CSGO B Site League offers $100,000 open qualifiers & team ‘salary’

Ahead of their launch in March, the FACEIT-supported and Los Angeles-based B Site League have announced their open and closed qualifier system, revealing a plan to provide extensive financial support to up-and-coming CS:GO teams.

As the new competitive Counter-Strike: Global Offensive landscape takes shape in 2020, the various leagues that will dominate the top level of pro CSGO are rolling out information regarding qualification.

The B Site League, for which FACEIT will support production  while under the creative direction of Duncan ‘Thorin’ Shields, announced its open and closed qualifiers through FACEIT on Jan 31, providing ample opportunities to semi-pro and amateur players to earn revenue and qualify for the League.

Beginning on February 5, FACEIT will host multiple open qualifier single-bracket tournaments for the North American, South American, and European regions. The open qualifiers will culminate in closed qualifiers for each region, featuring 32 teams in Europe and 16 teams in each Americas region.

The top two teams from each region will head to Los Angeles to compete in the LAN Finals qualifier for a shot at competing in the B Site League. $100,000 will be up for grabs throughout the qualifiers, and teams without organizations can earn more if they make it all the way to the League.

• Read more: Cloud9, MIBR headline confirmed teams for B Site CSGO League

According to HLTV’s report on the B Site qualifiers, the league will provide a monthly stipend of $25,000 ($5,000 per player) to teams that qualify without organizational support for the duration of the first season.

With this offer, the league can support teams that aren’t benefiting from a traditional team salary or the perks that usually come with it, like sponsorship and merchandise revenue.

With direct financial support from the league, a roster that qualifies can focus on competing without worrying about trying to sign with an organization, reducing the risk of rushing to sign an unfair contract.

• Read more: ESL Senior VP apologizes for CSGO Pro League controversy

This news comes on the same day ESL announced additional opportunities for teams to qualify for ESL Pro League, following backlash from their announcement from a week prior that numerous qualified teams had lost their Pro League slot.

Teams that lost out on Pro League spots will be invited to regional qualifiers in April for a chance to join the league at Season 12. Those same teams can also compete in the Mountain Dew League, without having to pay participation fees. MDL culminates in a Global Challenge with more opportunities to qualify for Pro League.

• Read more: ESL announces new teams and format for CSGO Pro League season 11

As mentioned above, the open qualifiers for B Site League begin at the beginning of February, and we’ll update with more information regarding the closed qualifier and LAN finals as it becomes available.