The ESL Impact CS:GO tournament returns this week, with the League Season 3 Finals taking place at DreamHack Dallas 2023 alongside IEM Dallas 2023. It’s another big step forward for women in esports, as they continue to build a strong audience in the CS:GO space.
Running from June 2nd – 4th, the ESL Impact League Season 3 Finals see eight women’s CS:GO teams duke it out for their share of a $123,000 prize pool, and the title of ESL Impact CS:GO Season 3 Champions.
ESL Impact Katowice 2023. Credit: Michał Konkol | © ESL
Why at IEM Dallas 2023?
Unfortunately, women in esports have struggled to find an audience at times. But the quality is undoubtedly there, and it just needs people to give it a chance. Putting it alongside a premier IEM Dallas CS:GO event, with hundreds of thousands of eyes on it, instantly gives it a better chance of winning over some fans. IEM Dallas 2023 is one of the biggest watched CS:GO events of the year, so it’s a perfect match.
This ESL Impact CS:GO tournament is even being hosted in the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, where the main IEM Dallas CS:GO event is taking place. That means that gamers at the event can watch it live, and see just how great the standard of women’s CS:GO is.
ESL Impact CS:GO Teams
Many of the top teams in women’s CS:GO are coming to ESL Impact League Season 3 Finals. There, they hope to steal the crown away from reigning ESL Impact CS:GO champions Nigma Galaxy. They seem to have a chokehold over women’s CS:GO right now, so it’ll be a tough test for the others.
In Group A we have:
NAVI Javelins
HSG
Black Dragons
B4 Esports
And in Group B there are:
Nigma Galaxy
Shimmer
Ex-CLG Red
9 Pandas Fearless
If you’re new to following women in esports, you might be unfamiliar with the roster of each team. Here’s a quick look at each roster playing at this ESL Impact CS:GO tournament, with some names you might recognize.
Credit: ESL
Credit: ESL
We’d keep an eye on players like GooseBreeder, vilga, and ANa. These are the established stars of the women’s CS:GO game, and it would be great to see them have an impact on proceedings here.
ESL Impact League Season 3 Finals Favorites
NAVI Javelins are coming for the crown. Credit: Michał Konkol | © ESL
It’s very hard to look past Nigma Galaxy here. They’ve won every tournament they’ve entered over the last 12 months, completely dominating women’s CS:GO. It’s a truly impressive achievement, and one that doesn’t look set to stop any time soon. The only matches they’ve lost are charity matches, and games against male teams.
That won’t stop other teams from coming for the crown at this ESL Impact CS:GO tournament. Our favorite to challenge is NAVI Javelins. The team has put a lot of resources into its all-Polish roster, working to make them a formidable force. They’ve won their last 8 matches in a row, coming into the tournament in incredible form. If they can keep it going, expect a Grand Final at least.
Also keep an eye on B4 Esports. When Nigma Galaxy haven’t been at a tournament, often B4 are there to win in their place. Qualifying from Group A will be a tough task, but they’ve shown they’ve got what it takes to put up a strong fight here.
Our final favorite is Ex-CLG Red. Under the CLG Red moniker, the team were one of the most successful teams in women’s CS:GO. CLG as an organization disbanded in mid-April 2023, leaving their players stranded to compete independently. With some top talent here, they’ll want to put on an amazing show to win themselves a contract elsewhere.
The Schedule
Taking place alongside the IEM Dallas 2023 Playoffs, the ESL Impact League Season 3 Finals promise to be a hectic affair. With seven teams to be eliminated over three days of Counter-Strike, it’s going to be non-stop. Here’s the schedule in full:
Credit: ESL
It’s interesting that the Grand Final is taking place after the IEM Dallas 2023 Final. It could be a great opportunity for the tournament to filter in viewers of the men’s Final who are looking for more top-quality CS:GO. In past events, the women’s Final has come first, so we’ll see if this new approach works.
Talent
CS:GO has some amazing female talent, and the latest ESL Impact CS:GO event is highlighting some of the best in the business. Here’s everyone you can expect to see as talent at the ESL Impact League Season 3 Finals.
Credit: ESL
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