ESL decided to reverse its decision to remove Oceania’s connection to the ESL Pro League. As a result, teams from this part of the world will once again have the opportunity to qualify for the competition.
ESL to Reconnect Oceania to the Pro League
In case you don’t remember, ESL made a decision in November to remove Oceania from its Pro League, which meant teams from this region couldn’t compete. It seems like this was not the right decision because the organization reversed it just a month and a half later.
Following this decision, the winner of the Oceania Cup will get an invitation to the Asia-Oceania Regional Finals. Before this decision, the competition only had teams from the Asian Cup, but the 4 powerhouses will now play alongside 4 names from Oceania. The winners will get that prestigious EPL spot.
Alongside the existing semifinal and Grand Final matches, ESL will also add quarterfinal matches. They will be in a Bo3 format and it means we will have one more day of play.
Due to the change in format, ESL also had to make adjustments to its rulebook, particularly the one related to participants with multiple cup victories. Based on the info we have, ESL will remove these things while evaluating the potential options for Season 52.
Here is an overview of the Asia-Oceania Regional Format:
- 8 Teams
- The Event will be between May 25 – May 28, 2026
- Asian Servers
- Single elimination, quarterfinals matches (bo3), semifinals matches (bo3) and a Bo5 Grand Final
It’s safe to say that most Counter-Strike 2 fans are happy with the changes. The fact that we will have more teams is always a plus because it will make the event even more interesting. Make sure to follow us for more information.
