Thorin on esports: “The industry needs entertaining championships that go beyond the endless pursuit of points.”

Snappi: Variety in tournament formats is a great idea, but the main problem is that organizers of major, prestigious championships tend to stick to a traditional structure so that the results are taken as seriously as possible. To create the most objective and meaningful tournament, an eight-team playoff bracket is ideal. That said, it’s always interesting to watch unconventional events like cs_summit in a home-game atmosphere or BLAST Bounty, where participants choose their own opponents. Such unique twists—where underdogs can deliberately challenge a favorite on its strongest map—add to the spectacle. The industry definitely needs more alternative formats, but they should be introduced by tournament operators who aren’t initially aiming for the status of Katowice or Cologne. They need to accept the fact that they won’t become major championships like those organized by PGL or BLAST, but by creating an unusual and appealing show, they’ll be able to attract several top teams. It’s a good idea, but organizers of prestigious tournaments are unlikely to go along with such experiments, since otherwise victories in such events would immediately lose their legitimacy in the eyes of the community.

Mauisnake: The situation with alternative formats is largely dictated by the VRS system, and the whole idea comes down to whether Valve will allow such tournaments to take place. It would be interesting to see the return of “attack-only” mode, but top teams simply wouldn’t have an incentive to participate in such a tournament, since it’s unlikely to award ranking points. Without official approval from the developers, the community will never see the usual professional players at such events. Without the top esports athletes, it will turn into a completely different game, where only the shooter’s graphical shell will remain of the familiar Counter-Strike.

Thorin: The industry needs entertaining championships outside the framework of the endless pursuit of points. An excellent solution on Valve’s part would be to grant an official exemption to tournament operators. Developers could allow one non-competitive event per season. At such events, teams would compete solely for prize money. Esports players would have a legitimate opportunity to relax and play just for fun. This would allow unique formats—such as tournaments held exclusively on a single new map immediately after a map update—to return to the scene.

The main obstacle to tournament experimentation is the blind copying of others’ ideas. Every operator in the industry tries to appear as if they’re organizing the World Championship. Companies refuse to accept the status of a mere “third-tier” player in the market. They mindlessly replicate the classic structure of scene leaders like PGL or BLAST. It’s high time for tournament operators to show some commercial cynicism and forge their own unique path. It’s far more profitable to create show tournaments based on the principles of BLAST Bounty or to organize high-stakes matches between high-profile rivals.