Halo Championship Series
Halo Championship Series is a professional Halo league sponsored by Microsoft and 343 Industries. It is governed by Electronic Sports League, more commonly referred to as ESL. Seasons 1 and 2 ran on ', specifically its remake of Halo 2. In August 2015 Microsoft announced it would be increasing the total prize pool of the HCS to $1 million USD, for the newly announced Halo World Championship, which will be the debut event for '. This prize pool was later announced to be crowd-funded, which later resulted in Major League Gaming announcing that the prize pool had climbed to $2 million USD. Later that week, 343 announced that the prize pool was locked at $2.5 million USD. This was confirmed to give the winners, later announced to be Counter Logic Gaming, the largest single monetary prize in console eSports history.
HCS Season 1
HCS Season 1 took place from December 12, 2014 to March 8, 2015. There were a total of 12 official tournaments, five LANs and seven online. It featured a $100,000 USD prize pool. The European Gaming League organized a LAN event in London on February 22, 2015, with the winning team getting a wild card spot to the Season 1 Grand Finals.LANs
Final standings
HCS Season 2
Season 2 of the HCS features a $250,000 prize pool spread out over three offline events, seven online cups and one open online cup.| Tournament | Date | Winner | 2nd | 3rd |
| Iron Games Atlanta 2015 | April 17–19 | Evil Geniuses | Denial eSports | Cloud9 |
| PGL Indianapolis | June 26–28 | Evil Geniuses | Counter Logic Gaming | Denial eSports |
Prize Pool
Game Types and Maps
Included maps and modes:- Team Slayer: Shrine, Lockdown, Warlord
- Oddball: Warlord, Lockdown
- Capture the Flag: Shrine, Warlord
- King of the Hill: Lockdown, Warlord
- Neutral Bomb Assault: Shrine, Warlord
| Rank | Team | Prize |
| 1st | Evil Geniuses | $75,000 |
| 2nd | Counter Logic Gaming | $30,000 |
| 3rd | Denial eSports | $15,000 |
| 4th | Cloud9 | $12,000 |
| 5th | Winterfox | $6,000 |
| 6th | OpTic Gaming | $6,000 |
| 7th | Team Liquid | $3,000 |
| 8th | eXcellence Gaming | $3,000 |
HCS 2016 Halo World Championships
Halo World Championship 2016 was the culminating event of the Halo World Championship 2016 season, taking place at Raleigh Studios Hollywood in Hollywood, California from March 18–20, 2016. Halo 5 was played in 4v4 competition. It featured the largest prize pool in console esports history, with a total of $2,500,000 USD on the line.Overview
The Halo World Championship was announced on August 4, 2015, with a trailer shown during Microsoft's Gamescom showcase. With a prize pool of over $2,500,000 USD, there has never been a Halo tournament with higher stakes. It is also the first major tournament featuring invited teams from all regions of the world.Format
- 16 teams invited as specified, based on performance in regional qualifiers:
- * 8 North American teams
- * 4 European/Middle Eastern/African teams
- * 2 Australian/New Zealand teams
- * 1 Asian team
- * 1 Latin American team
- Group play, four teams per group
- * Top two teams from each group advance to Championship Bracket, bottom two finish 9th-16th.
