Esports tournament
| 2023 | |
 | |
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Game | Counter-Strike: Global Offensive |
| Location | Paris, France |
| Dates | May 8–21, 2023 |
| Administrator | Valve BLAST |
| Tournament format(s) | Two 16-team Swiss-system group stages 8-team single-elimination playoff |
| Host(s) | BLAST.tv |
| Venue | Accor Arena |
| Teams | 24 |
| Purse | US$1,250,000 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Team Vitality |
| 1st runners-up | GamerLegion |
| 2nd runners-up |
|
| MVP | Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut |
| ← Rio 2022Copenhagen 2024 → | |
The BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023, also known as BLAST.tv Major 2023 or Paris 2023, was the nineteenth and final Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major Championship. It was held in Paris, France at the Accor Arena from May 8 to 21, 2023. Twenty-four teams qualified for the event, which featured a US$1,250,000 prize pool, via regional major rankings. It is the first Major Championship tournament hosted by BLAST. Team Vitality won the major, defeating GamerLegion in the grand final 2–0.
Background
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) is a multiplayer first-person shooter video game developed by Hidden Path Entertainment and Valve Corporation. It is the fourth game in the Counter-Strike series. In professional CS:GO, the Valve-sponsored Majors are the most prestigious tournaments.
The defending Major champions were Virtus.pro, who won their second Major championship at IEM Rio Major 2022. Virtus.pro were eliminated by MOUZ during the European Major qualifiers, making them the first defending Major champions to fail to qualify for the following Major.
This event was the final Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major tournament, with the game to be succeeded by Counter-Strike 2, and that game's first Major tournament set to be held in March 2024.
Format
Twenty-four teams qualified for the tournament. Sixteen teams qualified for the Challengers Stage, while eight teams received a bye to the Legends Stage. In the Challengers Stage, 16 teams participated in a Swiss bracket. The top eight teams advanced and joined the eight teams that received a bye in the Legends stage. The top eight teams from the Legends stage advanced to the Champions stage. The Champions stage was a single-elimination tournament, where each match was a best-of-3.
- Map pool
Teams
- Legends
- Natus Vincere
- 9INE
- Furia Esports
- Fnatic
- Heroic
- Into The Breach
- Bad News Eagles
- Team Vitality
- Challengers
- paiN Gaming
- GamerLegion
- Apeks
- OG
- G2 Esports
- FORZE
- Ninjas in Pyjamas
- Monte
- Contenders
- MOUZ
- Team Liquid
- Grayhound Gaming
- Complexity Gaming
- The Mongolz
- Fluxo
- ENCE
- FaZe Clan
Qualification
Qualification took place through 3 Regional Major Ranking (RMR) events to determine qualifications for the geographic regions. The 3 regions were Europe, the Americas and Asia. Each region received a certain number of places at the Major in Paris based on the performance of teams from the same region at the IEM Rio Major 2022.
The RMR tournaments took place in the following cities:
- European RMRs: Copenhagen, Denmark: April 6–9 (Group A) and April 11–15 (Group B)
- American RMR: Monterrey, Mexico: April 5–9
- Asian RMR: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia: April 4–8
RMR Results
| Region | Legends | Challengers | Contenders |
|---|---|---|---|
| Europe A |
|
|
|
| Europe B |
|
||
| America |
| ||
| Asia |
| ||
| Last Chance Qualifier |
Source:
Challengers Stage
| Pos | Team | W | L | RW | RL | RD | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G2 | 3 | 0 | 64 | 34 | +30 | Qualification to Legends Stage |
| 2 | ENCE | 3 | 0 | 76 | 52 | +24 | |
| 3 | Apeks | 3 | 1 | 91 | 80 | +11 | |
| 4 | Ninjas in Pyjamas | 3 | 1 | 76 | 65 | +11 | |
| 5 | FaZe Clan | 3 | 1 | 101 | 93 | +8 | |
| 6 | Monte | 3 | 2 | 110 | 92 | +18 | |
| 7 | GamerLegion | 3 | 2 | 126 | 110 | +16 | |
