Women’s Counter-Strike circuit ESL Impact will make another return to DreamHack Dallas this weekend with the ESL Impact Season 5 Global Finals.
From May 31st to June 2nd, the finals will take place at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, Texas.
Eight of the world’s best women’s teams that came out on top of the ESL Impact League Season 5 will clash live at the gaming lifestyle festival for a share of the $123,000 prize pool and a chance to lift the coveted champion’s trophy.
Launched at the beginning of 2022, ESL Impact is one of EFG’s #GGFORALL program initiatives designed to improved representation in esports by creating safe spaces for women to compete.
Organisers say that DreamHack Dallas, a gaming lifestyle festival presented by ESL Faceit Group (EFG), has been integral to ESL Impact since the circuit’s launch.
Teams attending the ESL Impact Season 5 Global Finals
Preceding the ESL Impact Global Finals, Season 5 online play took place from March 6th to April 20th, during which 28 teams from North America, Europe and South America attempted to secure a spot at the Dallas Global Finals.
In Asia, a battle commenced during the Wildcard Qualifiers from March 9th to 11th, as all-women squads across the region faced off for a dedicated slot in the season’s showdown.
The final eight teams are:
- Big Equipa (EU division)
- Fluxo Demons (SA division)
- FlyQuest Red (NA Division)
- HSG (Wildcard Qualifier)
- Imperial fe (EU division)
- Let Her Cook (EU division)
- Navi Javelins (EU division)
- TSM Shimmer (NA Division)
Among the competing teams, players from the reigning ESL Impact Champions team, Imperial fe (formerly Team Pigeons and Nigma Galaxy), who have won all six trophies to date, will attempt to uphold their winning streak.
Broadcast talent for the ESL Impact Season 5 Global Finals
- Host: Tech Girl
- Analyst: Vilga
- Analyst: 7licious
- Analyst: Hiyanoot
- Caster: LucyLuce
- Caster: BDog
- Caster: NaoriMizuki
- Caster: Anders
- Sideline/Reporter: Heccu
BDog is the sole Brit on the broadcast talent line-up, while NaoriMizuki and Anders have joined as casters, and vilga as an analyst.
Vearless, James Bardolph, Bleh and Hedje are not returning after the Season 4 finals, which saw Hedje make headlines for her heated comments towards Bleh on the desk. Hedje has been a part of every ESL Impact event to date, up until Season 5.
Tech Girl, Heccu, HiyaNoot, 7licious, BDog and LucyLuce all return from the Season 4 finals for Season 5.
Schedule and Format
Group Stage (May 31 – June 1)
- The eight qualified teams will be split into two groups of four teams.
- These two groups will face off in double-elimination matches, with Opening and Winners’ matches played as best-of-one series and Elimination and Decider played as best-of-three.
- The top two teams per group will advance to the Playoffs.
Playoffs (June 2)
- The best four teams will compete in a single elimination, best-of-three bracket, with two teams advancing to the Grand Final.
- The Grand Final will also be played as a best-of-three series.
Prize money
There will be $123,000 up for grabs at the ESL Impact League Season 5 Global Finals.
| Place | Prize Money |
| 1st | $50,000 |
| 2nd | $25,000 |
| 3rd-4th | $13,000 |
| 5th-6th | $7,000 |
| 7th-8th | $4,000 |
ESL Impact documentary provides an insight into women’s Counter-Strike esports
EFG has released the ‘Making an Impact 2023’ documentary highlighting the work done via ESL Impact toward promoting women’s esports.
The documentary follows teams of women competing at ESL Impact live events and Global Finals at DreamHack Dallas and DreamHack Valencia.
The players featured ‘discuss the ups and downs of competition, team dynamics and the pressure to win before a backdrop of toxicity and sexism endemic to esports, including Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken, Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski, Ksenia “vilga” Klyuenkova and Mounira “GooseBreeder” Dobie’.
The league says it has increased participation in women’s esports by 25% and ’empowered women to break into the traditionally male-dominated industry’.
Read more women’s esports articles on Esports News UK here
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
