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ESL One Cologne 2016

ESL One Cologne 2016

Cologne, Germany
2016-07-08

ESL One Cologne 2016 was an Electronic Sports League Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament. It was the ninth Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major Championship and was held at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany from July 8–10. It featured 16 teams from throughout the world competing. Cologne 2016 had the second consecutive major with a prize pool of $1,000,000.

The playoffs featured eight teams. Astralis, Fnatic, Gambit Gaming, Natus Vincere, SK Gaming, Team Liquid, and Virtus.pro were returning Legends and FlipSid3 Tactics was the only new Legend. Ninjas in Pyjamas failed to retain its Legends status after eight straight majors of being Legends. The grand finals had SK Gaming, which was the defending champion from the previous major at MLG Major Championship: Columbus, against Team Liquid, which was the first ever North America team to reach the grand finals at a major.

The biggest tournament in the game of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is hosted annually in Cologne each year. I was lucky enough to be able to go and watch the world's 16 best teams fight it out for the major!

A picture of my VIP entry pass held in front of the stadium while being seated in the far corner of the arena. A picture of my VIP entry pass held in front of the stadium while being seated in the far corner of the arena.
A picture from the rear of the LANXESS arena. Being broadcasted on the screens is Alex "machine" Richardson, who is a prominent CS:GO caster. This picture was taken before the event had started on the first day. A picture from the rear of the LANXESS arena. Being broadcasted on the screens is Alex "machine" Richardson, who is a prominent CS:GO caster. This picture was taken before the event had started on the first day.
Yet another vanity shot of the VIP lanyard while having a drink? Yet another vanity shot of the VIP lanyard while having a drink?
Picture taken from the VIP seating area. Picture taken from the VIP seating area.
Crowd holding up their phone screens during an interval between matches or map change. Crowd holding up their phone screens during an interval between matches or map change.
A picture from the back of the LANXESS arena before the ESL One 2016 tournament started. A picture from the back of the LANXESS arena before the ESL One 2016 tournament started.
Apparently I need more lanyards and merchandise around my head. The bandana on my head was acquired from the Logitech tent after participating in a 3 versus 3 match. Apparently I need more lanyards and merchandise around my head. The bandana on my head was acquired from the Logitech tent after participating in a 3 versus 3 match.
Picture taken from the back of the ground floor seating area, before the players walked on stage. Picture taken from the back of the ground floor seating area, before the players walked on stage.
Picture taken when the crowd was asked to raise their lights in the arena. Picture taken when the crowd was asked to raise their lights in the arena.
Picture taken after the celebrations of winning the grand final of ESL One Cologne 2016. Picture taken after the celebrations of winning the grand final of ESL One Cologne 2016.
Wristband given to the lucky few who could attend the after party. Wristband given to the lucky few who could attend the after party.
A group of French fans sat in the back right seating, cheering on EnVyUs who at the time had a French line-up. A group of French fans sat in the back right seating, cheering on EnVyUs who at the time had a French line-up.
A cheeky picture of the tournament stage before the next match, with the arena lights turned off. A cheeky picture of the tournament stage before the next match, with the arena lights turned off.
A picture of stadium crowd with everyone holding their phone lights in the air. Looked very pretty. A picture of stadium crowd with everyone holding their phone lights in the air. Looked very pretty.
A cheeky picture of SK Gaming before they collected the trophy on stage. A cheeky picture of SK Gaming before they collected the trophy on stage.