Esports

Intel Extreme Masters Global Challenge Set to Bring CS:GO Back to LAN


Counter-Strike: Global Offensive competition is coming back to LAN play. The Intel Extreme Masters Global Challenge 2020, set to take place in Cologne, Germany, from  Dec. 15-20, will see eight teams from three continents compete for the largest share of the $500K USD prize pool.

With the COVID-19 pandemic all but taking away LAN events for H2 2020, the IEM Global Challenge will be tournament organizer ESL’s first LAN competition in just over six months.

”We are planning for teams to compete from within a single location, all having access to the same internet and local network (LAN),” an ESL spokesperson told The Esports Observer. “We are working closely with the local government to have the proper and correct local safety protocols in place to welcome teams and players back to in-person competition. Based on these regulations, the studio environment and playing conditions will scale to match these requirements.”

COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the esports LAN competitive space as multiple leagues and competitions have been moved to online play where lag time and internet connections can affect outcomes. However, with event announcements such as this and knowing that Riot Games is committed to running its League of Legends World Championship as a LAN event with restrictions set in, much like the ”bubble” the NBA uses, fans are hoping for a return to normalcy.

However, for the IEM Global Challenge, fans will still not be able to attend.

“We are planning a scope of work very similar to how we would typically execute a more traditional live event, with local safety regulations in place but without the main venue and all logistics that come with a live event experience,” a company spokesperson said. “We are still in very early days of planning and will continue to work towards our goal which is to see CS:GO return to in-person competition.”



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