Posted by OFFICIAL HCS
This past Spring, viewers from across the globe tuned in to watch the best Halo players and teams on the planet vie for a World Championship title. In the end, Counter Logic Gaming claimed the crown, and cemented their place in competitive Halo history. It was a banner moment not only for all the teams involved, but for Halo esports as a whole. Since then, the Halo Championship Series has taken both North America and Europe by storm, and has seen new talent rise to the top to challenge the established order.
Today, we’re extremely excited to announce the Halo World Championship 2017, which will serve yet again as a true crown jewel in the Halo esports calendar. The Halo World Championship 2017 will showcase the best Halo talent on Earth, all fighting to prove that no Spartan stands taller than they do. Can the defending World Champs repeat history and bring a World Championship title across the #GreenWall to the ravenous fans of OpTic Gaming? Can European powerhouse FAB Esports best last year’s Top 8 Epsilon squad as the best European team in Halo – or could they shock the world and go all the way? Already, the storylines are rife with potential and promise, but now the real test begins. The next Halo World Championship is up for grabs, and the road begins here.
HALO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2017 FINALS
Presented alongside our partners at ESL, the Halo World Championship 2017 Finals will feature twelve of the finest squads in the world all competing for glory, honor, and a $1 million prize pool. The final group will be made up of seven teams from North America, three from Europe, and one each from Latin America/South America and the Australia/New Zealand region. Based on player and fan feedback from this year’s event, the Finals format will feature a group stage followed by a double-elimination bracket. For more information, tune into the NA HCS Pro League Fall 2016 Finals tomorrow on Twitch.tv/halo.
QUALIFICATION
NORTH AMERICA
For North American region qualification, we’re excited to partner again with UGC and Millennial Esports for some incredible Open LAN events as well as online qualifiers.
NA Halo World Championship 2017 Qualifier: St. Louis by UGC – Jan 20-22
NA Halo World Championship 2017 Qualifier: Las Vegas by Millennial Esports – Mar 3-5
In North America there will be two Open LAN tournaments that will each send the Top 3 teams directly to the Halo World Championship 2017 Finals. The tournaments will be open for any teams that think they have what it takes, and the Top 8 will move on to the Championship bracket, where the North American HCS Pro League teams will await. More details and official handbook are coming soon.
NA Halo World Championship 2017 Online Last Chance Qualifier – March 11
After both Open LAN tournaments, teams will compete in one final Last Chance Qualifier to find the final team who will compete at the Halo World Championship 2017 Finals.
KEY DATES NORTH AMERICA:
- Jan 14 – Online Seeding Tournament
- Jan 20-22 – NA Halo World Championship 2017 Qualifier: St. Louis by UGC
- Jan 28 – Online Qualifier #1
- Feb 4 – Online Qualifier #2
- Feb 11 – Online Qualifier #3
- Feb 18 – Online Qualifier #4
- Feb 25 – Online Qualifier #5
- Mar 3-5 NA Halo World Championship 2017 Qualifier: Las Vegas by Millennial Esports
EUROPE
In Europe, our friends at Gfinity will once again host both online and Open LAN experiences, with the weekly online tournaments used to seed the Open LAN event.
EU Halo World Championship 2017 Qualifier: London (Gfinity Arena) – Feb 17-19
8 teams from Open Bracket will meet the 6 HCS Pro League teams + Top 2 in HCS points in the Championship Bracket. Top 2 teams go to HaloWC Finals.
EU Halo World Championship 2017 Online LCQ – Feb 26
KEY DATES EUROPE:
- Jan 21 – Online Seeding Tournament
- Jan 22 – Oniline Qualifier #1
- Feb 5 – Oniline Qualifier #2
- Feb 12 – Oniline Qualifier #3
- Feb 17-19 – EU Halo World Championship 2017 Qualifier: London by Gfinity
- Feb 26 – Online Last Chance Qualifier
LATIN AMERICA/SOUTH AMERICA
In addition to Europe, Gfinity will also be partnering up for the LATAM/South America region. Qualification will feature weekly online tournaments that lead up to the Mexico City Open LAN tournament, where just one team will make it to the main event. There’s some truly incredible talent just waiting to make their mark, but who will get their chance?
LATIN AMERICA Halo World Championship 2017 Qualifier: Mexico City – Feb 24-26
KEY DATES LATIN AMERICA
- Jan 28 – Online Seeding Tournament
- Jan 29 – Online Qualifier #1
- Feb 5 – Online Qualifier #2
- Feb 12 – Online Qualifier #3
- Feb 24-26 – Latin America Halo World Championship 2017 Qualifier: Mexico City by Gfinity
AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND
We’re proud and excited to partner up with ESL Australia to host a series of weekly online tournaments that will culminate in a furious and frenetic online regional qualifier to decide what top team from down under will earn the chance to make their mark in the Halo World Championship 2017.
Australia/New Zealand Halo World Championship 2017 Online Regional Qualifier – Feb 26
8-team, double elimination tournament, with the winning team heading to the Halo World Championship 2017 Finals. Weekly online tournaments will feature teams competing for cash and HCS qualifying points. Top 7 in points go to Online Regional Qualifier, with the online LCQ cup determining the finals seeding in Online Regional Qualifier.
KEY DATES AUSTRALIA/NEW ZEALAND:
- Jan 21 – Online Seeding Tournament
- Jan 22 – Online Qualifier #1
- Jan 29 – Online Qualifier #2
- Feb 5 – Online Qualifier #3
- Feb 12 – Online Qualifier #4
- Feb 19 – Last Chance Qualifier
- Feb 26 – Online Regional Qualifier
Needless to say, we couldn’t be more excited to get the road to the Halo World Championship 2017 underway, and hope that you will join us every step of the way. Full registration details and complete rule book will be coming soon, so make sure you stay tuned to learn how you can be part of it all. All events will be broadcasted on twitch.tv/Halo, so you don’t miss a single moment! Who will stand atop the world in 2017? Every team from each of these regions thinks they’ve got what it takes to be the last one left standing – were it so easy.
As always, for all updates on the Halo Championship Series and Halo esports, follow @HCS and @ESLHalo on Twitter, and keep it locked to Halo.gg and ProLeague.com/Halo.
