ESL One Katowice 2015

The seven-map pool did not change from DreamHack Winter 2014. Before each match in the group stage, both teams banned two maps. The map for the match was then randomly selected from the remaining three maps. In the playoffs, each team first banned one map, then chose one map. The two chosen maps were the first two maps in the best-of-three. If the series were to require a third map, the map was randomly selected from the three remaining maps.

A total of four European teams, one Commonwealth of Independent States team, one Polish team, and one North American team qualified for the offline qualifier. In addition, another spot was granted to a European team in a last chance qualifier.

Two qualifiers in Europe were held. In both European qualifiers, 64 teams played in a single elimination bracket. Two teams from the first qualifier and three teams from the second moved on to the main qualifier.

EU qualifier #1 top 16

	Round of 16					Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Katowice 2015
		3DMAX	0
		k1ck eSports Club	1
							k1ck eSports Club	0
							Team Property	1
		Team Property	1
		chosen	0
												Team Property	0
												mousesports	2
		LGB eSports	0
		webSPELL	1
							webSPELL	0
							mousesports	1
		Playing Ducks	0
		mousesports	1
																	mousesports	Q
																	Copenhagen Wolves	Q
		tryPANTS	0
		eXes eSport	1
							eXes eSport	0
							UNLEASHED	1
		UNLEASHED	1
		Planetkey Dynamics	0
												UNLEASHED	0
												Copenhagen Wolves	2
		myKPV.de	1
		No Problem!	0
							myKPV.de	0
							Copenhagen Wolves	1
		Team ALTERNATE	0
		Copenhagen Wolves	1

EU qualifier #2 top 16

	Round of 16					Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Katowice 2015
		3DMAX	1
		BZSX	0
							3DMAX	1
							Wizard e-Sports Club	0
		webSPELL	0
		Wizard e-Sports Club	1
												3DMAX	1
												Team WinneR	2
		Violetdreams	FF
		Team WinneR	1
							Team WinneR	1
							Team Property	0
		fm!TOXIC	0
		Team Property	1
																	Team WinneR	Q
																	FlipSid3 Tactics	Q
		FlipSid3 Tactics	1
		nEophyte	0
							FlipSid3 Tactics	1
							Team Orbit	0
		Publiclir.se	0
		Team Orbit	1
												FlipSid3 Tactics	2
												LGB eSports	1
		VOLGARE	1
		Team ALTERNATE	0
							VOLGARE	0
							LGB eSports	1
		se mi puta	0
		LGB eSports	1

	3rd place decider
		3DMAX	FF
		LGB eSports	W

The North American qualifier featured 8 teams that played in a single elimination bracket and one team moved on to the main qualifier.

NA qualifier

	Quarterfinals					Semifinals					Finals
		Counter Logic Gaming	1
		Area 51 Gaming	0
							Counter Logic Gaming	1
							Mythic	0
		Denial eSports	0
		Mythic	1
												Counter Logic Gaming	2
												eLevate	1
		Ayedog	1
		SapphireKelownaDotCom	0
							Ayedog	0
							eLevate	1
		HEAT	0
		eLevate	1

In the CIS qualifier, eight teams played in a double elimination, best of one bracket.

CIS qualifier top 3

	Semifinals					Finals
						EYESports		0
	Exgaming		0			PiTER		2
	PiTER		1

In the Polish qualifier, two teams played in a best of three series after two qualifiers decided the teams.

Polish qualifier finals

	Finals
		INSHOCK	2
		MISZCZOWIE GRY	1

The teams were separated into two groups of 8. The teams played in a double-elimination, best of one bracket. Four teams from each group, two from the winner's bracket and two from the loser's bracket, move on to the major.

¹Four of the five players from Team iBUYPOWER were banned by Valve for their parts in the North American match fixing scandal. In a game with NetCodeGuides.com, the players intentionally threw a game.[3] CSGO personality and journalist Richard Lewis exposed the scandal that in exchange of a NetCodeGuides.com win, iBUYPOWER players would receive skins. Duc "cud" Pham, Derek "dboorN" Boorn, and Casey "caseyfoster" Foster, authority figures of NetCodeGuides.com, were banned by Valve. In addition, Sam "DaZeD" Marine, Keven "AZK" Larivière, Joshua "steel" Nissan, and Braxton "swag" Pierce were banned from all Valve-sponsored events.[4] The remaining member of iBUYPOWER, Tyler "Skadoodle" Latham, was not banned since he was the only player who did not receive anything, thus making evidence against him inconclusive. The bans were officially made permanent on January 5, 2016.[5] Richard Lewis later wrote an open letter to Valve, claiming the bans were too harsh.[6]

²Team WinneR was found to be guilty of match fixing, so the team was disqualified. 3DMAX took the vacant spot. Players of ESC Gaming were also accused of match fixing, but they were cleared of any wrongdoing.

