ESL Pro League Season 12 to be held online; Malta to host 2021 events

The coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc on esports events as ESL's showpiece competition will not take place on LAN as the tournament organiser initially wished for.

ESL unveiled on Thursday more details about the future of the ESL Pro League. The tournament will be split into regional online divisions for Season 12 because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, returning to a LAN setting in 2021, when both seasons will take place in Malta.

Season 12 will cover all major regions — Europe, North America, Asia, Oceania, and South America — and will be played between September 1 and October 6. Europe will have the lion's share ($450,000) of the season's $750,000 prize pool, followed by North America, with $225,000. The remaining three regions will each have $25,000 on offer.

ESL Pro League Season 12 will begin on September 1

ESL had announced in June that it would host the entirety of Season 12 on LAN with 24 teams if players were able "travel safely without larger restrictions". Fans got their hopes up accordingly, but their optimism waned when it was revealed that this year's ESL One Cologne event — which was originally scheduled to start less than two weeks before the Pro League — would have to be held online because of the global health crisis.

Below you can find the team list for ESL Pro League Season 12:

Europe

Astralis
ENCE
fnatic
MOUZ
Ninjas in Pyjamas
AGO
Spirit
HEROIC

Complexity
FaZe
G2
Natus Vincere
Vitality
BIG
OG
GODSENT

North America

100 Thieves
Liquid
FURIA
TBD

Evil Geniuses
Triumph
TBD
TBD

South America

BOOM
Sharks

Isurus
TBD

Oceania

ORDER
AVANT

Renegades
Chiefs

Asia

TYLOO
Invictus

ViCi
Beyond

Malta had been selected as the host country for ESL Pro League Season 11 before the tournament was moved online and was also due to stage Season 12, HLTV.org understands. But despite the setback, ESL and GamingMalta, a non-profit foundation set up by the government of Malta and by the Malta Gaming Authority, were able to agree on an extension to their strategic partnership, which aims "to foster and develop the Maltese esports community," according to ESL.

"The agreement with GamingMalta enables us to offer an amazing setting to the worldwide esports community," ESL CEO Ralf Reichert said in a statement. "Malta is a progressive country with its finger on the digital pulse combined with a beautiful Mediterranean ambient which partnered with us for a phenomenal 11th season of the world’s largest professional esports league in CS:GO. We couldn't be more excited for this partnership to bring the growth of esports and beauty even more together."

In 2021, both Pro League seasons will feature the format announced in January, with 24 teams, including the 13 partners who signed what was called the "Louvre Agreement" following a meeting in Paris. According to ESL, fans from all over the world will have access to special travel and ticket packages to be able to experience the action live in Malta.