set to take place on April 3rd with the Grand Finals taking place on April 19th. Founded in 2016, the creation of the tournament marks CSGOEmpire‘s first foray into operating Counter-Strike competitions.
In addition to announcing the CSGOEmpire Cup, CSGOEmpire has partnered with esports tournament organiser Fortuna Esports. The organiser will manage and assist with production alongside broadcasting the tournament on its Twitch channel.
According to a release, ‘some of the best European teams’ will compete in the tournament. A total of 30 teams will participate in the competition which will feature play-ins, a group stage, and playoffs with each stage featuring teams directly invited by CSGOEmpire. Information on participating teams was not disclosed.
CSGOEmpire isn’t the first betting platform to embark on hosting Counter-Strike tournaments. In February 2024, cryptocurrency bookmaker Thunderpick announced the second edition of the Thunderpick World Championship featuring a $1m (~£792,050) prize pool. Moreover, Rivalry and Counter-Strike commentator Mohan ‘Launders’ Govindasamy unveiled a second CS2 LAN tournament.
Dušan “shaN” Pećić, Marketing Manager at CSGOEmpire, spoke on hosting the tournament: “Empire is nothing without its community. So in the coming months, we want to focus a lot of time and effort into giving back and building cool events that people can participate in and genuinely enjoy.
“As we venture into the world of CS2 tournaments, we look forward to building lasting connections with the community and creating a legacy that resonates for years to come.”
