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YaLLa Esports is set to elevate its premier Counter-Strike 2 tournament, YaLLa Compass, with an exciting expansion for 2025. The tournament will now include two significant LAN events held in the Middle East and boast a substantial prize pool of $1.5 million (£1.16 million), marking a considerable increase from the previous year's $450,000 (£349,100) event held in Abu Dhabi.
The journey to the 2025 competition begins with open qualifiers starting on July 29th. Teams will have additional opportunities to qualify through two more rounds scheduled for the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025. Successful teams from these qualifiers will then advance to closed qualifiers leading up to the first LAN event, which is slated for the second quarter of 2025. The specific cities hosting these LAN events have yet to be revealed.
The first season of YaLLa Compass was met with enthusiasm and solid viewership, achieving peak viewing figures of 163,139 and nearly 3 million hours watched during its 42-hour broadcast, according to Esports Charts.
Founded in 2016, YaLLa Esports has grown to become a leading esports organization in the Middle East. For its 2024 event, the company attracted notable partners including skin trading marketplace BitSkins and global sports and talent management firm IMG.
Klaus Kajetski, Founder and CEO of YaLLa Esports, commented on the expansion: “The remarkable growth of esports in MENA and the success of our inaugural Compass season have set the stage for an even more thrilling 2025. With a significantly increased prize pool, two major LAN events, and a commitment to a top-tier global esports experience, YaLLa Compass is firmly establishing itself as a premier tournament on both a regional and international level.”