Building on the success of the 2023 edition, which saw FaZe Clan emerge victorious, this year’s championship promises to deliver thrilling competition among the top talent in the world of Counter-Strike.
Scheduled to kick off on April 1, 2024, and culminating with the world finals in late October 2024, the Thunderpick World Championship aims to elevate the esports experience to new heights.
With a prize pool nearly double the $600,000 Bitcoin pool of the previous year, participants will vie for a substantial cash reward.
Kelly Sanders, Head of Strategy for Thunderpick, expressed excitement about the upcoming event, emphasizing its role in showcasing the dedication to the vibrant and expanding esports community.
Sanders highlighted the intense competition and high-quality gameplay expected to captivate fans and players worldwide.
The Thunderpick World Championship 2024 will feature six qualifier rounds across three global regions: Europe, North America, and, for the first time, South America.
Qualifiers & Tournament dates
- Europe Qualifier 1: April 1-22
- Europe Qualifier 2: August 19-31
- North America Qualifier 1: May 19-24
- North America Qualifier 2: June 4-9
- South America Qualifier 1: May 11-16
- South America Qualifier 2: July 17-22
- World Finals (RO16): October 1-4
- World Finals (RO8): October 19-20
- World Finals (LAN): October 23-24
All qualifying competitions will be conducted remotely within their respective regions.
Renewing its partnership with GRID, a leading esports data company, Thunderpick ensures the tournament’s integrity, security, and commercial potential.
As the official esports services provider and data partner, GRID will leverage its comprehensive suite of tournament tools and data visualization capabilities to enhance the championship experience.
Fabian Logemann, Head of Tournament Operations at GRID, expressed pride in supporting the Thunderpick CS2 World Championship 2024, citing Thunderpick’s significant contribution to the sustainability of the CS2 esports scene.
GRID looks forward to providing essential tournament services and delivering critical data insights throughout the championship series.
As esports continue to thrive, Thunderpick remains at the forefront of innovation, offering an immersive betting platform and elevating the competitive gaming landscape with prestigious events like the Thunderpick World Championship.
We��re pumped to announce the Thunderpick World Championship 2024!
This year, the top teams in CS2 will go head to head for a record-breaking $1,000,000 prize pool
Make sure to follow us for team announcements, updates and special promos in this year's #ThunderpickWC
pic.twitter.com/6rZvY0FFBi
— Thunderpick (@thunderpickco) February 13, 2024
]]>
Perhaps one of the most important pros of this partnership will be the monitoring GRID will provide. As they curate data, they will ensure that sporting integrity is maintained throughout the event.
Ahead of the tournament, Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) concluded investigations over Spectator Bugs that were used by participants to gain an unfair advantage in 2020. Figuring out the defaulters was made possible through data collected, which is one of the benefits of this partnership.
Chief Product Officer at GRID Charlie Hanley-Nickolls spoke about the partnership, recounting his first experience with PGL, and praised them for their consistency over the years.
“The first esports event I ever attended as a fan was PGL Bucharest back in 2017, and the consistency and quality of what Silviu and his team put out is always first class. The fact that we can contribute to this incredible fan��s experience as the official data partner of PGL for the third year is a real privilege.”
GRID and PGL first got into partnership in 2019 and have since then continued to collaborate. Other sponsors for the 2022 event include betting site GG.bet, Secretlab, and Bitget.
PGL CEO Silviu Stroie also expressed excitement over the renewed partnership, pointing out the importance of data in the esports scene.
“We��re excited to continue our partnership with GRID for the PGL Antwerp Major.”
“Data has become a vital part of the esports ecosystem. The role data plays in broadcast, integrity, and revenue is crucial to the continued growth and stability of the scene.”
GRID has continually secured new partnerships in the esports industry while maintaining former partnerships as it expands its footprint. Earlier this month, they announced the launch of the Champion of Champions Tour, a global tournament circuit.
The event is scheduled to commence in June and will run through to January 2024. The 1.5-year tournament will cut across several regions with an overall prize pool of $3.4 million.
Action in the Antwerp Major has already commenced, with two teams sealing their spots in the Legends Stage. So far, six more teams are needed to bring the number of participants in the Legends Stage to 16.
Team Vitality and G2 Esports are the first two teams to advance from the Challengers Stage. They had a perfect run in the first three rounds of the tournament, with Vitality being the more dominant team.
While two teams have secured berths in the Legends Stage, two others have been eliminated from the Major. Renegades and 9z Team both lost their first three games in the competition. As a result, their chances of advancing to the next round, hence their elimination. They will not be participating in the 4th and 5th rounds of the Challengers Stage.
The winner of the Antwerp Major will walk away with $500,000 of the $1 million prize pool, and direct seeding to the 2022 BLAST Premier World Final. Recall that FaZe Clan has already sealed their spot in the World Final following their stellar display in the ESL Pro League Season 15.
]]>