Up next on Counter-Strike’s Major calendar is ESL One, as 56 teams will be battling in the Road to Rio in an attempt to secure their spot. Here’s everything you need to know about the tournament and how to catch all of the action.
24 of the world’s best teams will compete at ESL One: Rio for the lion’s share of the upgraded $2 million prize pool and the prestigious title of Major Champions. But before the Major gets underway in November 2020, each team needs to earn their spot.
Road to Rio was the first of various regional competitions that will serve as the qualification method to the next CS:GO Major.
Stream
ESL One: Road to Rio was streamed live to their dedicated Twitch channel (below) or YouTube channel. If you missed some of the action, you can catch-up with the action by watching VODs from the day’s action on the dedicated section of ESL’s Twitch channel or tune into ESL’s reruns.
Final placements
The ESL One: Road to Rio consisted of 56 teams, which was divided into six regions. Europe, CIS, North America and Asia each had two groups, while both South America and Oceania regions are represented by one group. Here’s how each group finished:
Europe
| Place | Team | Prize money | Points |
| 1 | Astralis | $33,000 | 1600 |
| 2 | G2 Esports | $21,500 | 1500 |
| 3 | FaZe Clan | $14,000 | 1400 |
| 4 | Team Vitality | $10,000 | 1300 |
| 5 | Ninjas in Pyjamas | $7,500 | 1200 |
| 6 | Team Heretics | $6,500 | 1100 |
| 7 | GODSENT | $6,000 | 1000 |
| 8 | North | $5,000 | 900 |
| 9 | ENCE | $3,250 | 800 |
| 10 | Copenhagen Flames | $2,500 | 700 |
| 11 | Movistar Riders | $2,250 | 600 |
| 12 | Fnatic | $1,500 | 500 |
| 13-14 | Complexity Gaming | $1,000 | 350 |
| mousesports | |||
| 15-16 | Dignitas | N/A | 150 |
| c0ntact Gaming |
CIS
| Place | Team | Prize money | Points |
| 1 | Team Spirit | $15,000 | 1600 |
| 2 | Winstrike Team | $10,000 | 1500 |
| 3 | Hard Legion Esports | $6,000 | 1400 |
| 4 | Virtus.Pro | $5,000 | 1300 |
| 5 | Nemiga Gaming | $4,500 | 1200 |
| 6 | Syman Gaming | $3,500 | 1100 |
| 7-8 | Gambit Youngsters | $2,000 | 950 |
| NaVi.1XBET | |||
| 9-10 | forZe | $1,000 | 750 |
| ESPADA | |||
| 11-12 | Team Unique | N/A | 550 |
| pro100 |
North America
| Place | Team | Prize money | Points |
| 1 | Gen.G Esports | $18,000 | 1600 |
| 2 | FURIA Esports | $13,000 | 1500 |
| 3 | Cloud9 | $8,000 | 1400 |
| 4 | Team Liquid | $6,000 | 1300 |
| 5 | Team Envy | $5,000 | 1200 |
| 6 | 100 Thieves | $4,000 | 1100 |
| 7-8 | Evil Geniuses | $2,000 | 950 |
| MIBR | |||
| 9-10 | Triumph | $1,000 | 750 |
| Bad News Bears | |||
| 11 | Yeah Gaming | N/A | 600 |
| DQ | Orgless | N/A | N/A |
South America
| Place | Team | Prize money | Points |
| 1 | BOOM Esports | $6,000 | 1600 |
| 2 | Isurus | $3,000 | 1500 |
| 3 | Imperial Esports | $1,000 | 1400 |
| 4 | RED Canids | N/A | 1300 |
Oceania
| Place | Team | Prize money | Points |
| 1 | Renegades | $6,000 | 1600 |
| 2 | ORDER | $3,000 | 1500 |
| 3 | Chiefs Esports Club | $1,000 | 1400 |
| 4 | Ground Zero Gaming | N/A | 1300 |
Asia
| Place | Team | Prize money | Points |
| 1 | TIGER | $4,000 | 1600 |
| 2 | TYLOO LBET | $2,000 | 1500 |
| 3-4 | D13 | $1,250 | 1350 |
| ViCi ybdj bet | |||
| 5-6 | Lucid Dream | $750 | 1150 |
| Mazaalai | |||
| 7-8 | Beyond Esports | N/A | 950 |
| Camel Riders |
Playoffs
Below are the results from each of the playoff matches as they unfolded.
