ESL Dubai Invitational viewer's guide*

10-9-2015 06:10

With the eight team, $250,000 ESL Dubai Invitational getting under way in approximately 6 hours time, we have prepared a viewer's guide to help get you ready for the event.

ESL and ESEA will host the eight team, $250,000 Dubai Invitational from September 10-12 at GAMES 15, a video game expo which will take place at the Dubai International Marina Club.

With temperatures scorching outside (~39 °C or 102 °F on all three days) in UAE's megapolis, the action inside promises to be just as sweltering with some of 2015's most accomplished CS:GO teams facing off in two group stages.

Before Dubai, ESL and ESEA last teamed up for the ESL ESEA Pro League, which fnatic won

The format begins as a GSL best-of-one group stage, with decider matches having recently been changed to a best-of-three format. The top two teams from each group then advance to best-of-three semifinals, followed by a best-of-five grand final.

The group draw for the event is as follows:

Group A	Group B
EnVyUs	fnatic
Virtus.pro	TSM
NiP	Null element Na`Vi
Cloud9	Titan

The exact schedule for the three day event is meanwhile:

Thursday, September 10th
11:15	EnVyUs	vs. Cloud9	A1
12:45	Virtus.pro	vs. NiP	A2
14:00	fnatic	vs. Titan	B1
15:15	TSM	vs. Null element Na`Vi	B2
17:30	A1 winner	vs. A2 winner	A3
19:00	A1 loser	vs. A2 loser	A4
20:00	B1 winner	vs. B2 winner	B3
21:15	B1 loser	vs. B2 loser	B4
Friday, September 11th
10:15	A3 loser	vs. A4 winner (Bo3)
13:30	B3 loser	vs. B4 winner (Bo3)
16:30	Semi-final #1
20:30	Semi-final #2
Saturday, September 12th
16:30	Grand final

The prize-pool breakdown is very similar to that of a major, with a few minor alterations, and the first place prize is the same as a major winner's cash prize.

1. $100,000
2. $60,000
3-4. $25,000
5-6. $12,500
7-8. $7,500

No official casting lineup has ever been released by ESL for the event, however some brief homework on Twitter has revealed the presence in Dubai of multiple casting and commentating personalities, some tied to ESL and some not.

Readers should note that this list is not official and merely speculative.

Leigh "Deman" Smith - Caster
Anders Blume - Caster
Lauren "Pansy" Scott - Caster
Alex "Machine" Richardson - Caster
Jason Kaplan - Caster

Robin "⁠Fifflaren⁠" Johansson - Commentator
Jason "⁠moses⁠" O'Toole - Commentator
Halvor "⁠vENdetta⁠" Gulestøl - Commentator

Janko "⁠YNk⁠" Paunović - (observer)
Simon "pAn" Schumacher - (observer)

The action kicks off live at 11:15 when EnVyUs take on Cloud9 on ESL's stream here.

* Update: ESL have released a statement on Reddit which highlights heat issues with an apparent outdoor arena delaying the tournament as well as mentioning that the abovementioned casting lineup will take over the cast at around 18:45 Dubai time.

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Anders but no Semmler...

2015-09-10 06:12

14 replies

-pansy +semmler

2015-09-10 06:22

6 replies

-pansy fnatic girl +semmler dream girl

2015-09-10 06:41

4 replies

-any of those ESL casters and add semmler

2015-09-10 10:00

3 replies

-delays +pansy

2015-09-10 11:37

+1, semmler is love

2015-09-10 12:55

1 reply

semmler is lyfe

2015-09-11 13:49

-Pansy +semmler +greatfrag

2015-09-10 16:45

Way better this way

2015-09-10 06:26

Agree, +Semmler and this is perfect.

2015-09-10 08:57

2015-09-10 09:21

"The action kicks off live at 11:15 when EnVyUs take on Cloud9" kappa or no kappa? can i please get some kappacino with that delay ESL?

2015-09-10 11:44

still waiting

2015-09-10 12:49

Semmler said on stream (Matchmaking on the roomonfire stream) that he has a family event this weekend so he couldn't go to Dubai.

2015-09-10 16:26

Thanks for info, dude ;)

2015-09-10 17:20

Looking forward to see this venture. New territory!

are you gonna be there?

2015-09-10 06:51

No sir!

2015-09-10 06:57

2 replies

:( sadokist bestest

2015-09-10 09:19

Sadokist best but mOE bestest xD

2015-09-10 11:23

gl everyone!!!!! so excited for this i couldnt sleep

rip with that heat

2015-09-10 06:13

1.fnatic 2.envyus 3-4.tsm,vp

yea, ssems like that

2015-09-10 08:39

Noice

lookin good but i will be watchin from school and that sux

What? Where is Semmler?

