Three years ago, i65 graced the halls of Birmingham’s NEC and now, finally, the event you’ve been losing sleep over returns. The world’s best teams are converging on the UK to throw down the gauntlet: they may all claim the title, but only one can hoist that coveted trophy. To keep you up to date, here’s our full guide on what’s happening this weekend.
For more on i69, see also:
- Insomnia69 is coming by JWB
- i69 Invite Group Preview by JMaxchill
Format
As in previous years, teams will play through either the Invite or Open groups to a 16-team playoffs bracket, which will run alongside a B tournament for those eliminated early. The Invite group will be Round-Robin, with teams playing two maps each round to determine their playoffs seedings. The Open group will use the Swiss system, with teams playing best-of-ones to try to reach playoffs.
From these groups on Friday, the top Open teams will advance to join all the Invite teams in a best-of-three double elimination bracket for playoffs, beginning that same evening and concluding with a best-of-five grand final on Sunday.
Teams who do not qualify for this bracket, or who are eliminated early, will be able to enter a best-of-three B-tournament double elimination bracket. Signups for this close 17:30 BST on Saturday 27th, and will determine the exact structure and schedule.
Schedule
All times in BST (UTC+1)
Friday 26th:
- 13:30 Invite group R1
- 16:00 Invite R2
- 18:00 Invite R3
- 21:00 Upper Bracket R1 and Lower Bracket R1
Saturday 27th:
- 13:00 LB R2
- 15:00 UB R2 and LB R3
- 18:00 LB R4 and B tournament Quarter Finals
- 20:00 UB Finals and B Semi Finals
Sunday 28th:
- 11:00 ETF2L S41 and S42 Awards Show
- 13:30 B Grand Finals
- 15:30 LB R5
- 17:30 LB Finals
- 21:00 Grand Finals
Further content is planned between matches, with community figures such as Alec "Lucky" Pollard hosting pre- and post-show segments. TFConnect will be featured, with names you might know and for the first time, ETF2L's Awards Show will be held in person: awards from Seasons 41 and 42 will be presented by Admins Sodium and supra, with a range of Premiership players.
Full schedule at @TF2Essentials or on their website.
Map Pool
- cp_process_f11
- cp_gullywash_f9
- cp_snakewater_final1
- cp_sunshine
- cp_granary_pro_rc8
- cp_metalworks_f4
- koth_product_final
All maps will be selected by teams’ pick/ban. The ruleset will match ETF2L’s Season 42:
- 5CP: 30 mins, 5 min round timer, winlimit 5 rounds
- KOTH: Winlimit 3 rounds, no time limit
Teams
Invite signups are still open, but confirmed attendees so far are:
- froyotech
- Witness Gaming
- tf2easy
- SVIFT
For Open teams, see the list on Toornament.
Prize Pool
The total prizepool is £5,000, distributed accordingly:
- First: £2,500
- Second: £1,500
- Third: £600
- Fourth: £400
Broadcast
The tournament will be broadcast live from Birmingham on twitch.tv/essentialstf from 12:00 on Friday, with community content from 11:00 on Saturday and Sunday. There will also be a B stream on twitch.tv/teamfortresstv, covering the remaining Invite and playoffs matches.
On Site Talent:
- kaidus - Host / Analyst
- eepily - Event Lead / Caster
- Beater - Caster
- bum - Caster
- Lucky - Caster
- TurboTabs - Caster
- wandum - Caster
On Site Crew
- kirsty - Event Lead
- ArchRhythm - Production Lead
- JMaxchill - Vision Mixer
- Beater - Observer
- Connie - Observer
- DrHappiness - Tournament Lead
- DCS - Tournament Admin
- Sodium - Tournament Admin
- twiikuu - Server Tech
- cuppers - Videographer
- loris - Videographer
B Stream Talent
- Dreamboat - Caster
- DuMmTm - Caster
- flatline - Caster
- frydog - Caster
- JesseJChick - Caster
- Luggnuts - Caster
- MarioManz - Caster
- Marxist - Caster
- MR SLIN - Caster
- row - Caster
- snazzy - Caster
- Tcmano - Caster
B Stream Crew
- mitch - Producer
- Dr. Underscore - Producer
- antlers - Observer
For more details see the Toornament page or follow @TF2Essentials on Twitter.
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