Antwerp counts down to World Cup Counter-Strike in Sportpaleis and expects 150 million viewers: “This is huge” (Antwerp)
For those who are a leek in the world of the game: big Counter-Strike tournaments to reach an immense audience. “The viewing figures are higher than those of the Super Bowl or those of major football matches,” said Steven Leunens, CEO of META, the Belgian esports company that helps make the world championship possible.
It is expected that about 150 million viewers will follow this World Cup via live stream. “And 40,000 people of 62 different nationalities have already bought a ticket to follow the matches live in the Sportpaleis,” says Leunens. “People from Niger, Gambia, United States, USA,…”
Previously, preliminary rounds were organized in Romania. “The 24 best teams have now come to Belgium.” They will play for the title from 9 May. “Before that, the entire Radisson Blu hotel was privatized for three weeks: 250 rooms and 20 meeting rooms.” The best eight teams will then compete against each other in the Sportpaleis from 19 May. The winning team will take home a prize pool of half a million dollars.
Between the containers, the MAS and the Velotjes
In the run-up to the World Cup, the city of Antwerp launched ‘Antwerp Harbor’, a card in the game Counter-Strike, on Saturday afternoon in the Antwerp Stadsfeestzaal. In this way Antwerp wants to profile itself as a hotspot for gamers, but also entice the international gaming community to discover our city.
“The esports sector is experiencing very strong growth worldwide, we are also proud that the World Cup Counter-Strike has now chosen Antwerp as the location. this is real huge”, said Mayor Bart De Wever (N-VA) before he and his children left for a game against ambassador, comedian and avid gamer William Boeva. The latter drew the longest straw not much later.
“I’ve been playing this game since the second day it came out. That was twenty years ago now. You could say that I put tens of thousands of hours into Counter-Strike”, smiles Boeva. “I also follow all the big matches. Professionals are really about tactics, about minimal details. They play at a completely different level.” Boeva is therefore only too happy to be present in the Sportpaleis. “I will attend as many matches as possible.”
Boeva thinks it’s great that Antwerp made its own game map in the game for the occasion. “You can tell that a lot of effort has gone into it. It’s really nicely done. You can see the Antwerp skyline past, the MAS, the Port House, the Velotjes,…”
Counter-Strike Schools
Of all the participants in the World Cup, there is only one Belgian who participates and that is Anton Van Gorp. He is the coach of the American team Complexity. “Be sure this is a full-time job,” says Van Gorp. “I spend about twelve hours a day on this. Similar to what a football coach does, I analyze the matches of the exercises, I make video analyzes to discuss the tactics, I organize around the world for matches…” How high is his team’s estimate? “To win, we’re going to need a little miracle,” he laughs.
It is Denmark that descends to Antwerp with the largest meeting. “They are very professional about it. In Denmark you even have Counter-Strike schools,” says Van Gorp. “But the fact that the World Cup will continue in our country is very special for me, as the only Belgian, and a dream that started.”