Skyesports 2024 CS2 Roadmap: All You Need To Know

In December 2024, Skyesports revealed its Counter-Strike 2 roadmap for the first time. It included a $1 million prize pool split across six IPs. Multiple CS2 events, including their well-known IPs like the Skyesports Championship and Skyesports Masters, will be hosted in India and abroad.

A week after this announcement, Skyesports released more details about the qualifiers and formats of these tournaments, providing a clearer vision of their roadmap throughout 2024. The six tournaments will start in March 2024 and will end in December 2024.

Also Read: All You Need To Know About VCT 2023 China: Ascension
 

Skyesports Roadmap Overview: Prize Pools, Formats, Schedules, And More

Skyesports started the growth of the Counter-Strike ecosystem in 2023 by launching Skyesports Masters 2023, India's first franchised-based Counter-Strike competition, and Souvenir 2023 shortly after. To finish 2023 with a bang, Skyesports has scheduled Skyesports Championship 5.0 CS2 LAN, where global powerhouses such as Team OG and Aurora 1xBet Gaming will take on regional talent in India.

A total of six big-scale tournaments will be hosted by Skyesports in 2024. The timeline of the tournaments is as follows:

• March: Skyesports Grandslam
• May: Skyesports Masters 2024
• July: Skyesports Championship 6.0
• September: Skyesports Souvenir Colombo
• October: Skyesports Global Tour 2024 Thailand
• December: India vs Pakistan Series Abu Dhabi

Skyesports Grandslam

The Skyesports Grandslam, set for March 14th to 16th in India, offers a $50,000 prize pool in an exciting esports event. Teams in India and Australia can participate in open qualifiers, with the top performers advancing. In India, the top 2 teams move on to closed qualifiers where they join 8 partnered teams. The winner of this stage secures a spot in the Main Event. Meanwhile, the top team from open qualifiers in Australia directly qualifies for the Main Event. The main LAN event features 2 international teams, 1 Indian, and 1 Australian team in a double-elimination format across six games.

Skyesports Masters 2024

Skyesports Masters 2024 will take place from May 13th to 19th in India with an impressive $350,000 prize pool. This exciting tournament unfolds in three distinct stages. In Stage 1, the Online phase kicks off with the Indian League Stage where 8 franchised teams will participate in a Single Round Robin format. The top 4 teams earn a spot in the Indian Group Stage held on LAN, featuring a total of 28 games. The Europe Open Qualifiers offer an open field with a Single Elimination format, allowing the top 2 teams to progress to the Europe Closed Qualifiers. 

Moving on to Stage 2, the LAN phase begins with the Indian Group Stage showcasing the 4 qualified teams in a Single Elimination format. The top team from this stage secures a spot in the Main Event. The Europe Group Stage follows suit with the top 2 teams from EU Closed Qualifiers 2 directly invited International teams, making for a total of 4 teams competing in a Round Robin format. The top 3 teams from this stage advance to the Main Event. Stage 3, the grand final, unfolds as a LAN event featuring 4 qualified teams (3 EU teams, and 1 Indian team). The competition intensifies with a Double-elimination format across 6 games.

Skyesports Championship 6.0

Skyesports Championship 6.0 will take place in India from July 4th to 7th, featuring a big $150,000 prize pool. The tournament unfolds in two stages starting with online qualifiers. In the Indian Qualifiers, the top 2 teams from an open Single Elimination format move on to the Indian Closed Qualifiers where 2 groups compete in a Round Robin format. Here, the top 2 teams from each group advance to the Indian Playoffs. The winner of the playoffs secures a place in the Main Event. The European and Australian qualifiers follow a similar structure with the top teams earning spots in the Main Event.

In Stage 2, the LAN Main Event comes alive, featuring champions from Skyesports Masters 2024 and teams from Indian, European, and Australian qualifiers. A total of 4 teams battle it out in a Double-elimination format across 6 games.

Skyesports Souvenir Colombo 

Skyesports Souvenir Colombo will take place from the 13th of September to the 15th of September in Sri Lanka with a whopping $150,000 prize pool. In the first stage, teams from India, the Rest of South Asia (RoSA), Europe, and North America will compete online. The top 2 teams from India move on to the next round where they face off with other Indian and partnered teams for a chance to qualify for the main event. Similarly, winners from RoSA, Europe, and North America directly qualify for the Main Event. In the Main Event, 8 teams, including the top 2 teams from Championship 6.0 and 2 invited based on HLTV Top 20 rankings, will play in a Single Elimination format across 7 games.

Skyesports Global Tour 2024 Thailand

Skyesports Global Tour 2024 will kick off in Thailand from October 25th to 27th, featuring a $200,000 prize pool. The India Qualifiers feature an open-to-all, Single Elimination event where the top 2 teams move on to the Closed Qualifiers. In the Closed Qualifiers, 2 teams from Indian Open Qualifiers and 8 partnered Indian teams face off in a Single Elimination format with the winner securing a spot in the Main Event. The Rest of South Asia (RoSA) Qualifiers and Australia Qualifiers follow a similar pattern, offering a chance for the winners to qualify directly for the Main Event. Additionally, the SEA Qualifiers provide an opportunity for the top team to join the Main Event.

In Stage 2, the Main Event unfolds as a LAN event in Thailand. Representatives from India, RoSA, Australia, and SEA, along with 4 directly invited teams, compete in a Single Elimination format across 7 games.

Skyesports India vs. Pakistan Series Abu Dhabi

An intense Skyesports India vs. Pakistan Series will happen in Abu Dhabi, UAE from the 20th to the 22nd of December with a $50,000 prize pool. The event starts with the India Open Qualifiers where teams compete in a Single Elimination format and the top 2 teams secure a spot in the Indian Closed Playoffs. In the Closed Qualifiers, 2 teams from Indian Open Qualifiers and 8 partnered Indian teams form 2 groups playing in a Round Robin format. The top 2 teams from each group move on to the Main Event.

The Pakistan Qualifiers operate similarly with the top 2 teams earning a direct qualification to the Main Event. The Main Event will be a LAN spectacle, unfolding over three days in Abu Dhabi. On day 1 and 2, the 1st Indian team faces off against 2 Pakistan teams, and the 2nd Indian team competes against 2 Pakistan teams. Day 3 sees the best Indian and Pakistani teams, based on the highest round difference from the first two days, battling it out. In total, there are 9 games, including 8 BO1 matches and 1 BO3 match, promising a thrilling showdown between the two rival nations.