- * Best-of-5 series
- Championship bracket
- * Single-elimination bracket, best-of-5 series, best-of-7 series
- * Group winners drawn into bracket against group runners-up with a restriction on teams from same group being on same half of bracket
Prize Pool
The prize money is distributed as follows:
| Place | Percentage |
| 1st | 40% |
| 2nd | 20% |
| 3rd-4th | 10% |
| 5th-8th | 3% |
| 9th-16th | 1% |
Game Types and Maps
- Capture the Flag - Coliseum, Fathom, Truth
- Strongholds - Eden, Empire, Plaza, The Rig
- Slayer - Coliseum, Eden, Plaza, Regret, The Rig, Truth
Results
| Place | Prize | Team | Roster |
| 1st | $1,000,000 | Counter Logic Gaming | SnakeBite • Royal2 • Frosty • Lethul • Clutch |
| 2nd | $500,000 | Team Allegiance | Naded • eL TowN • Suspector • Cratos |
| 3rd-4th | $250,000 | Team eLevate | Rayne • Penguin • Swift Kill • Calm • Chig |
| 3rd-4th | $250,000 | Denial eSports | ContrA • PreDevoNatoR • Huke • bubu dubu • Elumnite |
| 5th-8th | $75,000 | Epsilon eSports | BUK 20 • BUK 57 • Jimbo • Snipedrone • Flamez |
| 5th-8th | $75,000 | Renegades | Spartan • Ninja • StelluR • Victory X • Symbolic |
| 5th-8th | $75,000 | Evil Geniuses | Snipedown • Commonly • Lunchbox • Roy • Towey |
| 5th-8th | $75,000 | Team Liquid | Ace • APG • Lepar Messiah • UnLegit • Elamite |
HCS 2017 Halo World Championships
The Halo World Championship 2017 was the second Halo World Championship featuring Halo 5: Guardians, taking place at the ESL Studios in Burbank, California from March 24 – 26 2017. The competition featured $1,000,000 on the line.Format
- 12 teams invited as specified, based on performance in regional qualifiers
- *7 North American teams
- *3 European teams
- *1 Australian/New Zealand team
- *1 Latin American team
- Group play consisted of four groups with three teams in each group
- *Teams advance to the Championship bracket based on their group placing
- *Group matches are played best-of-5-series
- Championship Bracket
- *Teams are seeded by Group Stage results
- *The team in third place of each group is placed in Losers Bracket Round One
- *Double-elimination bracket, best of 7 series
Game Types and Maps
- Capture the Flag – Fathom, Truth, Coliseum
- Strongholds – Eden, Empire, Plaza, The Rig
- Slayer – Coliseum, Plaza, Regret, The Rig, Truth, Eden
Results
| Place | Prize | Team | Roster |
| 1st | $500,000 | Optic Gaming | SnakeBite • Royal2 • Frosty • Lethul • Royal1 |
| 2nd | $200,000 | Team Envy | Mikwen • iGotUrPistola • Huke • Snip3down • Elumnite |
| 3rd | $100,000 | Team Liquid | Rayne • Penguin • StelluR • Eco • Symbolic |
| 4th | $50,000 | Str8 Rippin | AcE • APG • Renegade • Heinz • Clutch |
| 5th-6th | $35,000 | Splyce | bubu dubu • Falcated • Shooter • Shotzzy • Coach PhiL |
| 5th-6th | $35,000 | Luminosity Gaming | eL Town • Ninja • Saiyan • Victory X • Fearitself |
| 7th-8th | $20,000 | FAB Games eSports | Mose • Respectful • TuFoxy • Jimbo • Xavi |
| 7th-8th | $20,000 | TMMT Crowd Pleasers | Cratos • Naded • Danoxide • Str8Sick • ShowTime |
| 9th-12th | $10,000 | Supremacy | SLG • Fragxr • PuniShR • SolaR • TaLic |
| 9th-12th | $10,000 | London Conspiracy | SeptiQ • Ramierz • Qristola • Lunny • Riotz |
| 9th-12th | $10,000 | Team Immunity | Benno • Junior • Voltage • Seduce • Mantis |
| 9th-12th | $10,000 | SoaR Gaming | Atzo • Bullet • Drift • MuNoZ • Lestat |
HCS Summer/Fall Season 2017
