Today we are proud to announce a clear path to the ESL CS:GO Pro League for aspiring teams in Europe. Starting with ESEA Season 26, ESL National Championships in multiple European countries will grant a spot in the Mountain Dew League (MDL), the only way to qualify for the prestigious ESL CS:GO Pro League. This way teams from amateur to professional level can work their way from grassroot CS:GO leagues up towards challenging the best teams in the world in Pro League.
ESL is set to incorporate its European National Championships into ESEA’s system, creating promotion spots up to MDL while also utilizing ESEA’s anticheat technology to secure fair play. The winners of the given ESL National Championships will earn a spot in MDL, giving them a chance to compete internationally with the chance for promotion to the ESL Pro League. If a team already qualified for either MDL or ESL CS:GO Pro League ends up winning their respective National Championship, the runner up will instead receive the spot in MDL.
Ulrich Schulze, VP Pro Gaming at ESL, commented on this move:
“The continued growth of the esports industry relies on the fostering of new talent. ESL and ESEA have a staunch belief that anyone wishing to play at the top level in esports should be supported, and offered a clear path to make their dream a reality. Today’s announcement does just that by uniting ESEA’s leading anticheat, local servers for Europe with ESL’s passionate fan base.”
Promotion spots to ESEA Season 26
- Mountain Dew League will expand from 24 to 27 teams
- 2 from ESL Major League
- 1 from ESL UK (UK Premiership)
- 1 from ESL Poland (Mistrzostwa Polski)
- 4 from ESEA Main division
Additionally, Virtus.Pro will compete in ESEA Season 26 after relegation from the ESL CS:GO Pro League last season.
Promotion spots to ESEA Season 27
- 1 from ESL Germany (Meisterschaft)
- 1 from ESL France (Championnat National)
- 1 from ESL Spain (Masters)
- 4 from ESEA Main division
The Mountain Dew League is the exclusive path into the Pro League, offering support for the EU and NA regions as well as the wider world through the Mountain Dew League Global Challenge. With the inclusion of the European national leagues into the path to the ESL Pro League, amateurs can join the Mountain Dew League and compete for their chance to join the elite teams.
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