'Counter-Strike' is taking over Las Vegas with the $450,000 DreamHack Masters
The premiere Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament DreamHack Masters is returning in 2017, and this time it's going down in Sin City.
DreamHack Masters Las Vegas is pitting 16 of the best CS:GO teams in the world against each other as they battle for a piece of the $450,000 prize pool. All the action is unfolding at the MGM Grand Hotel, Feb. 15-19.
The participants will be decided through a mix of qualifiers and invites. The eight invited teams have not been announced yet, but it wouldn't be surprising to see DreamHack Masters Malmö winners Ninjas in Pyjamas head to Las Vegas to defend their title.
The open qualifiers are welcoming teams from North America (and probably South America), Europe and Asia -- North American teams get three spots, European teams get four spots and Asian teams get one spot.
Last year's DreamHack Masters saw Ninjas in Pyjamas beating Natus Vincere in the grand finals, taking home $100,000 of the $250,000 prize pool. In Las Vegas, the first place team will take home $200,000.
In the DreamHack Masters Las Vegas announcement, the tournament organizer said that it will be holding two Masters in 2017, although the location of the second has not been announced.
Three more DreamHack events have already been announced for the U.S.: DreamHack Austin, Atlanta and Denver. DreamHack's first U.S. event was DreamHack Austin in 2016, and it seems like their venture into the States has been success.
Tickets for DreamHack Masters Las Vegas go on sale Nov. 2.
BONUS: Inside ESL One New York
