ESEA introduces Tiered Finals and other changes ahead of Season 56

An overhaul in the structure of the ESEA Leagues has been announced ahead of Season 56 to comply with VRS requirements. The registrations will open from December 3, and will close on December 7th.

As part of the new structure, teams will have to manually register for the Leagues instead of getting carried over. Open10 (EU), Open9-10 (NA), Entry (EU), Intermediate, Main, and Advanced will now operate as a VRS-ranked competition, with VRS points awarded to HLTV covered matches later on. Open1-8 (EU/NA) and Open9 (EU) will remain unranked.

ESEA will also hold tiered Finals Bracket going forward, where the top four teams from each upper group will enter a playoff that moves from lower to higher divisions. This format makes it possible for even an Open10 team to reach the ESL Challenger League in one season. The top two teams in Europe and North America earn wildcard spots to the ECL cup, and the $76,600 prize pool will now scale based on how deep teams go in the Finals.

ESEA has also become strict about roster rules. Teams must field at least three players from its VRS-ranked lineup. Intermediate, Main, and Advanced teams must keep three core players from the previous season.

Important Dates

Regular Season: January 12th - March 1st, 2026

Playoffs: March 3rd - March 22, 2026

Finals: March 23rd - March 29, 2026