The Pinnacle Cup, a $100,000 CS:GO event launched by the online betting and gaming operator in collaboration with GRID, Relog Media and Trustly, is now underway.
For the event, Pinnacle’s leading esports betting product will be supported by data from GRID and the high-production value provided by esports giant Relog, with online payment provider Trustly on board as an ancillary sponsor.
Held online and streamed on Twitch, it features top tier CS:GO teams based in Europe. It will be taking place throughout March before culminating with the final in early April.
Teams such as HellRaisers, CPH Flames and GamerLegion start in the initial qualifiers from today (3 March). Four teams from this stage will then join 12 invited teams including the likes of GODSent, HAVU, NEMIGA, and Winstrike in a Swiss format group stage.
The successful teams will progress through the knockout style playoff stage, where a further four invited teams will be added – before reaching the final and competing for the $80,000 top prize.
With the help of GRID, Pinnacle said it will offer a comprehensive selection of pre-game and live betting markets, with “low margin odds giving customers unrivalled value”.
Pinnacle CEO Paris Smith said: “Pinnacle’s drive to be at the forefront of esports has allowed us to partner with some of the best people in the market. We are really excited to be working with GRID, Relog Media, and Trustly and can’t wait to deliver something special for our customers and esports fans around the world.
“We have shown through previous partnerships that we are committed to giving back to the esports community and helping the industry develop. It’s yet another big step forward for Pinnacle as we continue to strengthen our connection with esports fans.
“Launching a Pinnacle-branded event on this scale is a huge moment for us as a company and one we hope will be a real game changer for the industry. We can’t wait to begin the event and crown our first Pinnacle Cup champions!”
Ben Cove, Pinnacle CMO, added: “This is something we’ve worked incredibly hard on for a while. It’s a fantastic opportunity for Pinnacle and could be the start of something special. We’re very unique in the sense that we have esports in our DNA, so while we’re intent on making this a commercial success for the organisation, we are also extremely proud to be leading the charge on taking the esports experience to another level.
“We know Pinnacle delivers the best esports odds, now we want to show that we can run exceptional events that will appeal to everyone, from those that are fairly new to the scene through to hard-core esports fans and individuals who play the game on a professional level.
“We’ve worked hard to establish our reputation in the industry and we want to make sure we continue to show why we’re regarded as the pioneer of esports betting. It’s great to be a part of something that will really push the boundaries. Everyone at Pinnacle is looking forward to working alongside Trustly to make sure we bring some brilliant action and showcase the very best of CS:GO.”