ELEAGUE Season 1 was the inaugural season of the ELEAGUE Counter-Strike: Global Offensive league, running from May 24, 2016, to July 30, 2016. This was the first CS:GO league to be broadcast on cable television in the United States, airing on TBS and streaming online on Twitch. The season featured 24 teams from across the world to compete in a 10-week season, which included a regular season and a playoffs.
On September 24, 2015 Turner Broadcasting announced that it was partnering with talent agency WME/IMG for a new esports project. Matches were broadcast live on TBS on Friday nights, starting on May 27, 2016. The broadcast was simultaneously available on the online streaming service Twitch. Matches were played at the Turner Studios facility in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The semifinals and final were played at the Cobb Energy Center.
Turner partnered with online streaming services to bring additional video content. One such program featured the Renegades' move from Australia to the United States. Additional content was available on Bleacher Report's Team Stream App. The finals between Virtus.pro and Fnatic was also broadcast on Twitter. The production and broadcast team received positive reviews.
The season started with Luminosity Gaming sweeping Renegades in Group A's best of two and the first televised CS:GO match featured Luminosity Gaming defeating Cloud9 2–1. The season ended with Virtus.pro defeating Fnatic 2–0 to take home the first edition of ELEAGUE. At the end of the season 1 finals, analyst Richard Lewis announced that the second season of ELEAGUE would air on October 7, 2016.
Teams competing The first season's full team list was announced on April 21, 2016.
There were a total number of 24 teams competing in the league and it offers about US$1,400,000 in prize money per season. It debuted on May 24, 2016. 23 invited teams and 1 team from the qualifier will compete in ELEAGUE
Astralis Cloud9 compLexity Gaming Counter Logic Gaming Echo Fox FaZe Clan FlipSid3 Tactics FnaticGambit Gaming G2 Esports Luminosity Gaming mousesports Natus Vincere Ninjas in Pyjamas NRG eSports OpTic GamingRenegades Selfless Gaming SK Gaming Team Dignitas Team EnVyUs Team Liquid Team SoloMid Virtus.pro
Broadcast talent Host Richard Lewis Interviewers Chris Puckett Rachel "Seltzer" Quirico Commentators James Bardolph Anders Blume Daniel "ddk" Kapadia Auguste "Semmler" Massonnat Analysts Mohamad "m0E" Assad Dustin "dusT" Mouret Jason "moses" O'Toole Duncan "Thorin" Shields Observers Heather "sapphiRe" Garozzo DJ "Prius" Kuntz Producer Jason "Alchemist" Baker
Format Teams will be separated into six groups of four. Every week, one group will compete at a time. Tuesday and Wednesday will consist of group play to determine the standings of the group. One win gives one point to the winning team and a loss gives zero points. Each team will play the other three teams in its group twice. On Thursday, the group playoffs begin with the group semifinals, in which the team with the most points faces off against the team with the fewest points and the other two teams facing off against each other. The semifinals are in a best of three format, so the first team to win two games moves on to the group finals. The winner of those two series will face off Friday, live on TBS in the group finals, which is also a best of three. The winner of that game will move into the playoffs and the loser of that game will go into the Last Chance Qualifier bracket. In addition, the top two third place teams will also go into the Last Chance Qualifier to accommodate the last two spots in the bracket. A third place team is determined by the team with the higher seed of the two losing teams in the group semifinals.
The Last Chance Qualifier consists of eight teams – the six group runners-up and the top two third place teams. Teams will play in a single elimination bracket and each match is in a best of three format. The bracket continues until two teams remain. These two teams will earn spots in the Playoffs bracket.
The Playoffs consists of the six group winners and the top two teams out of the Last Chance Qualifier. This bracket is also a single elimination, best of three format. Teams will play and winners will advance in the bracket until a winner is decided.
