NODWIN Gaming and esports entertainment company BLAST have recently joined hands to launch ‘The Draft’ – a Counter Strike-based tournament. Notably, the tournament will provide an opportunity for Indian as well as Pakistani players to compete on a global stage.

The tournament features a prize pool of $50,000 and aims to bring teams on to international stardom. Furthermore, it also gives them a chance to play with and against legendary global Counter Strike professionals.

Brand Director for BLAST, Faye Marlborough, said, “Providing emerging esports and gaming markets with opportunities to play on a global stage is key to their long-term growth. The Draft will not only act as an important pathway for aspiring players, but will also provide an exciting tournament for global and local fans to enjoy.”

“The Draft symbolises a tribute to skill, strategy, and the indomitable spirit of esports, offering a stage where the finest esports talents from our local ecosystem join forces with some of the biggest names in the global Counter-Strike scene,” said Co-Founder of NODWIN, Akshat Rathee as per the daijiworld.

The initial leg of ‘The Draft’ will see a total of 64 teams participating, with qualifiers starting late January 2024. The teams that see themselves through the qualifier rounds will move forward to the group stages. Notably, the group stages will feature six teams in each group, respectively.

Subsequently, the top three teams from each group will then move to the Super Six LAN event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This leg will provide a professional player to each team through a draft method, hence ‘The Draft’.

Players will get to learn Counter Strike tricks from those who have been playing the game since forever. The finals for the tournament will take place at the Etihad Arena. The ultimate clash will witness thousands of fans cheering for their favourite teams. The event will be streamed across Blast TV Network and can be attended from the venue as well.