The ESL Impact League Season 8 Finals, a global Counter-Strike 2 championship, is underway, set to crown the last champion before the league’s inclusive circuit is suspended indefinitely.
Tournament organizer ESL announced in October that its “Impact” initiative, dedicated to fostering inclusive esports, would be halted following the conclusion of this eighth season. This decision casts a significant shadow over the current event, transforming it into a historic final competition.
Eight teams are competing for the ultimate title in what has become a farewell tournament for the Impact circuit. The total prize pool for the event stands at $123,000, with the victorious team taking home $50,000.
Among the contenders are two Brazilian teams, Atrix and MIBR, both aiming to secure what could be the last world championship trophy in the circuit’s history.
The competition began on Friday, with teams divided into two groups for a double-elimination group stage. Upper bracket matches are best-of-one, while elimination matches are best-of-three.
The group stage continues through Saturday. The top four teams will advance to a single-elimination playoff bracket on Sunday.
Playoff matches will begin at 9:00 AM UTC on Sunday, culminating in the grand final scheduled for 3:35 PM UTC. All games are being broadcast on the official channels of the event organizer.