Reports say 2020 CSGO Major will be ESL Rio, Brazil’s first

Multiple sources have confirmed ESL as the organizer for Brazil’s inaugural Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major tournament scheduled for 2020.

Evidence from both professional player commentary and investigative journalism indicates ESL will stage the upcoming CSGO Major in Rio de Janeiro during May 2020. This landmark event represents the first time a Major championship will be hosted within Brazilian territory. ESL previously managed a Major earlier this calendar year through their IEM Katowice competition in Poland.

ESL stands among the most experienced tournament operators within competitive Counter-Strike, having organized numerous Major championships throughout CSGO’s competitive lifespan.

WIN.gg initially broke the story earlier this month regarding Natus Vincere superstar Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev’s accidental revelation during a live broadcast. The player inadvertently disclosed Brazil as the designated location for next year’s opening Major competition. Recent reporting substantiates the information unintentionally shared during s1mple’s streaming session.

Should these reports prove accurate, a Brazilian-hosted Major delivers an exceptional opportunity for South American CSGO enthusiasts in a region that has consistently produced noteworthy professional squads. MIBR, previously competing as Luminosity Gaming and SK Gaming, represents the most decorated competitive organization originating from Brazil.

Majors are the only CSGO tournaments Valve directs

CSGO’s competitive structure diverges significantly from other prominent esports titles. While games such as League of Legends and Overwatch feature league systems directly managed and funded by their developers, CSGO tournaments operate more like the decentralized frontier of competitive gaming. Valve provides minimal direction to event organizers except for two specific annual competitions.

Valve maintains comprehensive involvement in planning and regulatory oversight for the two annual CSGO Majors, approving hosting organizations and providing exclusive in-game item drops for spectators watching matches through CSGO’s integrated streaming client.

StarLadder managed the most recent Major championship, StarLadder Berlin. The competition commenced in August 2019 and extended into September, encompassing three distinct competitive phases and nearly a full month of professional matches. During the championship finals, Astralis secured their third consecutive Major trophy, establishing a new competitive record for most back-to-back CSGO Major victories by any organization in the game’s competitive history.

This development follows additional breaking news within the Major competitive landscape. Earlier this month, Valve publicly disclosed regulatory modifications designed to mitigate conflicts of interest within CSGO Majors, mandating that competing teams disclose any commercial relationships with tournament operators.

For enthusiasts seeking to maximize their Major viewing experience, consider these strategic approaches:

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