YaLLa Esports Expands Global CS2 Calendar After Successful Launch of Contenders Series
YaLLa Esports, the Dubai-based tournament organizer behind some of the most-watched Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) events globally, has announced a major expansion of its competitive calendar through 2027, solidifying its position as a global force in esports, with deep regional roots and year-round programming.
Earlier this year, YaLLa Esports launched YaLLa Contenders, a new Tier 2 tournament series aimed at providing consistent opportunities for rising teams. Initially introduced as a two-season pilot for 2025, the series quickly exceeded expectations across viewership, engagement, and community response. As a result, the circuit will expand to four seasons in 2025 and eight additional seasons in 2026, forming one of the most active Tier 2 CS2 products in the world.
“We built Contenders as a lean, focused pilot to test appetite and infrastructure,” said Klaus Kajetski, Founder of YaLLa Esports. “The community response made the decision clear; we’re scaling it into a core pillar of our global calendar.”
This year-round Tier 2 platform complements YaLLa Compass, the company’s flagship Tier 1 LAN series. With the next Compass LAN already confirmed for November 2025 in Dubai, and the full 2026 LAN calendar already announced, YaLLa now also confirms its first LAN event of 2027, scheduled for 14-25 April 2027. The 2027 calendar will feature a full lineup of Tier 1 and Tier 2 events, continuing YaLLa’s commitment to always-on competition.
Operating from Dubai but delivering to a global audience, YaLLa’s model unites high-tier production, competitive structure, and year-round visibility for teams and talents alike. Its hybrid calendar approach, Tier 1 LANs backed by a robust Tier 2 pipeline, addresses one of the biggest structural challenges in esports: creating sustainable, consistent pathways for teams and players to grow.
YaLLa’s continued growth also mirrors the UAE’s vision of becoming a digital economy and creative industries leader. With strong regional infrastructure, access to international talent, and the ability to host large-scale live events, Dubai is emerging as a strategic base for the future of global esports.
Founded in 2016, YaLLa Esports has helped shape the MENA region’s competitive gaming landscape and is now recognized as a globally credible tournament organizer with the reach, ambition, and execution to match.
