It has been a while since the last edition, but we are finally back with another Weekly CS:GO News Roundup. The player break is in full swing, and teams will be frantically making roster decisions over the next few weeks. This week’s edition focuses on some of the most recent updates that the Counter-Strike scene will be facing over the course of this year. If you want recaps on IEM Cologne or any of the past roundups, be sure to check out TGH’s full coverage here.
PGL Considering Pivot From Stockholm
After the DOTA 2 International switched its location to Bucharest, Romania, CS:GO fans around the world found themselves in a worrying state of affairs. The PGL Stockholm Major is supposed to take place in the same initial location as Valve’s flagship MOBA, and now also finds itself under the scrutiny of Sweden’s government.
Talks between the legendary organization Ninjas in Pyjamas, PGL and the Minister of Swedish Culture have been planned, but the most recent updates from the Romanian tournament organizers bring forth a dire situation. Since Sweden’s COVID-19 regulations have gotten stricter, the massive Avicii Arena could only house 300 spectators rather than the complete 16,000 seating capacity.
The organizers are now considering a similar pivot as DOTA 2 and reorganizing the Major in Bucharest. This would be the second Major to be hosted in Romania after 2015’s DreamHack Open Cluj-Napoca saw Kenny “kennyS” Schrub win his first Major title. Stay tuned to TGH for more updates on this pressing set of events.
EPL Season 14 to be Begrudgingly Held Online
A triumphant return to LAN came to a dramatic conclusion as Natus Vincere took home the trophy at IEM Cologne. The international Counter-Strike scene rejoiced as the third season of the Intel Grand Slam could come to a halt at the upcoming ESL Pro League Season 14 event to occur in Malta. However, as the delta variant of COVID-19 continues to build momentum across the world, travel regulations have also tightened at the European nation.
The event is now being held online across Europe to potentially decide the fate of an incredibly tight race for the coveted Intel Grand Slam and could completely ruin the integrity of the storied competition. Although the potential for LAN competition has been ended for right now, ESL is still working towards bringing back IEM Fall and IEM Winter to the big stage once more.
Valve Launches Its 1 Million Dollar Art Contest
Starting July 22nd, Valve will begin accepting submissions for their 1-million-dollar skin designing competition. The ten winners of this competition will earn 100,000 dollars each and will be featured in the November case titled Dreams and Nightmares.
Valve has previously struggled with interacting with its massive user base and this art contest could be a start of something incredible for the community to partake in. Although the skins have been created for quite a while by the Counter-Strike community, an art contest of this scale is unprecedented. The winners will be announced November 21.
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