Europe
| Round | Match | PST | EST | BST | AEST (Next day) |
| Lower Bracket Rd. 1 May 12 | Team Vitality 2 – 0 GODSENT | 7:30 AM | 10:30 AM | 3:30 PM | 12:30 AM |
| Lower Bracket Rd. 1 May 12 | Team Heretics 2 – 0 North Capgemini | 11:00 AM | 2:00 PM | 7:00 PM | 4:00 AM |
| Upper Bracket Rd. 1 May 13 | Astralis 2 – 0 G2 Esports | 7:30 AM | 10:30 AM | 3:30 PM | 12:30 AM |
| Upper Bracket Rd. 1 May 13 | Ninjas in Pyjamas 1 – 2 FaZe Clan | 11:00 AM | 2:00 PM | 7:00 PM | 4:00 AM |
| Lower Bracket Rd. 2 May 14 | Ninjas in Pyjamas 1 – 2 Team Vitality | 7:30 AM | 10:30 AM | 3:30 PM | 12:30 AM |
| Lower Bracket Rd. 2 May 14 | G2 Esports 2 – 1 Team Heretics | 11:00 AM | 2:00 PM | 7:00 PM | 4:00 AM |
| Lower Bracket Rd. 3 May 15 | Team Vitality 1 – 2 G2 Esports | 7:30 AM | 10:30 AM | 3:30 PM | 12:30 AM |
| 7th Place Match May 16 | GODSENT 2 – 0 North Capgemini | 11:00 AM | 2:00 PM | 7:00 PM | 4:00 AM |
| 5th Place Match May 17 | Ninjas in Pyjamas 2 – 1 Team Heretics | 11:00 AM | 2:00 PM | 7:00 PM | 4:00 AM |
| Upper Bracket Final May 15 | Astralis 2 – 0 FaZe Clan | 11:00 AM | 2:00 PM | 7:00 PM | 4:00 AM |
| Lower Bracket Final May 16 | FaZe Clan 1 – 2 G2 Esports | 11:00 AM | 2:00 PM | 7:00 PM | 4:00 AM |
| Grand Finals May 17 | Astralis 3 – 0 G2 Esports | 11:00 AM | 2:00 PM | 7:00 PM | 4:00 AM |
CIS
| Round | Match | PST | EST | BST | AEST |
| Quarterfinals May 13 | Nemiga Gaming 1 – 2 Virtus.Pro | 4:00 AM | 7:00 AM | 12:00 PM | 9:00 PM |
| Quarterfinals May 14 | Winstrike Team 2 – 0 Syman Gaming | 4:00 AM | 7:00 AM | 12:00 PM | 9:00 PM |
| Semifinals May 15 | Team Spirit 2 – 1 Virtus.Pro | 4:00 AM | 7:00 AM | 12:00 PM | 9:00 PM |
| Semifinals May 16 | Hard Legion 0 – 2 Winstrike Team | 7:30 AM | 10:30 AM | 3:30 PM | 12:30 AM |
| 5th Place Match May 16 | Nemiga Gaming 2 – 0 Syman Gaming | 7:30 AM | 10:30 AM | 3:30 PM | 12:30 AM |
| 3rd Place Match May 17 | Virtus.Pro 1 – 2 Hard Legion | 7:30 AM | 10:30 AM | 3:30 PM | 12:30 AM |
| Grand Final May 17 | Team Spirit 2 – 0 Winstrike Team | 7:30 AM | 10:30 AM | 3:30 PM | 12:30 AM |
North America
| Round | Match | PST | EST | BST | AEST (Next Day) |
| Quarterfinals May 7 | Team Liquid 2 – 0 100 Thieves | 1:00 PM | 4:00 PM | 9:00 PM | 6:00 AM |
| Quarterfinals May 6 | Team Envy 1 – 2 Cloud9 | 1:00 PM | 4:00 PM | 9:00 PM | 6:00 AM |
| Fifth Place Match May 9 | 100 Thieves 1 – 2 Team Envy | 1:45 PM | 4:45 PM | 9:45 PM | 6:45 AM |