Group stage + Key Team automatically advanced to Playoffs Groups Team advanced to Last Chance Qualifier Bracket via second-place finish or via top two third-place finish in group stage Team was eliminated in group stage
Group A Seed Team Record +/- Points 1 Luminosity Gaming 6–0 +45 6 2 Cloud9 3–3 +8 3 3 Renegades 3–3 −14 3 4 Team Liquid 0–6 −39 0
Group A Results Luminosity Gaming 2 0 Renegades Team Liquid 0 2 Cloud9 Luminosity Gaming 2 0 Team Liquid Team Liquid 0 2 Renegades Luminosity Gaming 2 0 Cloud9 Cloud9 1 1 Renegades
Group A Scores Team Score Map Score Team Luminosity Gaming 19 Cobblestone 17 Renegades Luminosity Gaming 16 Train 0 Renegades Team Liquid 11 Dust II 16 Cloud9 Team Liquid 2 Cache 16 Cloud9 Luminosity Gaming 16 Dust II 6 Team Liquid Luminosity Gaming 16 Cobblestone 14 Team Liquid Team Liquid 14 Mirage 16 Renegades Team Liquid 10 Train 16 Renegades Luminosity Gaming 16 Dust II 7 Cloud9 Luminosity Gaming 16 Train 10 Cloud9 Cloud9 16 Train 7 Renegades Cloud9 11 Cobblestone 16 Renegades
Group A Bracket
Group A Bracket Scores Team Score Map Score Team Luminosity Gaming 16 Mirage 6 Team Liquid Luminosity Gaming 16 Nuke 12 Team Liquid Luminosity Gaming Dust II Team Liquid Cloud9 16 Cobblestone 3 Renegades Cloud9 16 Cache 11 Renegades Cloud9 Train Renegades Luminosity Gaming 11 Mirage† 16 Cloud9 Luminosity Gaming 19 Cobblestone† 16 Cloud9 Luminosity Gaming 16 Dust II† 9 Cloud9
Group B Seed Team Record +/- Points 1 G2 Esports 6–0 +33 6 2 Ninjas in Pyjamas 4–2 +18 4 3 OpTic Gaming 2–4 −15 2 4 Selfless Gaming 0–6 −36 0
Group B Results Ninjas in Pyjamas 2 0 OpTic Gaming G2 Esports 2 0 Selfless Gaming Ninjas in Pyjamas 0 2 G2 Esports G2 Esports 2 0 OpTic Gaming Ninjas in Pyjamas 2 0 Selfless Gaming OpTic Gaming 2 0 Selfless Gaming
Group B Scores Team Score Map Score Team Ninjas in Pyjamas 16 Cobblestone 4 OpTic Gaming Ninjas in Pyjamas16 Train 10 OpTic Gaming G2 Esports 16 Cobblestone 12 Selfess Gaming G2 Esports 16 Cache 12 Selfless Gaming Ninjas in Pyjamas 9 Train 16 G2 Esports Ninjas in Pyjamas 12 Dust II 16 G2 Esports G2 Esports 16 Train 14 OpTic Gaming G2 Esports 16 Nuke 10 OpTic Gaming Ninjas in Pyjamas 16 Cobblestone 9 Selfess Gaming Ninjas in Pyjamas 16 Cache 12 Selfless Gaming Selfless Gaming 1 Cobblestone 16 OpTic Gaming Selfless Gaming 14 Mirage 16 OpTic Gaming
Group B Bracket
Group B Bracket Scores Team Score Map Score Team G2 Esports 16 Cache 2 Selfless Gaming G2 Esports 16 Train 8 Selfless Gaming G2 Esports Cobblestone Selfless Gaming Ninjas in Pyjamas 3 Cobblestone 16 OpTic Gaming Ninjas in Pyjamas 16 Overpass 2 OpTic Gaming Ninjas in Pyjamas 16 Train 14 OpTic Gaming G2 Esports 9 Cache† 16 Ninjas in Pyjamas G2 Esports 3 Train† 16 Ninjas in Pyjamas G2 Esports Cobblestone Ninjas in Pyjamas
Group C Seed Team Record +/- Points 1 Astralis 5–1 +29 5 2 SK Gaming 4–2 +31 4 3 Counter Logic Gaming 2–4 −28 2 4 NRG eSports 1–5 −32 1
Group C Results Astralis 2 0 NRG eSports SK Gaming 1 1 Counter Logic Gaming Astralis 2 0 Counter Logic Gaming Counter Logic Gaming 1 1 NRG eSports Astralis 1 1 SK Gaming SK Gaming 2 0 NRG eSports
Group C Scores Team Score Map Score Team Astralis 16 Cache 12 NRG eSports Astralis 16 Nuke 3 NRG eSports SK Gaming 16 Nuke 3 Counter Logic Gaming SK Gaming 14 Train 16 Counter Logic Gaming Astralis 16 Overpass 2 Counter Logic Gaming Astralis 16 Train 6 Counter Logic Gaming Counter Logic Gaming 16 Train 7 NRG eSports Counter Logic Gaming 14 Dust II 16 NRG eSports Astralis 6 Train 16 SK Gaming Astralis 16 Overpass 7 SK Gaming SK Gaming 16 Nuke 8 NRG eSports SK Gaming 16 Cobblestone 5 NRG eSports
Group C Bracket