The Fall Season of the Halo Championship Series took place after the Halo World Championship 2017 and primarily featured two Dreamhack eventsDreamhack Atlanta 2017
Dreamhack Atlanta 2017 was an event that took place at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia from July 21–23, 2017. The event is the combination of the Summer 2017 season finals for both the North American and European pro League Seasons. The event featured a $200,000 prize pool.Game Types and Maps
- Capture the Flag - Coliseum, Fathom, Truth
- Strongholds - Eden, Empire, Plaza, The Rig
- Slayer - Coliseum, Eden, Plaza, Regret, The Rig, Truth
Results
| Place | Prize | Team | Roster |
| 1st | $60,000 | Splyce | Shotzzy • Shooter • bubu dubu • Renegade |
| 2nd | $40,000 | Optic Gaming | Royal2 • Frosty • SnakeBite • LethuL • Royal1 |
| 3rd | $25,000 | Team Envy | iGotUrPistola • Mikwen • Snip3down • Huke • Elumnite |
| 4th | $15,000 | Team Liquid | StelluR • Eco • Penguin • AcE • Symbolic |
| 5th-6th | $10,000 | Evil Geniuses | Lunchbox • Roy • Falcated • Tapping Buttons |
| 5th-6th | $10,000 | eRa Eternity | Commonly • BabyJ • Cratos • Sabinater |
| 7th-8th | $7,000 | Luminosity Gaming | aPG • Ninja • Saiyan • TriPPPeY |
| 7th-8th | $7,000 | Ronin eSports | eL ToWn • Spartan • Suspector • Str8Sick |
| 9th-12th | $4,500 | Team Infused | Snakey • Kimbo • Quadios • Respectful |
| 9th-12th | $4,500 | Oxygen Supremacy | RyaNoob • DasTroyed • ContrA • Nemassist |
| 9th-12th | $4,500 | Invictus | Ramierz • Qristola • Jimbo • Snipedrone |
| 9th-12th | $4,500 | Gosu Crew | Musa • Chaser • Triton • Vtec |
| 13th-16th | $2,000 | Supremacy | SLG • Fragxr • PuniShR • SolaR |
| 13th-16th | $2,000 | Vexed Gaming | Mose • Lunny • Riotz • Morguhhhhh |
| 13th-16th | $2,000 | Str8 Rippin | Heinz • Rayne • Kaotic • Danoxide |
| 13th-16th | $2,000 | Wise Gaming | Cloud • Nebula • TiZoXiC • D3M0N D |
DreamHack Denver 2017
Dreamhack Denver 2017 was an event that took place at the National Western Complex, Denver, Colorado from October 20–22, 2017. The event is the combination of the Fall 2017 season finals for both the North American and European pro League Seasons. The event featured a $200,000 prize pool.Game Types and Maps
- Capture the Flag - Coliseum, Fathom, Truth
- Strongholds - Eden, Empire, Plaza, The Rig
- Slayer - Coliseum, Eden, Plaza, Regret, The Rig, Truth
| Place | Prize | Team | Roster |
| 1st | $70,000 | Optic Gaming | Royal2 • Frosty • SnakeBite • LethuL • Royal1 |
| 2nd | $45,000 | Team Liquid | StelluR • Eco • Penguin • Spartan • Symbolic |
| 3rd | $26,000 | Splyce | Shotzzy • Shooter • bubu dubu • Renegade • Coach PhiL |
| 4th | $15,000 | Team Envy | iGotUrPistola • Mikwen • Snip3down • Huke • Elumnite' |
| 5th-6th | $10,000 | Luminosity Gaming | aPG • Rayne • Saiyan • TriPPPeY • Hoaxer |
| 5th-6th | $10,000 | Team Infused | Mose • Jimbo • Kimbo • Respectful • Havoc |
| 7th-8th | $5,000 | Evil Geniuses | Lunchbox • Roy • Tapping Buttons • Falcated • OGRE2 |
| 7th-8th | $5,000 | Str8 Rippin | AcE • Commonly • Danoxide • BabyJ • Assault'' |
HCS 2018 Halo World Championships
The Halo World Championship 2018 was the third Halo World Championship featuring Halo 5: Guardians. The event was hosted by MLG and took place at the Century Link Field Event Center in Seattle, Washington from April 13 – 15th 2018. The competition once again featured a prize pool of $1,000,000. The 2018 series of HCS was primarily hosted by MLG.MLG Orlando 2018
