[Industry news] ESL FACEIT Group Partners with ZOWIE for Global Counter-Strike 2 Tournament Circuit

This is a press release posted in addition to our usual editorial content.

ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), the global leader in esports and video game entertainment, and ZOWIE, the renowned gaming brand by BenQ, have today announced the expansion of their partnership in key global Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) competitions.

Under the renewed agreement, ZOWIE will serve as the exclusive Official Monitor Supplier for both Intel® Extreme Masters (IEM) and ESL Pro League events throughout 2026 and 2027. ZOWIE’s XL2586X+ monitors will power all major CS2 tournaments, delivering top-tier performance through their 600Hz refresh rate and cutting-edge visual clarity. Following their successful deployment across IEM events in 2025, the continued use of the XL2586X+ further solidifies a strong, long-term collaboration between the two brands.

For more than 20 years, EFG has delivered world-class esports events and experiences to professional players and fans worldwide. This commitment to excellence aligns with ZOWIE’s focus on developing performance-driven hardware trusted by professional players and tournament organisers globally. Together, they will ensure every competition environment is equipped with technology designed to maximise player performance and elevate the viewing experience.

Building on their 2025 collaboration across IEM events, the expanded partnership now covers the full ESL Pro Tour ecosystem, including:

• The Intel® Extreme Masters (IEM) 2026 and 2027 events in Cologne, China, Rio, Atlanta and Krakow.
• ESL Pro League Seasons 23 and 24 (2026), as well as Seasons 25 and 26 (2027).

As part of the partnership, ZOWIE will be integrated across broadcasts, with brand exposure on livestreams and onsite at events, as well as stage takeovers and exclusive opportunities for fans to win event tickets and ZOWIE products to experience cutting-edge gaming hardware performance for themselves.

“Expanding our partnership with ZOWIE as our Official Monitor Supplier and Global Partner empowers us to continue providing the best competition experiences, not only enriching our professional players with state-of-the-art technology to bolster their performance, but also creating optimal environments for fans to see the pros at their best. The XL2586X+ monitor, with its 600Hz refresh rate and amazing visuals, is at the forefront of esports technology, and we’re excited to integrate it across our full range of major CS2 events across 2026 and 2027,” said Andreas Jernberg, VP Brand Partnership Development at EFG.

“At ZOWIE, our mission is to support competitive players with equipment designed purely for performance. Expanding our partnership with ESL FACEIT Group allows us to contribute meaningfully to the Counter-Strike ecosystem by delivering consistent, high-performance tournament environments worldwide. With the XL2586X+ 600Hz monitor, we remain committed to advancing esports technology and enabling players to perform at their very best,” said Jay Wu, President of BenQ Europe B.V.

For more information about upcoming Counter-Strike 2 competitions, check out the IEM, ESL Pro League and ESL Challenger websites, and follow ESL CS on X, Instagram, and Facebook.