Indian esports organiser Skyesports has announced a significant strategic shift, confirming the cancellation of its premier-tier Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) events for the coming years.
In a public statement, the company revealed it has decided to cancel the Skyesports Masters 2025 and all its planned Tier 1 CS2 events for 2026. Explaining the move, Skyesports stated that its focus will now shift towards “strengthening the Tier 2 and grassroots ecosystem.”
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The stated objective is to create “more accessible opportunities for emerging teams” and to establish “a more sustainable pathway to the Tier 1 ecosystem.”
As the first step in this new long-term vision, the company will invest in Tier 2 Counter-Strike 2 tournaments. The initial event under this model will be the Chennai Esports Global Championship (CEGC), which is supported by the government of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
The company stated to be “deeply commited” to the title, stating it “will continue building a sustainable Tier 2 ecosystem that addresses a crucial gap – empowering teams with tournaments offering them a chance to climb the rankings.”
This change in strategy comes after the organiser’s venture into the Tier 1 scene through the Skyesports Championship 2024 was met with significant technical issues, which culminated in the withdrawal of a participating team from the tournament.