To start the season off and to showcase the newly formed partnership between the HCS and MLG, a global open event was hosted at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando Florida from February 16-18th. This competition featured an open bracket and featured $50,000 up for grabs. This event provides seeding points which go towards regional events for the qualification stage of the Halo World Championship 2018.Results
| Place | Prize | Team | Roster |
| 1st | $20,000 | Splyce | Shotzzy • Renegade • StelluR • Eco • Skeptical |
| 2nd | $10,000 | Optic Gaming | Royal2 • Frosty • SnakeBite • LethuL • Royal1 |
| 3rd | $6,000 | Team Envy | iGotUrPistola • Saiyan • bubu dubu • TriPPPey • Hoaxer |
| 4th | $4,000 | Team Reciprocity | Snip3down • Mikwen • Penguin • Spartan • OGRE2 |
| 5th-6th | $3,000 | Renegades | Lunchbox • aPG • AcE • Neptune • Strobe |
| 5th-6th | $3,000 | Fyra Gaming | eL Town • Sabinater • Artic • Suspector • ShowTime |
| 7th-8th | $2,000 | Str8 Rippin | Musa • DasTroyed • Nemassist • Rammyy • Mash |
| 7th-8th | $2,000 | Oxygen Supremacy | Rayne • RyaNoob • Prototype • Str8Sick • Bain |
| 9th-12th | - | Vexed Gaming | Riotz • Snipedrone • Lunny • Quadios |
| 9th-12th | - | Team Infused | Jimbo • Kimbo • Mose • Respectful |
| 9th-12th | - | Tilted Towers | BabyJ • Commonly • Falcated • Shooter |
| 9th-12th | - | Fable eSports | SLG • Fragxr • Snakey • Qristola |
| 13th-16th | - | Mentality eSports | SoulSnipe • Manny • Kaiss • Druk |
| 13th-16th | - | Mindfreak | BZIIRK • Seduce • Madsy • Junior |
| 13th-16th | - | Wise Gaming | D3M0N D • KLTNn • Nebula • Gilkey |
| 13th-16th | - | WiseFrag | SuperCC • Envore • Taulek • Valkyrie |
Halo World Championship 2018 Format
- 16 teams invited based on results from regional qualifiers
- *9 teams are invited from North America based on the results of MLG Columbus 2018
- *4 teams are invited from Europe based on the results of Gfinity London 2018
- *2 teams are invited from Australia and New Zealand based on the results of ESL Sydney 2018
- *1 team is invited from Latin America based on the results of Gamelta Mexico City 2018
- Group play is played with four teams in four groups
- *Group play is played in Round Robin format, each team must play each other in each group
- *Group play matches are a best of 5 series
- *The top two teams from each group advance to the Championship Bracket
- *The bottom two teams from each group are eliminated
- The Championship bracket is an 8-team double elimination bracket. Matches are best of 7
Qualifier events
HCS London 2018
HCS London, Hosted by Gfinity took place at the Gfinity Arena in London, England, from February 23–25, 2018. This was the second event hosted by Gfinity and was the European qualifier into the Halo World Championship 2018Results
| Placing | Team | Roster |
| 1st | Team Infused | Jimbo • Mose • Respectful • Kimbo |
| 2nd | Vexed Gaming | Lunny • Riotz • Snipedrone • Quadios |
| 3rd | Fable eSports | Snakey • Qristola • SLG • Fragxr |
| 4th | Myztro Gaming | Tuf0xy • Batchford • Ramirez • Phlux |
ESL Sydney 2018
ESL Sydney, Hosted by ESL took place at the ESL Studios in Sydney, Australia from March 9–11, 2018Results
| Placing | Team | Roster |
| 1st | MindFreak | Madsy • Junior • Seduce • BZIIRK |
| 2nd | Team Immunity | Voltage • Benno • Momentum • Slayz |
Gamelta Mexico City 2018