| 8 | Team Liquid | 3 | 2 | 133 | 107 | +26 | |
| 9 | Grayhound Gaming | 2 | 3 | 73 | 104 | -31 | Eliminated |
| 10 | paiN Gaming | 2 | 3 | 107 | 109 | -2 | |
| 11 | FORZE | 2 | 3 | 94 | 100 | -6 | |
| 12 | OG | 1 | 3 | 75 | 86 | -11 | |
| 13 | The MongolZ | 1 | 3 | 62 | 75 | -13 | |
| 14 | Complexity Gaming | 1 | 3 | 43 | 75 | -32 | |
| 15 | Fluxo | 0 | 3 | 53 | 75 | -22 | |
| 16 | MOUZ | 0 | 3 | 37 | 64 | -27 |
Legends Stage
| Pos | Team | W | L | RW | RL | RD | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heroic | 3 | 0 | 75 | 56 | +19 | Qualification to Champions Stage |
| 2 | Vitality | 3 | 0 | 64 | 49 | +15 | |
| 3 | Team Liquid | 3 | 1 | 106 | 86 | +20 | |
| 4 | Monte | 3 | 1 | 90 | 70 | +20 | |
| 5 | GamerLegion | 3 | 1 | 74 | 55 | +19 | |
| 6 | Apeks | 3 | 2 | 95 | 97 | -2 | |
| 7 | Into The Breach | 3 | 2 | 112 | 98 | +14 | |
| 8 | Faze Clan | 3 | 2 | 140 | 137 | +3 | |
| 9 | Navi | 2 | 3 | 94 | 137 | -24 | Eliminated |
| 10 | Fnatic | 2 | 3 | 120 | 133 | -13 | |
| 11 | Ninjas In Pyjamas | 2 | 3 | 101 | 95 | +6 | |
| 12 | ENCE | 1 | 3 | 53 | 73 | -20 | |
| 13 | G2 Esports | 1 | 3 | 101 | 95 | +6 | |
| 14 | Bad News Eagles | 1 | 3 | 78 | 83 | -5 | |
| 15 | 9INE | 0 | 3 | 40 | 64 | -24 | |
| 16 | FURIA Esports | 0 | 3 | 30 | 64 | -34 |
Champions Stage
With eight teams remaining, the final stage of the Major was a single-elimination bracket, with all matches played as best-of-3 maps.
Bracket
| Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Heroic | 16 | 12 | 16 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | FaZe Clan | 14 | 16 | 6 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Heroic | 16 | 14 | 6 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| GamerLegion | 13 | 16 | 16 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Monte | 10 | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | GamerLegion | 16 | 16 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| GamerLegion | 6 | 13 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Vitality | 16 | 16 | – | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Team Liquid | 10 | 11 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Apeks | 16 | 16 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Apeks | 14 | 12 | – | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Vitality | 16 | 16 | – | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Vitality | 16 | 16 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Into The Breach | 11 | 12 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||
Quarterfinals
| Quarterfinals | May 18 | Heroic | 2 | – | 1 | FaZe Clan | Paris, France | |
| AccorHotels Arena | ||||||||
| 16 | Nuke | 14 | ||||||
| 12 | Overpass | 16 | ||||||
| 16 | Mirage | 6 | ||||||
| Quarterfinals | May 19 | Monte | 0 | – | 2 | GamerLegion | Paris, France | |
| AccorHotels Arena | ||||||||
| 10 | Mirage | 16 | ||||||
| 3 | Overpass | 16 | ||||||
| Quarterfinals | May 19 | Team Liquid | 0 | – | 2 | Apeks | Paris, France | |
| AccorHotels Arena | ||||||||
| 10 | Ancient | 16 | ||||||
| 11 | Overpass | 16 | ||||||
| Quarterfinals | May 19 | Team Vitality | 2 | – | 0 | Into The Breach | Paris, France | |
| Statistics | AccorHotels Arena | |||||||
| 16 | Vertigo | 11 | ||||||
| 16 | Anubis | 12 | ||||||
Semifinals
| Semifinals 1 | May 20 | Heroic | 1 | – | 2 | GamerLegion | Paris, France | |
| AccorHotels Arena | ||||||||
| 16 | Ancient | 13 | ||||||
| 14 | Inferno | 16 | ||||||
| 6 | Mirage | 16 | ||||||
| Semifinals 2 | May 20 | Apeks | 0 | – | 2 | Team Vitality | Paris, France | |
| AccorHotels Arena | ||||||||
| 14 | Mirage | 16 | ||||||
| 12 | Vertigo | 16 | ||||||
Grand Final
| Grand Final | May 21 | GamerLegion | 0 | – | 2 | Team Vitality | Paris, France | |
| AccorHotels Arena | ||||||||
| 6 | Overpass | 16 | ||||||
| 13 | Nuke | 16 | ||||||
Final standings
The final placings are shown below. In addition, the prize distribution, seed for the next major, roster, and coaches are shown. Each team's in-game leader is shown first.