2015-09-10 06:14

Semmler acts like a gay person so they're afraid of him,

2015-09-10 06:16

1st C9 2nd Titan 3-4th NiP NaVi 5-6th Envy Fnatic 7-8th VP and TSM Someone give me a dragonlore if I am correct because I am

2015-09-10 06:15

7 replies

NA ppl are so cute :')

2015-09-10 06:19

shut up whistle-blower

2015-09-10 06:21

Rekt

2015-09-10 07:24

2015-09-10 11:40

what's with whistle-blowing? sorry im not australian, but im assuming its something related to my flag

2015-09-10 17:33

cant tell if troll or retarded

nobody is that dumb, he just want replies

2015-09-10 06:45

RIP Titan ;_;

Why isnt this on friday-sunday.

because they spend the following day cleaning the venue. it costs less to take up saturday and clean sunday rather than taking sunday and cleaning monday because monday is a higher rate for big venues

2015-09-10 06:29

No one will watch on thursday then.

2015-09-10 06:32

the thing is they are only losing a small percentage of viewers. and that percentage will not affect their earnings as an event organization. they dont care if they lose 10k viewers for the first half of the first day

2015-09-10 06:40

where is lets keep it clean its a family show 9/11 host

Well no official list was announced by ESL, he could jolly well be there, but his Twitter is all about some biking convention so who knows

2015-09-10 06:20

he was like the best host ever.

2015-09-10 09:50

Brendan fraser from The Mummy

2015-09-10 09:39

-pansy +semmler ...

-Cloud9/NaVi/Titan +Kinguin

rape incoming in the first match,its a family show be careful boys

2015-09-10 06:24

I'm hoping to see Nip vs Cloud9, finally.

2015-09-10 06:31

The format begins as a GSL best-of-one group stage, with decider matches having recently been changed to a best-of-three format. Thooring rekt-ed ESL XD

2015-09-10 06:36

We're spoiled with events right now :-)

2015-09-10 06:39

Skipped school for this garbage

nerd

2015-09-10 06:49

Going to skip school for this garbage**. Maybe shouldn't?

2015-09-10 07:13

me 2 ;)

2015-09-10 08:03

yee

these esl casters are cancer :(

10 replies

alot of these casters casted 1.6, also most people in the world work for a paycheck so if CS:GO is their paycheck.. you better believe they are gonna do what they can to keep a job casting

2015-09-10 06:56

9 replies

afaik, Pansy and Machine didn't cast 1.6, Kaplan is shit at every game he casts. Joe Miller and Deman are only good casters ESL have.

2015-09-10 07:23

5 replies

esport.aftonbladet.se/csgo/moses-about-t..

2015-09-10 07:27

same as when u talk about professional athlete's... you talk but in reality they are better at casting esports then u are at anything.

2015-09-10 07:30

they're better than me ? probably yes, because i'm not paid to do it. but compared to other casters like Semmler, DDK, HenryG, Threat, Tosspot, Sadokist, etc. are ESL crews still better than those guys ? definitely no, actually they're much worse, i even think Tobiwan is still better than most of ESL casters.

2015-09-10 11:32

no u missed what i said... they are better at casting then ANYTHING you do.

2015-09-11 01:47

Pretty sure that i have more salary than some low tier ESL's caster. :D

2015-09-11 04:17

lol.....are u a relative of pansy machine or something....im nt a celebrity or xtraordinarily talented guy...im a viewer of professional counter strike and i want the best product...there are tons of great casters (moses anders semmler fifflaren ddk etc)....esl's crew is d worst

2015-09-10 08:55

funny cause ESL runs a multi million dollar business, but apparently you all know better then them. LOL get off ur PC chair

2015-09-11 01:49

are you that flying dj guy :D....esl's *itch....evryone noes esl sucks nd fucks up most of d thinks lyk riot....thanks to open circuit in cs

2015-09-11 04:11

Stickers or autographs?

2015-09-10 06:53

drops?

2015-09-10 06:58

Not a Valve sponsored event, so no.

2015-09-10 08:16

Caster will be Rahim Thoooooooooooorin Semphis Pansy

2015-09-10 07:07

Pls ESL. bring back Chobra and OJ Borg, they are the best you have atm.

2015-09-10 07:20

-Deman +DDK -JasonKaplan +Semmler -Pansy +Black DDK -Vendetta +Thooorin Then I will unmute

forgot just -Machine aswell(he´s such a fake fuck). Put +JoeMiller

2015-09-10 07:31

2015-09-10 08:56

i see retard over here

2015-09-10 11:19

tell me why?

