First Strike qualifiers in CIS region to begin in November

After a few weeks since the announcement of First Strike, we are getting news from all around the world, revealing more details about the regional championships. Earlier today, we heard about the Turkish qualifier, and now we’ve got news from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

In order to advance to the regional finals, the teams will have to participate in one of two open qualifiers, with the limit being up to 512 squads. Both of the qualifiers will be divided into two phases; during the first week of the competition, the first phase will be held from November 9th-12th, where after best-of-1 matches, the best 32 teams will advance to the second phase, scheduled for November 13th-15th, 2020. After best-of-3 games in a single-elimination bracket, the best four teams will have earned themselves a ticket to the First Strike Regional Finals. The second qualifier will follow the same format, with the first phase happening on November 16th-19th, and the second one on November 20th-22nd, 2020.

In the Regional Finals, we will see the eight the most dominant squads of the CIS region. On December 3rd-4th, the quarter finals will be played, with the semifinals being scheduled for December 5th; all of those games will be best-of-3s. The champions of the CIS will be decided on December 6th, 2020, after a best-of-5 match-up.

The registration process hasn’t started yet, but the organizers will inform the local community about the qualifiers in the near future via social media platforms. At the same time, we should also get to know more details regarding the prize pool and rules of the tournament. For now, the organizers shared information only about the minimum age being adjusted to 16 years old, as well as the lowest competitive rank in the game to be Diamond 1, which is a surprise compared to other regions that have set it to Immortal 1.

The CIS region is known for its talented players in many games such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Dota 2, or Rainbow Six: Siege. This time, the VALORANT squads will be able to prove their skill in the local scene. Who will be the champion? Could it be forZe, ROX TEAM, or maybe the unsigned flawless, or the recently established Team Empire ? Let us know your types in the comments below!