Gamelta Mexico City 2018 hosted by Gamelta severed as the Latin American qualifier for the Halo World Championship. The event took place at the Corona Fourm in Mexico City from March 16–18, 2018Results
| Placing | Team | Roster |
| 1st | Psychotic Gaming | Atzo • Drift • Pelu • Magico |
MLG Columbus 2018
MLG Columbus was the second event of the HCS 2018 season hosted by MLG, it also being the North American qualifier. The event took place at the MLG Arena in Columbus, Ohio from March 23–25, 2018Results
| Placing | Team | Roster |
| 1st | Splyce | Shotzzy • Renegade • StelluR • Eco • Skeptical |
| 2nd | Tox Gaming Optic Gaming | SnakeBite • Royal2 • LethuL • Frosty • Royal1 |
| 3rd | Team Reciprocity | Snip3down • Mikwen • Penguin • Spartan • OGRE2 |
| 4th | Team Envy | iGotUrPistola • bubu dubu • TriPPPeY • Saiyan • Hoaxer |
| 5th - 6th | Renegades | Lunchbox • aPG • Ace • Neptune • Randa |
| 5th - 6th | Oxygen Supremacy | RyaNoob • Rayne • Prototype • Str8 SicK • Bain |
| 7th - 8th | Elevate | Suspector • Sabinater • Artic • eL ToWn • ShowTime |
| 7th - 8th | Str8 Rippin | Musa • DasTroyed • Nemassist • Rammyy • Mash |
| 9th | Wise Gaming | D3M0N D • Nebula • Commonly • Gilkey |
Game Types and Maps
- Capture the Flag – Fathom, Truth, Coliseum
- Strongholds – Eden, Empire, Plaza, The Rig
- Slayer – Coliseum, Plaza, Regret, The Rig, Truth
Results
| Place | Prize | Team | Roster |
| 1st | $500,000 | Splyce | Shotzzy • Renegade • StelluR • Eco • Skeptical |
| 2nd | $200,000 | Tox Gaming | Royal2 • Frosty • SnakeBite • LethuL • Royal1 |
| 3rd | $100,000 | Team Envy | iGotUrPistola • Saiyan • bubu dubu • TriPPPey • Hoaxer |
| 4th | $50,000 | Team Reciprocity | Snip3down • Mikwen • Penguin • Spartan • OGRE2 |
| 5th-6th | $35,000 | Renegades | Lunchbox • aPG • AcE • Neptune • Randa |
| 5th-6th | $35,000 | Elevate | eL Town • Sabinater • Artic • Suspector • ShowTime |
| 7th-8th | $20,000 | Str8 Rippin | Musa • DasTroyedl • Nemassist • Rammyy • Mash |
| 7th-8th | $20,000 | Team Infused | Jimbo • Kimbo • Mose • Respectful • Havoc |
| 9th-12th | $7,500 | Oxygen Supremacy | Rayne • RyaNoob • Prototype • Str8Sick • Bain |
| 9th-12th | $7,500 | Wise Gaming | D3M0N D • Gilkey • Nebula • Commonly • Jam |
| 9th-12th | $7,500 | Vexed Gaming | Riotz • Snipedrone • Lunny • Quadios |
| 9th-12th | $7,500 | Berserker eSports Psychotic Gaming | Atzo • Bullet • Drift • Noble • Impressive |
| 13th-16th | $2,500 | Fable eSports | SLG • Fragxr • Qristola • Snakey |
| 13th-16th | $2,500 | Mindfreak | BZIIRK • Seduce • Madsy • Junior |
| 13th-16th | $2,500 | Team Immunity | Benno • Voltage • Slayz • Momentum |
| 13th-16th | $2,500 | Myztro gaming | Batchford • Tuf0xy • Ramirez • Phlux |
HCS 2018 Fall Season
Since the conclusion of the Halo World Championship 2018, 343 Industries and MLG have delivered several more events for the fall season of the HCS 2018 season. This season featured new maps and the return of fan favorite game mode Oddball.MLG New Orleans 2018
The initial event for the HCS Fall season 2018 was MLG New Orleans, taking place at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. The event took place from July 13–15 and was hosted alongside a Gears of War tournament. The event featured a $250,000 prize pool. This event is hosted as a global open meaning armature teams can play through the open bracket.Format
- 12 Teams are automatically qualified for the group stage based on their performance at the Halo World Championship and their performance in recent 2K competitions.
