The Characters: Teams will spend the one half of the match playing terrorists and the other half playing counter-terrorists. The terrorists are tasked with planting the bomb or killing all their enemies before the time runs out. Counter-terrorists, on the other hand, have to stop the plant of the bomb, kill all the enemies, or defuse the bomb if planted to win the round.

The Plot: A big portion of the game revolves around the economy. Teams earn cash to spend on weapons, utility, and armor by performing well each round.

Managing these resources is essential to making sure you have the firepower to win any given round. In addition to weapons, players can purchase smoke grenades, flashbangs, decoy grenades, fire grenades and frag grenades. Teams work hard to not only outshoot their opponent, but to outsmart the enemy with how they use their utility.

Why: Counter-Strike 2 is among the most storied esports, and the next chapter will play out on the EWC stage. The CS2 community has been around for decades and knows all the rivalries, storylines, and arcs — so expect passion, dedication, and loyalty like no other from the crowds.