ESL has opened the registration process for the open qualifiers for the ESL One Rio Major.

The qualifying process for the first Major of 2020 will kick off at the end of January and will run for approximately two weeks to determine half of the 96 teams who will be competing in the closed stage.

The Americas region has been divided into two sub-regions, North and South America, while Asia has been broken down into just five regions after Central & South Africa - which had been created for the StarLadder Major - was removed.

All open qualifiers will be played on the ESEA platform and will feature a single-elimination bracket with best-of-one clashes until the semi-finals, which will be played in a best-of-three format. The top two sides of the open brackets will progress to their respective region's closed stage, in which they will be joined by teams invited by ESL.

Below you can find the dates for the open qualifiers:

Europe:

Number of slots in Europe closed qualifier: Eight (two per qualifier)

Open Qualifier #1(January 31-February 1) - Register
Open Qualifier #2(February 4-5) - Register
Open Qualifier #3(February 8-9) - Register
Open Qualifier #4(February 12-13) - Register

CIS:

Number of slots in CIS closed qualifier: Eight (two per qualifier)

Open Qualifier #1(February 2-3) - Register
Open Qualifier #2(February 6-7) - Register
Open Qualifier #3(February 10-11) - Register
Open Qualifier #4(February 14-15) - Register

Americas:

North America:

Number of slots in NA closed qualifier: Eight (two per qualifier)

Open Qualifier #1(January 31-February 1) - Register
Open Qualifier #2(February 4-5) - Register
Open Qualifier #3(February 8-9) - Register
Open Qualifier #4(February 12-13) - Register

South America:

Number of slots in SA closed qualifier: Four (two per qualifier)

Open Qualifier #1(February 2-3) - Register
Open Qualifier #2(February 14-15) - Register

Asia:

Oceania:

Number of slots in Oceania closed qualifier: Four (two per qualifier)

Open Qualifier #1(February 8) - Register
Open Qualifier #2(February 9) - Register

China:

Number of slots in China closed qualifier: Four (two per qualifier)

Open Qualifier #1(February 1) - Register
Open Qualifier #2(February 2) - Register

East Asia:

Number of slots in East Asia closed qualifier: Four (two per qualifier)

Open Qualifier #1(February 15) - Register
Open Qualifier #2(February 16) - Register

Southeast Asia:

Number of slots in SEA closed qualifier: Four (two per qualifier)

Open Qualifier #1(February 1) - Register
Open Qualifier #2(February 2) - Register

Middle East:

Number of slots in Middle East closed qualifier: Four (two per qualifier)

Open Qualifier #1(February 15) - Register
Open Qualifier #2(February 16) - Register

The schedule for all the regional closed qualifiers looks as follows:

Europe closed qualifier— March 7-8
CIS closed qualifier— March 5-6
NA closed qualifier—March 6-8
SA closed qualifier— March 3-5
Oceania closed qualifier— March 7-8
East Asia closed qualifier— March 4-6
China closed qualifier— March 7-8
Middle East closed qualifier— March 5-7
SEA closed qualifier— March 7-8

The leading sides of the closed qualifiers will secure spots at the Minor Championships, which will be held from April 26 through May 3. The top two teams from each of the four Minors will secure direct entry into the ESL One Rio's New Challengers Stage, while the third-placed sides will take part in the Minor Play-in stage, which will determine the last two teams entering the initial phase of the Major.