2015-09-10 11:33

coz +thorin

2015-09-10 22:11

Thorin is the best analyst ever. You are just mad at him because he´s said the truth about your country. You are a retard because you can´t oversee that. //CLOSE

2015-09-11 14:19

goodluck Kinguin. Kappa

2015-09-10 07:26

hype is real!~!!!

Well, at least there is no cadian with his air piano.

2015-09-10 07:38

Titan invited over Renegades? Really? How did they work that one out

2015-09-10 07:49

World rankings. How is Renegades over titan ?

2015-09-10 07:56

Maybe I don't understand the world rankings but how the hell are Kinguin below Titan

2015-09-10 08:04

I think the teams are invited by their ESL rankings :3

2015-09-10 11:26

They didn't take Kinguin so the other teams have a chance to win

2015-09-10 11:29

Kinguin is a new team with not so many wins which gives points to the world ranking.

2015-09-10 16:10

why can uk only cast and not play the game ?

Thursday EnVyUs > Cloud9 Virtus.pro > NiP fnatic > Titan TSM > Na`Vi EnVyUs > Virtus.pro NiP > Cloud9 fnatic > TSM Na`Vi > Titan Friday Virtus.pro > NiP TSM > Na`Vi fnatic > Virtus.pro TSM > EnVyUs Saturday fnatic > TSM

2015-09-10 07:57

i think envy stronger than tsm, but i will be glad if tsm win this

2015-09-10 08:36

YNk & pAn did some really good job with the camera these past events, great to have them again! Never missed any actions!

2015-09-10 07:59

Pansy, Deman and Kaplan yaaaaaaaaaaay. -said no one ever.

2015-09-10 08:02

Pansy <3 but not best(Rahim best)

Need Joe Miller as caster!

2015-09-10 08:05

schumacher lol

2015-09-10 08:11

Why are half the fucking games during school/work time? Don't ESL want viewers.

2015-09-10 08:15

Because Dubai has different timezone ya know.

2015-09-10 11:01

no matches today will be bo3 right?

2015-09-10 08:33

ob server what this? =D nice job pAn

2015-09-10 08:37

Muslims... :/

how does this pansy bitch cast all these tournaments shes fuckign shit - her and + anybody literally

2015-09-10 08:52

Anyone know if there will be Teams POV?

2015-09-10 08:59

1.Fnatic 2.C9 3.Envyus 4-5 vp and tsm

2015-09-10 09:05

100'000$ ! Is it a major ?

2015-09-10 09:06

nup

2015-09-10 09:18

why ? I mean what defines an event as a Major or not ? It depends on the Valve cooperation ?

2015-09-10 11:06

Yes

2015-09-10 11:35

hell

2015-09-10 09:22

cmon Envy

2015-09-10 09:46

is pansy going to cast with a burka ???

2015-09-10 09:48

LOL

2015-09-10 15:04

Pansy and vendetta... -.-

will there be an POV?

2015-09-10 09:51

it will be very hard for NaVi in goup B

any POV ?????

2015-09-10 10:09

-deman +semmler -kaplan +tosspot plox

2015-09-10 10:14

Alex "Machine" Richardson - Caster FUCK FUCK FUCK WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO US ESL?!

2015-09-10 10:16

thorin? semmler? izak ? :D rahim ? :D ehhhhhhhhhhhh.

2015-09-10 10:53

bot maniac confirem!

2015-09-10 11:11

this is LIE what is this shit?

2015-09-10 11:18

Sooo looks like we got ESL Gaming Paradise Delay Cup all over again, already 15 min delay, and we dont even have pregame show started, that means at least 1,5-2h delay

2015-09-10 11:27

Its hardly anywhere near Gaming Paradise standards is it? Stop being so melodramatic

Hypeeeee

2015-09-10 11:31

Fuck this event. I'm here to let you know that the delay was caused by the weather (surprised?) well, what we (the viewers and buyers of tickets) didn't know that, this event is taking place in an outdoor area. PC's and players are screwed presumably. It's around 45 Degrees Celsius (probably more). The organizers are stupid, I should've known that it being in GAMES15, it would've been bad, and I thought, well 250k$ on the line, it must be a well organized tournament. Nope.

2015-09-10 11:38

8 replies

lol seriously

2015-09-10 11:41

I bought my ticket to go and cancelled just because of this event being outdoor. Outdoor here in the UAE? Are you out of your fucking mind?!

2015-09-10 11:42

So what's the plan now?