| Semifinals May 8 | Gen.G Esports 2 – 1 Cloud9 | 1:20 PM | 4:20 PM | 9:20 PM | 6:20 AM |
| Semifinals May 9 | FURIA Esports 2 – 0 Team Liquid | 2:15 PM | 5:15 PM | 10:15 PM | 7:15 AM |
| 3rd Place Match May 10 | Cloud9 2 – 1 Team Liquid | 1:00 PM | 4:00 PM | 9:00 PM | 6:00 AM |
| Grand Final May 10 | Gen.G Esports 2 – 1 FURIA Esports | 1:00 PM | 4:00 PM | 9:00 PM | 6:00 AM |
South America
| Round | Match | PST | EST | BST | AEST (Next Day) |
| Semifinal April 25 | Isurus 2 – 1 Imperial Esports | 10:10 AM | 1:10 PM | 6:10 PM | 3:10 AM |
| Grand Final April 26 | BOOM Esports 2 – 0 Isurus | 1:00 PM | 4:00 PM | 9:00 PM | 6:00 AM |
Oceania
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| Round | Match | PST | EST | BST (Next Day) | AEST (Next Day) |
| Semifinal May 8 | ORDER 2 – 0 Chiefs ESC | 7:30 PM | 10:10 PM | 3:10 AM | 12:10 PM |
| Grand Final May 10 | Renegades 2 – 1 ORDER | 11:00 PM | 2:00 AM | 7:00 AM | 4:00 PM |
Asia
| Round | Match | PST | EST | BST | AEST (Next Day) |
| Semifinal May 9 | TIGER 2 – 0 D13 | 11:00 PM | 2:00 AM | 7:00 AM | 4:00 PM |
| Semifinal May 9 | TYLOO 2 – 1 ViCi Gaming | 2:30 AM | 5:30 AM | 10:30 AM | 7:30 PM |
| Grand Final May 10 | TIGER 2 – 1 TYLOO | 2:30 AM | 5:30 AM | 10:30 AM | 7:30 PM |
Groups
Below are the standings for each group as they finished, in their respective region.
Europe (Group A)
| Position | Team | Points | Matches W/L |
| 1 | Astralis | 18 | 6/1 |
| 2 | Ninjas in Pyjamas | 18 | 6/1 |
| 3 | Team Vitality | 12 | 4/3 |
| 4 | ENCE | 9 | 3/4 |
| 5 | Fnatic | 9 | 3/4 |
| 6 | Team Heretics | 9 | 3/4 |
| 7 | Complexity | 6 | 2/5 |
| 8 | Dignitas | 3 | 1/6 |
Europe (Group B)
| Position | Team | Points | Matches W/L |
| 1 | FaZe Clan | 21 | 7/0 |
| 2 | G2 Esports | 12 | 4/3 |
| 3 | North Capgemini | 12 | 4/3 |
| 4 | GODSENT | 12 | 4/3 |
| 5 | Copenhagen Flames | 9 | 3/4 |
| 6 | Movistar Riders | 9 | 3/4 |
| 7 | mousesports | 9 | 3/4 |
| 8 | c0ntact Gaming | 0 | 0/5 |
CIS (Group A)
| Position | Team | Points | Matches W/L |
| 1 | Team Spirit | 15 | 5/0 |
| 2 | Nemiga | 9 | 3/2 |
| 3 | Winstrike Team | 9 | 3/2 |
| 4 | forZe LUKOIL | 6 | 2/3 |
| 5 | Gambit Youngsters | 6 | 2/3 |
| 6 | Team Unique | 0 | 0/4 |
CIS (Group B)
| Position | Team | Points | Matches W/L |
| 1 | Virtus.Pro Parimatch | 9 | 3/2 |
| 2 | Hard Legion Esports | 9 | 3/3 |
| 3 | Syman Gaming | 9 | 3/2 |
| 4 | pro100 | 6 | 2/3 |
| 5 | ESPADA | 6 | 2/3 |