- *Groups have four teams, three pro teams and one open bracket team
- *Once again each group is played in the Round Robin format.
- *All group matches are a best of 5 series
- *The top two teams from each group are placed in Championship Winners Bracket 1, with the bottom two teams placed in the Losers bracket 1 and 2 respectively.
- *All brackets are double elimination.
Game Types and Maps
- Capture the Flag – Refuge, Truth, Coliseum
- Strongholds – Eden, Empire, Plaza, The Rig
- Slayer – Coliseum, Plaza, Refuge, The Rig, Truth
- Oddball – Eden, Echelon, Fissure
Results
| Place | Prize | Team | Roster |
| 1st | $100,000 | Splyce | Shotzzy • Renegade • StelluR • Eco • Skeptical |
| 2nd | $50,000 | Tox Gaming | Royal2 • Frosty • SnakeBite • LethuL • Royal1 |
| 3rd | $35,000 | Renegades | Mikwen • Penguin • Neptune • aPG • Hoaxer |
| 4th | $25,000 | Trifecta | Shooter • Rayne • RyaNoob • Musa |
| 5th-6th | $10,000 | Team Reciprocity | Snip3down • iGotUrPistola • TriPPPey • Saiyan • OGRE2 |
| 5th-6th | $10,000 | The Hitmen | AcE • Artic • bubu dubu • D3M0N D |
| 7th-8th | $5,000 | Elevate | Spartan • Falcated • eL ToWn • Sabinater • ShowTime |
| 7th-8th | $5,000 | Berserker eSports | Atzo • Drift • Noble • Bullet |
HCS London 2018
HCS London was the second main event of the HCS Fall Season 2018 and was notably the first international tournament for Halo 5: Guardians hosted out side of North America. The event featured a $135,000 prize pool and was hosted by Gfinity. The event took place at the Gfinity Arena in Fulham, London.Game Types and Maps
- Capture the Flag – Refuge, Truth, Coliseum
- Strongholds – Eden, Empire, Plaza, The Rig
- Slayer – Coliseum, Plaza, Refuge, The Rig, Truth
- Oddball – Eden, Echelon, Fissure
Results
| Place | Prize | Team | Roster |
| 1st | $60,000 | Tox Gaming | Royal2 • Frosty • SnakeBite • LethuL • Royal1 |
| 2nd | $30,000 | Splyce | Shotzzy • Renegade • StelluR • Eco • Skeptical |
| 3rd | $20,000 | Team Reciprocity | Snip3down • iGotUrPistola • TriPPPey • Saiyan • OGRE2 |
| 4th | $10,000 | Renegades | Mikwen • Penguin • Neptune • aPG • Hoaxer |
| 5th-6th | $5,000 | Excelerate Gaming | AcE • Artic • bubu dubu • D3M0N D |
| 5th-6th | $5,000 | Elevate | Spartan • Falcated • eL ToWn • Sabinater • ShowTime |
| 7th-8th | $2,500 | Trifecta | RyaNoob • Musa • Shooter • Rayne |
| 7th-8th | $2,500 | Berserker eSports | Atzo • Drift • Magico • Bullet |