How CS:GO matches are hosted and organized
Elen StelmakhThe separate part of the competitive scene is tournaments. Big companies work on their organizing, whether it is ESL, PGL, or BLAST. Also, there are many less famous tournament operators, each of which hosts its series.
However, if a viewer sees only the final picture, namely, a tournament and the matches it consists of, a great job is done behind the scenes, which requires an accurate approach.
Since there are two types of tournaments: LAN and online — each of them has its set of criteria that should be followed to organize a complete championship.
In this material, we will find out how CS:GO pro matches are hosted and organized. We will take a look at the stages, rules, and regulations of a championship, learn the elements of an event, and imagine a full picture of a tournament.
The first stage. The emergence of an idea and the first steps in organizing the tournament
First of all, we have to determine an idea for a tournament. Here, the format, the chosen region, and the determination of the prize pool should be considered.
After the organizers decide on the basic criteria, they will need to find sponsors and also choose communication channels with potential participants and offer a platform to host matches.
As soon as we find sponsors and agree on a budget, and also invite teams to a tournament, we will have to choose a format for the championship.
If we host an online tournament in CS:GO, we will need to choose a platform, on which matches will be played. It can be such famous platforms as ESEA and FACEIT that offer a built-in anti-cheat and a clear system for ranging the seeding of participants. Also, competitions can be organized directly in CS:GO but we will have to do the personal adjustment to the server and follow the fairness of the match.
If we want to organize a LAN tournament, we will have to choose a venue where matches will take place. Depending on the scale and level of a championship, it can be a computer club or a stadium that is adapted for hosting such competitions.
However, hosting a LAN tournament leads to the appearance of additional costs in your budget, such as payment for participants' accommodation, transfer to the venue, assistance in obtaining visas, and additional media activities.
After we are done with the parameters of the competition, we will need to solve a few important details.
The second stage. Creating regulations and determining the team responsible for the organization
Since any competition is an official event, there should be strict rules that are part of the general regulation of the tournament. A panel of judges that can include a few third-party persons who are outsourced monitors compliance with the rules.
Generally, the regulation of a championship should consist of a few important points:
- The organization system. It describes the format of the championship, the number of participants, the server settings, match rules, the maps played, the actual game client, the procedure for determining maps, etc.
- The communication rules between participants and restrictions. The strict structure of communication between players and a coach during matches and, also, the list of prohibited actions are specified here.
- Possibilities to file an appeal. In this case, it is necessary to prescribe, point by point, the procedure for filing an appeal against the results of the match.
- Sanctions. Consequences should be written here, which will be used against participants for violating one or another rules.
- Prize payment procedure. The rules for the payment of prize money to the winners should be written here.
- Transitional provisions.
Of course, the regulation can include way more rules, depending on the format and status of the championship.
As soon as we have determined the regulation, we will have to choose persons responsible for communication with participants. These can be tournament operator managers who will inform teams.
Besides the main persons, CS:GO game tournaments also have a big staff responsible for monitoring matches, adjusting technical aspects, organizing the broadcast schedule, etc. Also, when we are talking about a large championship, we should remember about a studio that will be covering the event for streaming platforms. Professional commentators, analysts, and hosts who can be replaced by standalone casters (if a tournament is small) are hired for this purpose.
Right after we finish gathering all the elements, we can launch a championship and start broadcasting it on big screens.
The third stage. Marketing and advertising
At this stage, organizers must assure that as many people as possible have heard about the tournament. The more viewers visit the championships, the more views you will have.
There is no sense in further explanations because views mean money.
There can be a lot of options for advertising and marketing. First of all, a tournament has to be listed on HLTV, the main platform of the discipline. Secondly, the organizers should take care of the transparency of their conditions to attract as many titled sponsors as possible. Most often sponsors are PC manufacturers, energy drinks, bookmakers and new CSGO gambling sites, car manufacturers, sports industry companies (clothing, shoes, equipment).
As a result, we must do our best to guarantee that the organized championship will attract attention.
The fourth stage. Hosting the tournament
Now, we can start the championship, having determined the seeding of participants and the format the teams will follow in advance. During the tournament, if we are talking about the LAN, press shows are organized, activities with players are held, and sponsorship content is created.
In case the competition is hosted online, you can interview participants and organize activities on a server to please the sponsors of the event.
Participants will be eliminated during the championship. As the finals approach, the organizers should guide all teams and keep them up to date.
As soon as the final match is played, the championship is considered to be over. Now, the organizers will have to pay participants a part of the prize pool they deserve.
Depending on the format of the tournament, cups and valuable rewards from sponsors can also be considered. However, all of it comes to following the regulation for paying prizes.
Summing up, the organization and hosting of tournaments and matches is a tough objective. You will not just need to determine an idea but to create a team that will be responsible for organizing the event, inviting participants, choosing a venue, inviting sponsors, and offering decent conditions.
And if the end viewers watch the final picture, namely, the match, a big team of professionals and a great job that is frequently left unnoticed stands behind this match.
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Elen Stelmakh is a creative individual dedicated to advancing gaming culture through articles and visual design. As a full-time EGamersWorld author and designer for a gaming website, Elen not only creates content but also infuses it with energy and creativity.