Sign-ups live for $20,000 Alaskan-only event

Announced in late December, the GCI Northern Lights Invitational is an Alaskan-only CS:GO event that will feature 16 teams competing for the lion's share of $20,000. The event is slated to take place over three match days, every Saturday from January 28th through February 11th.

Players are allowed to register independently, as long as they hail from the frontier state. GCI Northern Lights Invitational is unique in that it only accepts Alaskan residents, hoping to spark the esports scene in one of America's most isolated spaces. GCI is marketing the event as Alaska's largest esports tournament.

Players can register as a full team, or as individuals. Players who sign up without a full team will be placed with other players of similar skill levels to make a full team, so anyone living in Alaska is welcome.

On January 28th, teams will face each other in BO1 elimination matches until only 16 teams remain. Then, on February 4th, the 16 teams will play in a bo3 single elimination bracket to whittle down the pool to just four teams. The final four teams will play on February 11th in a live-streamed BO5 playoff round for the $20,000 prize pool which is distributed to the top four teams as follows:

• 1st: $10,000

• 2nd: $5,000

• 3rd: $2,500

• 4th: $2,500

In addition, GCI will donate $10 per entrant to either USO Alaska or The Alaska Esports Center - UAF, depending on the entrant's choice. GCI’s total charitable donation will be $5,000.

To register, go here, and for more information, visit this website.