IESF expands 2023 World Esports Championship Finals’ female CS:GO team slots

The International Esports Federation (IESF) has announced an expansion of teams at the 2023 World Esports Championship Finals for the women’s Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) event. There will now be a total of ten teams instead of four.

The 2023 World Esports Championships Finals is set to take place between August 24 and September 4, 2023, in Ia?i, Romania.

The 2022 World Esports Championship was the first time women’s CS:GO was introduced to the tournament, which saw great response from the crowds and players alike. The IESF has stated that it has increased the number of teams for the upcoming tournament with the hopes of encouraging and empowering female gamers across all competitions. 

Vlad Marinescu, IESF President, said:

“We are thrilled to announce the expansion of the women’s CS:GO tournament at this year’s World Esports Championships. This reflects the progress we have made in making esports more inclusive for all. We can’t wait to see what these incredible teams will bring to this year’s competition. IESF strongly believes in removing barriers to access for female gamers, and providing them with more opportunities to shine on the world’s biggest stage.“

Ana Karakolevska, IESF Chief Marketing Officer, added:

“I am proud of IESF for leading the charge in making esports more inclusive for all. We have made rapid progress in just a few years and IESF hopes to continue providing opportunities to promote gender equality in the World Esports Family and beyond. We can’t wait to watch 10 of the world’s best teams battle it out in fast-paced CS:GO action in Ia?i!“

The regional qualifiers for the World Esports Championship will start from May 2023 and last till June 2023. The tournament will see the top ten female CS:GO teams get spots in the Finals.