ESL is the largest organizer of esports tournaments

The ESL (Electronic Sports League) is the oldest and largest esports organization in the world, having defined the standards of professional eSports.

Founded in 2000 in Germany, ESL has become the foundation of the industry, transforming video game tournaments from a hobby of enthusiasts into a global sport with millions of viewers and multimillion-dollar prize money.

History and development of ESL

The first ESL tournaments were held in local networks in Germany and Europe, and in the mid-2000s the company entered the international level.

With the advent of CS 1. 6, Warcraft 3 and StarCraft, the organization quickly became the main center of competitive gaming.

• 2006-2010 - expansion to Europe and the United States, launch of the ESL Pro Series.
• 2013 - the start of the iconic Intel Extreme Masters (IEM).
• 2015 - the first CS: GO tournaments with $1 million in prize money.
• 2022 - joining the ESL FACEIT Group holding, which unites the two largest esports brands.

Today, ESL is an international media holding with offices in Cologne, Dallas, Dubai and Singapore, annually holding dozens of championships in leading disciplines.

ESL Main Tournaments

1. Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) is the flagship of ESL, a series of world tournaments in CS2 and StarCraft II.

Stages are held in Katowice, Cologne, Dallas, Sydney, Rio and Beijing.

The final in Katowice attracts tens of thousands of spectators every year at Spodek Stadium.

2. The ESL Pro League (EPL) is a multi-month CS2 league where the best teams in the world compete for the title of champion of the season.

3. ESL Challenger/ESL Impact are second divisions and women's leagues developing young talent and stage inclusivity.

4. DreamHack Festivals is a series of festivals from ESL partner, combining esports, exhibitions and gaming culture.

5. ESL R1 is a new motorsport and sim racing series launched in 2023.

Disciplines and teams

• CS2 (Counter-Strike 2) is the main flagship and heart of ESL.
• Dota 2, Valorant, StarCraft II, PUBG, Rainbow Six Siege, Rocket League, FIFA, Sim Racing.

• FaZe Clan, Natus Vincere (NaVi), G2 Esports, Vitality, Heroic, Team Liquid, Astralis, ENCE, Cloud9, Fnatic.

ESL and the esports industry

ESL is not just a tournament organizer, but an architect of the modern scene.

The company introduced standards for broadcasts, ratings and anti-cheat systems, laying the foundation for professionalism in eSports.

• ESL Pro Tour is a unified rating system for all tournaments.
• ESL Impact is a women's league promoting equality and inclusion.
• ESL Play is a platform for amateur leagues and regional qualifications.
• ESL Mobile - the development of mobile esports.

ESL partners with the largest brands - Intel, DHL, Monster Energy, Acer, MSI, Coinbase, which makes esports part of the global business.

ESL and rates

Thanks to its transparent structure and statistics, ESL tournaments are among the most popular for betting.

1. Match or card winner.

2. Totals by rounds/kills.

3. Card account (Bo3/Bo5).

4. Tournament winner (Outright).

5. Live betting during ESL Pro League and IEM matches.

For analysts, ESL is an ideal platform: a stable format, high-quality statistics and a high level of teams make forecasts as accurate as possible.

Why ESL is unique

ESL is the face of esports, a symbol of professionalism and stability.

The company brings together the best teams, brands and fans, creating an industry comparable to traditional sports leagues.

ESL forms quality standards, regulates tournament schedules and develops the younger generation of players, turning esports into a true sports ecosystem.

ESL is not just a tournament organizer.

This is the institute of esports, which determines what professional gaming looks like today and what it will become tomorrow.

Each of their tournaments is a celebration of technology, strategy and human skill.