ELEAGUE Premier with $1 million prize fund

The ELEAGUE Premier champion will take home $500,000, which is $100,000 more than Virtus.pro and OpTic won by topping seasons one and two, respectively.

On September 1, TBS will air a one-hour episode to preview the tournament, featuring "commentary and analysis on the teams and players" who will take part in the competition. The 16 participating teams have been split into four GSL groups, which will determine the eight teams advancing to the single-elimination playoffs. 

The competition will kick off only on September 8 with Group A, featuring FaZe, Natus Vincere, G2 and a qualified team. The group stage will come to an end on September 30, with the playoffs being held from October 10-13. 

"We couldn’t be more excited for the return of Counter-Strike as the game’s elite teams and players prepare to compete in the upcoming ELEAGUE CS:GO Premier 2017," said ELEAGUE GM and Turner Sports Vice President of esports Christina Alejandre.

"We’re looking forward to showcasing a tournament field that will provide a compelling live event experience and must-see content for our audiences across all platforms."

Twelve spots at ELEAGUE Premier have already been filled through invites, which were revealed at the end of July. The remaining four teams will be determined by open online qualifiers for teams from the Americas and from Europe/CIS.