DreamHack’s $250,000 Valve-backed major in Romania in October promises to be one of the biggest Counter-Strike events of the year. But the qualifiers, at DreamHack Open in Stockholm, should be full of their own share of excitement and drama, thanks in part to a unique format introduced earlier today.
Stockholm, Sweden will play host to the qualifying tournament from Sept. 22 to 26, where eight of the teams in attendance will earn qualification to Dreamhack Cluj-Napoca in Romania, the Valve-sponsored major. The 16 teams will be split into four groups. All group stage matches will be best of three, with a double elimination format, which should excite fans the most.
Each day one group will be played out almost to its entirety. One team will progress as the winner while the remaining two teams in the lower bracket final will compete on the final day of tournament to decide the second team from each group to progress to Romania.
The first four days of matches will be played behind closed doors at the Monster Energy Dreamhack Studios. On Saturday, however, the final matches of each group will play out at the 16,000-capacity Annexet Globe Arena.
Eight teams have already claimed their spot at the major in Romania after achieving legend status from a top eight finish at ESL One Cologne. After the Dreamhack Stockholm qualifier concludes, we’ll know every competitor who will be fighting for a chunk of the $250,000 prize pool at Dreamhack Cluj-Napoca.
Image via DreamHack
