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Skyesports announces 2024 Counter-Strike 2 roadmap with six global IPs and a $ one million prize pool
Mumbai: Skyesports, South Asia’s esports tournament organiser, has unveiled its highly anticipated 2024 roadmap for Counter-Strike 2, one of the most competitive games worldwide. Next year, the company has revealed six global IPs for the game with a cumulative prize pool of $ one million. These events will feature a mix of international and Indian teams and will happen as LAN events in the country and internationally.
Skyesports’ commitment to Counter-Strike 2 comes after it hosted India’s first-ever franchised esports league with a prize pool of more than $240,000, the Skyesports Masters, earlier this year with an on-ground final in Bangalore, India. After the positive reception and success of the league, Skyesports has announced a deeper roadmap for the year.
Commenting on the newly unveiled roadmap, Skyesports founder and CEO Shiva Nandy said, “Since the release of Counter-Strike 2 earlier this year, the game is getting more popular than ever, presenting us with exciting opportunities to invest in the space. Our 2024 roadmap has been planned with a focus on fostering talent, global expansion, and ensuring sustainability for participating teams. We have five global IPs planned, offering a total prize pool of $1 million, all happening in person. Notably, three of these tournaments will take place in India, showcasing global esports talent and introducing the electrifying world of Counter-Strike esports to a broader audience.”
To kick off the roadmap, the Skyesports Grand Slam will happen from March 14 to 18 with a $50,000 prize pool. Next up, the franchised esports league, the Skyesports Masters is set to make a return with a huge $350,000 prize pool in May 2024. Following the high-stakes action in the franchised league, Skyesports will bring back the longest-running homegrown esports IP in India, the Skyesports Championship, for an electrifying sixth edition in July 2024 with $150,000 on the line.
Besides Indian teams, these tournaments will feature international organizations as well and will happen as on-ground live events in India, bringing global talent to the country. Skyesports will be unveiling the exact venues at a later date.
Following these tournaments, Skyesports will host the $150,000 Skyesports Souvenir in Colombo, Sri Lanka with teams from India, Europe, and North America.
In October 2024, Skyesports is set to introduce a new and ambitious global esports IP, the Skyesports Global Tour. For its inaugural edition, the tournament will take place in Bangkok, Thailand with a $250,000 prize pool. Embodying a truly global esports IP, the tournament will feature qualifiers taking place in India, Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia.
To close off the year, the Skyesports India vs Pakistan Series is set to take place in December 2024 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. This epic showdown will pit the best teams from each country in an epic showdown for the bragging rights and a share of the $50,000 prize pool.
Additionally, the roadmap will happen in continuation with top teams from the previous IP getting invited to the next tournament. This has been done to ensure that top teams have more stability to focus on elevating talent instead of playing through the qualifiers each time.
Adding on the 2024 roadmap, Skyesports Head of Global Business Partnerships Sashank Bhandaru said, “As we move towards a truly global esports calendar for Counter-Strike 2 with tournaments throughout the year, we are looking forward to partnering with our existing anchor brands and working closely with new ones. Our roadmap has been planned to pave the way for long-term associations, bringing stability and investment to the Counter-Strike scene in India and beyond.”
Besides these five global esports IPs, Skyesports will also be supporting grassroots-level collegiate and cafe events for Counter-Strike 2 in India with monetary and infrastructural support.
The summary of the Skyesports Counter-Strike 2 Roadmap in 2024 is as follows:
- Skyesports Grand Slam: March 14 to 18 ($50,000) – India
- Skyesports Masters 2024: May 13 to 19 ($350,000) – India
- Skyesports Championship 6.0: July 4 to 7 ($150,000) – India
- Skyesports Souvenir: Sept. 13 to 15 ($150,000) – Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Skyesports Global Tour: Oct. 25 to 27 ($250,000) – Bangkok, Thailand
- India vs Pakistan Series: Dec. 20 to 22 ($50,000) – Abu Dhabi, UAE
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