2015-09-10 11:46

If the event is outdoor, can you imagine how much sweat guys like GuardiaN, JW and Flamie will generate? Them big unfit boys will be dripping with sweat in the 40 degree heat

2015-09-10 12:03

Ask Sepp Blatter. He'll tell you about something playing something outdoor in UAE :D

2015-09-10 12:17

2015-09-10 12:43

Are you gonna get your ticket refunded? Cause I'm planning to

2015-09-10 13:44

so no one knows when this event will start ?

they must be fucking retarded if they can't start on time when there are only 8 teams and the event was planned so long ago. Tell me why does 3rd world starladder always start on time with 10 times less budget? All of these esl fuckers should be fired already. Hire some responsible people jesus christ...

2015-09-10 11:39

+∞

2015-09-10 11:45

Word

2015-09-10 12:10

From now on, on viewer guides you should start adding "except at least 1 hour delay"

2015-09-10 11:50

Viewers guide: 1. Prepare for delays!

Update: lol

2015-09-10 12:04

Watching the rerun of the major final makes me hope Deman has some humility and lets the best talent on-site cast the final.

2015-09-10 12:21

you are wrong mate. daboo on main channel... people like Anders should be casting this tournament..

2015-09-10 12:46

Are you telling me daboo has been hired to cast a 250k event?! LOL.

2015-09-10 13:00

unfortunately yes. i am thinking about watching german stream myself

2015-09-10 13:10

I miss Kinguin here!

2015-09-10 12:51

"The action kicks off live at 11:15 when EnVyUs take on Cloud9 on ESL's stream here."

2015-09-10 12:57

we want Semmler!

2015-09-10 13:06

Plz cancel event and change stream to "Match delayed, soon back" so we can have fun all night all day-!

you guys dint mention the sick casters lyk daboo and all...no fucking analysts desk stage...fckng shit event for 250k with no hype...lyk thoorin said dubai event is a joke...GG

2015-09-10 13:16

No hype at all with this casters tbh

2015-09-10 13:17

where is the fucking casters i cant listen to this. im dead now thanx

2015-09-10 13:20

delay invitational again

2015-09-10 13:24

Readers should note that this list is not official and merely speculative. Leigh "Deman" Smith - Caster Anders Blume - Caster Lauren "Pansy" Scott - Caster Alex "Machine" Richardson - Caster Jason Kaplan - Caste HAHAHAHAHAH WHERE IS THESE GUYS

2015-09-10 13:28

theyre all there but cant go live from dubai until later in the day for heat reasons apparently (kappa)

2015-09-10 13:52

Where the hell is Anders and the others? Why are these two randoms casting from their homes

2015-09-10 13:41

apparently the main casting crew can't come online until 6:45 PM Dubai time because reasons?? don't look at me bro, I don't think anyone foresaw this trainwreck :D

2015-09-10 13:46

I checked Anders twitter and he is in Dubai. So that is good news for the later stages of the tournament at least.

2015-09-10 13:50

I checked all their Twitters to draw up that list, it's 90% correct I just missed noticing Sean Charles the host was in Dubai :D

2015-09-10 13:58

Why i not see players etc on stream ?

2015-09-10 13:59

look at the reddit post in the update, too logistically bizarre for me to explain

2015-09-10 14:04

the most important thing, will it drop souvenirs?

2015-09-10 14:06

Not even going to watch the rest of this tournament now that C9 lost.

2015-09-10 14:10

hltv.org/?pageid=82&eventid=1886 Can't wait.

2015-09-10 14:16

Choosing Dubai and oh wait they are heat issues? HOW STRANGE?

2015-09-10 14:40

I hate when tournaments are running on week days, I can't watch them :( .. I guess I'm gonna be able to just watch the final between NiP vs TSM .. Edit: NiP is a disaster :(

2015-09-10 15:02

NICE finally some new music instead of the same old recycled shit

2015-09-10 15:03

Looking forward to TSM-NaVi :)

2015-09-10 16:04

With tha eight crew, $250,000 ESL Dubai Invitationizzle gettin under way up in approximately 6 minutes time, our wild-ass asses have prepared a viewerz guide ta help git you locked n loaded fo' tha event. ESL n' ESEA will host tha eight crew, $250,000 Dubai Invitationizzle from September 10-12 at GAMES 15, a vizzle game expo which will take place all up in tha Dubai Internationistic Marina Joint. With temperatures scorchin outside (~39 °C or 102 °F on all three days) up in UAEz megapolis, tha action inside promises ta be just as swelterin wit a gangbangin' finger-lickin' dirty-ass shitload of 2015z most accomplished CS:GO crews facin off up in two crew stages. Before Dubai, ESL n' ESEA last crewed up fo' tha ESL ESEA Pro League, which fnatic won Da format begins as a GSL best-of-one crew stage, wit decider matches havin recently been chizzled ta a gangbangin' funky-ass best-of-three format. Da top two crews from each crew then advizzle ta best-of-three semifinals, followed by a gangbangin' funky-ass best-of-five grand final.

2015-09-10 16:29