Group C Bracket Scores Team Score Map Score Team Astralis 16 Overpass 13 NRG eSports Astralis 19 Cache 16 NRG eSports Astralis Cobblestone NRG eSports SK Gaming 16 Train 6 Counter Logic Gaming SK Gaming 14 Overpass 16 Counter Logic Gaming SK Gaming 10 Cobblestone 16 Counter Logic Gaming Astralis 16 Mirage† 7 Counter Logic Gaming Astralis 16 Dust II† 19 Counter Logic Gaming Astralis 16 Overpass† 11 Counter Logic Gaming
Group D Seed Team Record +/- Points 1 Fnatic 5–1 +41 5 2 FaZe Clan 5–1 +20 5 3 Team Dignitas 2–4 −29 2 4 Team SoloMid 0–6 −32 0
Group D matches Fnatic 2 0 Team SoloMid FaZe Clan 2 0 Team Dignitas Fnatic 1 1 FaZe Clan FaZe Clan 2 0 Team SoloMid Fnatic 2 0 Team Dignitas Team Dignitas 2 0 Team SoloMid
Group D Scores Team Score Map Score Team Fnatic 16 Cache 13 Team SoloMid Fnatic 16 Mirage 3 Team SoloMid FaZe Clan16 Cobblestone 5 Team Dignitas FaZe Clan 16 Mirage 6 Team Dignitas Fnatic 16 Cobblestone 0 FaZe Clan Fnatic 8 Mirage 16 FaZe Clan FaZe Clan 16 Cobblestone 13 Team SoloMid FaZe Clan 16 Train 12 Team SoloMid Fnatic16 Cobblestone 9 Team SoloMid Fnatic 16 Dust II 6 Team SoloMid Team Dignitas 16 Mirage 12 Team SoloMid Team Dignitas 16 Dust II 11 Team SoloMid
Group D Bracket
Group D Bracket Scores Team Score Map Score Team Fnatic 16 Cache 12 Team SoloMid Fnatic 11 Mirage 16 Team SoloMid Fnatic 16 Cobblestone 6 Team SoloMid FaZe Clan 16 Cache 10 Team Dignitas FaZe Clan 14 Overpass 16 Team Dignitas FaZe Clan 16 Mirage 14 Team Dignitas Fnatic 16 Cache† 12 FaZe Clan Fnatic 16 Cobblestone† 5 FaZe Clan Fnatic Nuke FaZe Clan
Group E Seed Team Record +/- Points 1 Natus Vincere 4–2 +23 4 2 mousesports 4–2 0 4 3 FlipSid3 Tactics 2–4 −8 2 4 Echo Fox 2–4 −15 2
Group E Results Natus Vincere 1 1 Echo Fox mousesports 1 1 FlipSid3 Tactics Natus Vincere 1 1 mousesports mousesports 2 0 Echo Fox Natus Vincere 2 0 FlipSid3 Tactics FlipSid3 Tactucs 1 1 Echo Fox
Group E Scores Team Score Map Score Team Natus Vincere 16 Train 6 Echo Fox Natus Vincere 11 Dust II 16 Echo Fox mousesports 19 Train 16 FlipSid3 Tactics mousesports 6 Cobblestone 16 FlipSid3 Tactics Natus Vincere 6 Mirage 16 mousesports Natus Vincere 16 Cobblestone 6 mousesports mousesports 16 Cobblestone 12 Echo Fox mousesports 16 Train 13 Echo Fox Natus Vincere 16 Overpass 8 FlipSid3 Tactics Natus Vincere 16 Train 6 FlipSid3 Tactics FlipSid3 Tactics 5 Nuke 16 Echo Fox FlipSid3 Tactics 16 Train 2 Echo Fox
Group E Bracket
Group E Bracket Scores Team Score Map Score Team Natus Vincere 16 Nuke 9 Echo Fox Natus Vincere 16 Overpass 4 Echo Fox Natus Vincere Cobblestone Echo Fox mousesports 9 Overpass 16 FlipSid3 Tactics mousesports 9 Cache 16 FlipSid3 Tactics mousesports Train FlipSid3 Tactics Natus Vincere 16 Train† 13 FlipSid3 Tactics Natus Vincere 16 Mirage† 2 FlipSid3 Tactics Natus Vincere Overpass FlipSid3 Tactics
Group F Seed Team Record +/- Points 1 Team EnVyUs 5–1 +23 5 2 Virtus.pro 4–2 +15 4 3 Gambit Gaming 2–4 −12 2 4 compLexity Gaming 1–5 −26 1
Group F Results Virtus.pro 2 0 compLexity Gaming Team EnVyUs 2 0 Gambit Gaming Virtus.pro 1 1 Team EnVyUs Team EnVyUs 2 0 compLexity Gaming Virtus.pro 1 1 Gambit Gaming Gambit Gaming 1 1 compLexity Gaming
Group F Scores Team Score Map Score Team Virtus.pro 16 Overpass 7 compLexity Gaming Virtus.pro 16 Cobblestone 11 compLexity Gaming Team EnVyUs 16 Dust II 13 Gambit Gaming Team EnVyUs 16 Cobblestone 9 Gambit Gaming Virtus.pro 19 Mirage 16 Team EnVyUs Virtus.pro 11 Cache 16 Team EnVyUs Team EnVyUs 16 Train 12 compLexity Gaming Team EnVyUs 16 Cobblestone 9 compLexity Gaming Virtus.pro 12 Nuke 16 Gambit Gaming Virtus.pro 16 Train 9 Gambit Gaming Gambit Gaming 14 Cache 16 compLexity Gaming Gambit Gaming 16 Train 13 compLexity Gaming
Group F Bracket