The StarLadder Berlin Major 2019 kicks off on August 23, bringing the world’s best Counter-Strike teams to Berlin to compete for US$1,000,000.
The new Challengers Stage will feature 16 teams competing to the New Legends phase (Photo via StarLadder)
The Counter-Strike event begins with the New Challengers phase. It will run for four days, from August 23-26. This stage will feature 16 teams competing with the Swiss System. The top eight teams after five rounds will advance to the New Legends phase, while the other eight will be eliminated.
Competing during this phase are Team Vitality, AVANGAR, HellRaisers, G2 Esports and Complexity Gaming, due to their placement at the IEM Katowice Major 2019 in late February-early March. Eleven teams qualified through the Minors system. By region, they are:
Europe
- Mousesports
- CR4ZY
- North
Americas
- NRG Esports
- FURIA Esports
- DreamEaters
CIS
- forZe
- Syman Gaming
- INTZ eSports
Asia
- Grayhound Gaming
- Tyloo
Teams are extra incentivized to perform well as teams that finish 14th or better in the overall tournament will punch their tickets to the Spring 2020 Major (details unannounced). Finishing in the top eight during the New Challengers Phase is the first step towards that.
It’s a long road toward winning the tournament for these teams. After surviving the New Challengers phase, they’ll face an additional eight teams in the New Legends phase. That will be around Swiss System phase, and whittle teams down to the top eight for the New Champions Phase, which will be a single-elimination bracket.
To follow all the action, check out the Twitch channel. Matches begin at 6:00 a.m. EDT on August 23.
