ESL, DreamHack and the Counter-Strike Professional Players’ Association announced that they have come to common terms on an agreement concerning player participation in CS:GO tournaments within the ESL Pro Tour, as well as the Tour’s format itself.
The participation framework agreement aims to set in stone the rights and obligations of players within the ESL Pro Tour, as well as tournament conditions and the Tour’s schedule as a whole. As per the official statement made by ESL:
“CSPPA will work with ESL and DreamHack on the governance of the tournament circuit, participation in business revenues, defining player rights and obligations at live events as well as making the current ESL tournament conditions the standard across tournaments. Further, CSPPA parties will cooperate on the ESL Pro Tour events calendar and the summer and winter player breaks.”
The press release goes on to state both parties’ intent on creating a more professional feel around the CS:GO scene and abandon some old habits that have led to disappointing tournament experiences for organizers, players and fans alike in the past.
This agreement goes in effect immediately and will cover all events part of the ESL Pro Tour. The Pro Tour mashes up all ESL and DreamHack tournaments into one big circuit that will culminate with two Masters Championships - IEM Katowice and ESL One Cologne, later this year. The first CS:GO tournament that will implement this newly signed framework will be DreamHack Open Leipzig, starting on January 24.