| 6 | NaVi.1XBET | 6 | 2/3 |
North America (Group A)
| Position | Team | Points | Matches W/L |
| 1 | Gen.G Esports | 9 | 3/1 |
| 2 | 100 Thieves | 9 | 3/1 |
| 3 | Cloud9 | 6 | 2/2 |
| 4 | Evil Genius | 3 | 1/3 |
| 5 | Triumph | 3 | 1/3 |
| 6 | OrgLess | 0 | Disbanded |
North America (Group B)
| Position | Team | Points | Matches W/L |
| 1 | FURIA Esports | 15 | 5/0 |
| 2 | Team Envy | 9 | 3/2 |
| 3 | Team Liquid | 9 | 3/2 |
| 4 | MIBR | 9 | 3/2 |
| 5 | Bad News Bears | 3 | 1/4 |
| 6 | Yeah Gaming | 0 | 0/5 |
South America
| Position | Team | Points | Matches W/L |
| 1 | BOOM Esports | 9 | 3/0 |
| 2 | Isurus | 6 | 2/1 |
| 3 | Imperial Sportsbet | 3 | 1/2 |
| 4 | RED Canids Kalunga | 0 | 0/3 |
Oceania
| Position | Team | Points | Matches W/L |
| 1 | Renegades | 9 | 3/0 |
| 2 | ORDER | 6 | 2/1 |
| 3 | Chiefs Esports Club | 3 | 1/2 |
| 4 | Ground Zero | 0 | 0/3 |
Asia (Group A)
| Position | Team | Points | Matches W/L |
| 1 | ViCi Gaming | 9 | 3/0 |
| 2 | TIGER | 6 | 2/1 |
| 3 | Lucid Dream | 3 | 1/2 |
| 4 | Beyond Esports | 0 | 0/3 |
Asia (Group B)
| Position | Team | Points | Matches W/L |
| 1 | TYLOO LBET | 6 | 2/0 |
| 2 | D13 | 3 | 1/1 |
| 3 | Camel Riders | 3 | 1/1 |
| 4 | Mazaalai | 0 | 0/2 |
Format
All teams in each respective region played between April 22 – May 17 in their bid to earn their spot in the ESL One: Rio Major. Each group used a round-robin basis, with each match using a best-of-three series. There were a few distinct differences based on each region, which are highlighted below.
Europe (two groups)
- Each group had eight teams.
- 1-2 placed teams from each group will proceeded to the Upper Bracket.
- 3-4 placed teams from each group will proceeded to the Lower Bracket.
- Playoffs used a double-elimination bracket.
- Grand Final was best-of-five, with a one map advantage to winner’s of Upper Bracket Final.
CIS & North America (two groups)
- Each group had six teams.
- Top teams from each group earned a pass to the Semi-Final.
- 2-3 placed teams from each group proceeded to the Quarter-Final.
- Playoffs used a single-elimination bracket.
South America & Oceania
- Top team earned a pass to the Grand Final.
- 2-3 placed teams proceeded to the Semi-Final.
- Playoffs used a single-elimination bracket.
Asia (two groups)
- Each group had four teams.
- 1-2 placed teams from each group proceeded to the playoffs.
- Playoffs used a single-elimination bracket.