³The Polish roster of ESC Gaming was picked up by Gamers2. ESC Gaming would go on to pick up a Danish roster.[7][8]

Cloud9 was alleged to have been on Adderall during the duration of the tournament. Kory "SEMPHIS" Friesen was released by Cloud9 about a month after the Katowice 2015 major before being picked up by Nihilum Gaming. In an interview with the well-known Counter-Strike commentator and analyst Mohan "launders" Govindasamy, SEMPHIS admitted that his whole team was on Adderall while playing.[19] SEMPHIS said to Launders

The ESL [communications] were kinda funny, in my opinion. I don't even care. We were all on Adderall. Like, I don't even give a fuck. Like, it was pretty obvious if you listened to the [communications].[20]

After the interview went viral in the Counter-Strike community, tournament organizers declared their intention to combat the use of PEDs in eSports. ESL also announced that it would partner with the National Anti Doping Association, which would mean random drug tests would be the norm. Cloud9's owner Jack Etienne dismissed SEMPHIS's allegations and did not condone the use of PEDs.

Fnatic came into the tournament as the most dominant team in the field and looked to take its second major title. Meanwhile, PENTA Sports had some trouble against the relatively inexperienced Norwegians of LGB eSports, but managed to retain its Legends status as it went up against the best team in the world.

Casters: Deman & SPUNJ

Fnatic vs. PENTA Sports Scores
Team	Score	Map	Score	Team
Fnatic	16	Inferno	8	PENTA Sports
Fnatic	16	Cache	7	PENTA Sports
Fnatic	–	Overpass	–	PENTA Sports

Virtus.pro was no surprise to be in the top eight as the reigning Katowice champions was back in the playoffs in front of its home crowd. However, Keyd Stars was the biggest surprise of the tournament as the Brazilians, who had barely any international experience, made the playoffs after pulling off two upsets in the group stage. Keyd Stars didn't even have enough money to go to the offline qualifier, but with the help of $4,000 from Robin "Flusha" Rönnquist, another couple thousand more from ESL, and donations from the community, FalleN's team was able to go to the big stage.

Casters: TosspoT & seang@res

Virtus.pro vs. Keyd Stars Scores
Team	Score	Map	Score	Team
Virtus.pro	16	Mirage	4	Keyd Stars
Virtus.pro	17	Overpass	19	Keyd Stars
Virtus.pro	16	Nuke	1	Keyd Stars

Team EnVyUs was the reigning major champion after winning DreamHack Winter 2014, but a very close match against its compatriot nearly cost the team the top spot in Group B. Natus Vincere was able to stomp through the Challengers in its group, but struggled against Fnatic; however, Na'Vi looked to do better in the rematch of the Winter 2014 semifinals.

Casters: Pansy & natu

Team EnVyUs vs. Natus Vincere Scores
Team	Score	Map	Score	Team
Team EnVyUs	16	Cache	12	Natus Vincere
Team EnVyUs	14	Dust II	16	Natus Vincere
Team EnVyUs	16	Mirage	3	Natus Vincere

The team that went on Counter-Strike's most legendary winning streak, winning 87 maps in a row, looked to reach its fifth straight final. Team SoloMid looked win a title after coming close several times and hoping the acquisition of its new in-game leader karrigan could be the decisive factor.

Casters: Anders Blume & natu

Ninjas in Pyjamas vs. Team SoloMid Scores
Team	Score	Map	Score	Team
Ninjas in Pyjamas	16	Dust II	8	Team SoloMid
Ninjas in Pyjamas	4	Inferno	16	Team SoloMid
Ninjas in Pyjamas	16	Nuke	12	Team SoloMid

Fnatic easily took care of PENTA in a series that did not take much time. On the other hand, Virtus.pro suffered a loss to the massive underdogs of Keyd Stars on a map that VP was widely regarded to be one of the best on. However, VP made the other two maps look easy as it pleased the crowd with its plays. However, Fnatic easily had VP's number as in 28 maps, Fnatic was able to win 21 of them.

Casters: Anders Blume & SEMPHIS

Fnatic vs. Virtus.pro Scores
Team	Score	Map	Score	Team
Fnatic	19	Cobblestone	17	Virtus.pro
Fnatic	16	Mirage	8	Virtus.pro
Fnatic	–	Overpass	–	Virtus.pro

EnVyUs came into the semifinals as the team with the better record in the head-to-head at 33–17, but predictions were split right down the middle in the battle between Happy and Xizt. The rematch of the Winter 2014 finals was underway.

Casters: Deman & seang@res

Team EnVyUs vs. Ninjas in Pyjamas Scores
Team	Score	Map	Score	Team
Team EnVyUs	9	Cache	16	Ninjas in Pyjamas
Team EnVyUs	10	Dust II	16	Ninjas in Pyjamas
Team EnVyUs	–	Mirage	–	Ninjas in Pyjamas

The matchup many were hoping for happened. Both teams were at one point considered the best team in the world and the head-to-head was virtually split right down the middle, with Fnatic having a 16–15 lead. Predictions were also controversial as Fnatic was barely favored in the match. The last map would go down as one of CS:GO's greatest as the arena was maxed out to standing room only.

Casters: Anders Blume, TossopT, & seang@res

Fnatic vs. Ninjas in Pyjamas Scores
Team	Score	Map	Score	Team
Fnatic	16	Dust II	14	Ninjas in Pyjamas
Fnatic	10	Cache	16	Ninjas in Pyjamas
Fnatic	16	Inferno	13	Ninjas in Pyjamas