| Place | Prize Money | Team | Seed | Roster | Coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | US$500,000 | Team Vitality | PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 RMR | apEX, ZywOo, dupreeh, Magisk, Spinx | zonic |
| 2nd | US$170,000 | GamerLegion | siuhy, iM, acoR, isak, Keoz | ashhh | |
| 3rd – 4th | US$80,000 | Apeks | kyxsan, nawwk, jL, jkaem, STYKO | kuben | |
| Heroic | cadiaN, TeSeS, stavn, jabbi, sjuush | Xizt | |||
| 5th – 8th | US$45,000 | Team Liquid | nitr0, EliGE, oSee, NAF, YEKINDAR | daps | |
| FaZe Clan | karrigan, rain, Twistzz, broky, ropz | RobbaN | |||
| Monte | sdy, Woro2k, DemQQ, BOROS, kRaSnaL | – | |||
| Into the Breach | Thomas, CYPHER, volt, rallen, CRUC1AL | Juve | |||
| 9th – 11th | US$20,000 | Fnatic | mezii, FASHR, KRIMZ, roeJ, nicoodoz | keita | |
| Natus Vincere | electroNic, Perfecto, s1mple, b1t, npl | B1ad3 | |||
| Ninjas in Pyjamas | Aleksib, k0nfig, REZ, Brollan, headtr1ck | djL | |||
| 12th – 14th | US$20,000 | G2 Esports | HooXi, NiKo, huNter-, m0NESY, jks | Swani | |
| ENCE | Snappi, dycha, NertZ, maden, SunPayus | sAw | |||
| Bad News Eagles | SENER1, gxx-, sinnopsyy, rigoN, juanflatroo | Devilwalk | |||
| 15th – 16th | US$20,000 | FURIA Esports | arT, KSCERATO, yuurih, saffee, drop | guerri | |
| 9INE | mynio, Goofy, hades, KEi, Kylar | nawrot | |||
| 17th – 19th | US$10,000 | paiN Gaming | – | biguzera, hardzao, NEKIZ, skullz, zevy | bruno |
| FORZE Esports | Jerry, zorte, shalfey, r3salt, Krad | Fierce | |||
| Grayhound Gaming | INS, Sico, aliStair, Liazz, Vexite | – | |||
| 20th – 22nd | US$10,000 | Complexity Gaming | JT, hallzerk, FaNg, floppy, Grim | T.c | |
| The MongolZ | bLitz, Techno4K, Bart4k, hasteka, ANNIHILATION | maaRaa | |||
| OG | niko, flameZ, degster, F1KU, NEOFRAG | ruggah | |||
| 23rd – 24th | US$10,000 | MOUZ | dexter, JDC, torzsi, frozen, xertioN | sycrone | |
| Fluxo | WOOD7, V$M, felps, Lucaozy, history | zews |
Source:
Notes
- Due to sanctions against Russia in response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Virtus.pro competed under the neutral name Outsiders. On March 22, 2023, tournament organizers ESL and BLAST lifted the ban on Virtus.pro.
References
- ^ Chalk, Andy. "CS:GO's next Paris Major will be its last". PC Gamer. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
- Stubbs, Mike. "Vitality Win The BLAST Paris Major To Become Last Ever CS:GO World Champions". Forbes. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
- Chiu, Stephen. "Retrospective of the Majors: Lineups with 2 Major Wins and Players with 3". VPEsports. Archived from the original on February 13, 2021. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
- Kovanen, Tomi. "Why CS:GO needs major events". HLTV.org. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
- "ESL and BLAST lift their bans on Virtus.pro". HLTV.org. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
- "Outsiders Defeat Heroic 2–0 To Win IEM Rio Major". HLTV.org. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
- "Virtus.pro eliminated from EU RMR after surprise swap backfires". HLTV.org. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
- https://blast.tv/major/rulebook
- "BLAST unveils Paris Major RMR locations". January 11, 2023.
- "All CS:GO teams qualified for BLAST Paris Major". April 15, 2023.
- "BLAST Paris Major Champions Stage". May 15, 2023.