Looking into Counter-Strike: Global Offensive's event formats

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is one of the world’s biggest esports games. Even though it’s one of the most popular games, some people are still unfamiliar with the events’ formats. Let’s dive into how these formats work and the rules set for these CSGO events.

Across the esports industry, there are different formats for almost every game. When you look at Dota 2, you will see that the double-elimination format is normal there. Storylines are more rampant in that kind of format because teams are given second chances and underdogs have the safety net of a lower bracket. 

In contrast to classic sports, CSGO does not have a league format like European football leagues or an 82-game season like the NBA. Most events have a round-robin group stage which will eliminate some teams so they can be placed in an eight-team CSGO tournament bracket. This will be a single-elimination bracket filled with the best-of-three series. Now, let’s talk about a vital part of CSGO tournament rules, map vetoes.

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Map vetoes are important in CSGO events

CSGO is filled with best-of-three series but the game has seven active maps in the pool during any CSGO biggest tournament. These are:

1. Mirage
2. Vertigo
3. Dust II
4. Overpass
5. Ancient
6. Nuke
7. Inferno

When you take these into account, all of the pro teams have their signature maps and the maps they want to avoid. The formats of CSGO events matter because they force certain CSGO teams to either stay within their map pool or diversify it. Since most CSGO teams have five maps in their pool, the best of 3 format is much better suited for almost every team. They won’t have to think about the other two maps left in the pool after the vetoes.

Some events have used the best-of-five format which is a rarity in CSGO. However, this has worked for some events but this will most likely stay a rarity because it is not healthy for almost every map to be available. The CSGO pro scene is reliant on having seven maps in the pool because it diversifies the game rather than over-saturating it.

There have been some maps that were rotated in and out of the pool. These are Train, Cobblestone, and Cache which are all good maps but Valve and the pro players decided against using them for reasons like bland or unbalanced design. The pool is stable enough but there will come a time when these maps will return to swap the others out.

CSGO is reliant on a single-elimination format

While most esports events would love a double-elimination format, CSGO is more reliant on the shorter single-elimination. In this system, teams play an elimination series at once, and the loser bows out of the event. Teams are forced to live with making no mistakes because if they do so, they will lose their spot. 

In contrast, a double-elimination format is more open to second chances which open an opportunity for miracle runs. Valve has experience with this with Dota 2 but they do not want that for CSGO. Both formats are used but Valve Majors and similar events like DreamHack and BLAST Pro Series, also employ the format.

CSGO is more geared towards a do-or-die format which is in line with how the game works. To win a map, a team has to be the first one to win 16 rounds and have at least a two-round lead. Overtime rounds are applied if necessary. That is exhausting to play even if it has a set schedule most of the time. If they play in a double-elimination bracket, you can expect teams to get burnt out rather quickly. To maintain a competitive environment, the single-elimination bracket is the best option out of the two.

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Best-of-fives are rare

When you look at the format for the length of a series, you rarely see the bo5 series in CSGO. Most casual fans will only see this format in ESL events because they have a long history of doing this. Going back to the burnout feeling from the previous point, a bo5 series can last from around three to eight hours. CSGO players are reliant on their bodies feeling well so their reaction speed remains supreme.

The bo3 format is perfect for CSGO because it favours the map pool of any other team. At the same time, players and teams are given a fair amount of time for both preparation and match length.

CSGO has clear rules

Since CSGO is one of the top esports games, it has a defined legacy. This involves its rules which have stood the test of time dating back to the CS 1.6 days. In terms of rounds, there will be a maximum of 30 rounds played barring an overtime period which will last for six rounds. 15 rounds will be played on each side which is the Terrorists and Counter-Terrorists. The choice of starting side will be decided by a knife round or a coin flip depending on the organizer.

There is a use of timeout and pauses which can be tactical or for emergency purposes. Teams are usually given four timeouts per game which last around 30 seconds to a minute.

Since those rules are mostly known by any pro player and bettor, you should also know the other rules that are not meant to be broken. Of course, a prime rule is no using outside applications or cheats. This has been a long-standing issue for first-person shooter games like CSGO because some players prefer using cheats rather than using their skills.

Similarly, scripts are also banned in their CSGO biggest tournament because it gives players an unfair advantage over their opponents. Valve wants CSGO to be fair and only contested through sheer skill and strategy which is why they have these CSGO tournament rules. These rules are all fair which makes any CSGO tournament bracket fun to watch. Good luck if you’re planning on betting!

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Words: Pocholo Magsino