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DreamHack is giving Counter-Strike 2 players a golden chance, qualify straight into ESL Pro League Season 23 and face the world’s best. The newly launched DreamHack Knockout is running at both DreamHack Atlanta and Stockholm later this year, with tickets already on sale.

What’s on the line?

Aside from bragging rights, each Knockout tournament comes with a $10,000 prize pool and, more importantly, one ESL Pro League spot. For most aspiring pros, that’s the real reward, a direct ticket to one of Counter-Strike’s biggest stages.

Two cities, two very different brackets

  • DreamHack Atlanta: October 31 – November 2, capped at 32 teams.
  • DreamHack Stockholm: November 28 – 30, with space for a massive 128 teams.

Both tournaments follow the same format, but Stockholm’s bigger size reflects Europe’s heavier Counter-Strike scene compared to North America.

Here’s how you can join

If you’re keen to compete, the process is pretty straightforward:

Grab your ticket — You’ll need a BYOC (Bring Your Own Computer) ticket for entry into DreamHack, plus a Knockout Team Ticket. Stockholm offers three options:

  • Team Ticket (5 players)
  • Team Ticket (6 players) – includes space for a coach with internet and power
  • Coach Add-on Ticket – for teams that already have a 5-player pass

Form your squad — Make sure your roster is locked in. Stockholm even has a six-player ticket option so a coach can sit with the team.

Get your gear ready — It’s a BYOC tournament, which means you’ll be hauling your PC, peripherals, and everything else to the venue. (Atlanta players can look into Fragadelphia’s PC rental option if you’d rather not travel with your rig.)

Show up and play — Once you’re there, it’s all about skill. Beat the competition, and you’re on the fast track to ESL Pro League.

The cost of the dream

Competing isn’t exactly cheap.

  • In Atlanta, a 5-player team ticket costs $845 USD, with a coach add-on for another $69.
  • In Stockholm, the 5-player ticket runs at 5,495 SEK (about £425 GBP), with coach options available.

Add in flights, accommodation, food, and the joy of hauling your PC across borders, and the path to ESL Pro League isn’t as simple as showing up.

Levelling the playing field?

When DreamHack Knockout was announced earlier this year, Shahin Zarrabi, VP of Festivals at ESL FACEIT Group, said:

“This is what DreamHack is all about, we’re levelling the playing field. Nothing matters except bringing your computer, showing your skill, and rising to fame.”

It’s a fair point, LAN experience is a massive part of Counter-Strike’s DNA. But for many grassroots teams, the barrier is less about skill and more about the wallet.

Still, DreamHack Knockout gives players something they rarely get: a genuine shot at Pro League qualification without relying on online brackets or regional invites. For hungry CS2 teams willing to take the leap, this could be their launchpad.