Clayster Slams Embarrassing $250k Challengers World Championships Setups
James "Clayster" Eubanks has played at more than his fair share of World Championships, featuring on some of the best stages that esports has to offer in front of thousands of avid fans. However, after dropping into the second-tier of Call of Duty esports, the illuminated stage has been traded for a school gymnasium. Even with $150,000 on the line, he's less than impressed by the embarrassing setups.
As a three-time World Champion, Clayster's thirteen-year veteran career has progressed from playing in small dainty venues in Blackpool, England, to huge venues in New York Theatres and fully vetted esports arenas.
So, despite dropping out of the CDL to the second-tier Challengers level, Clayster still managed to qualify for another World Championships event worth $250,000 - although you wouldn't be mistaken in thinking it was held in 2010.
'Embarrassing' CDL Challengers Setups Revealed
Ready to crown the best of the rest, the CDL Challengers event has been placed under serious scrutiny over the last two months. Doug "Censor" Martin has led the charge in criticising the questionable format, and now, equally eyebrow-raising concerns have been made after an image of the setups has appeared on social media.
Pictures of the setups show four parallel desks being placed on a high-school gymnasium floor, placed roughly at the halfway line of the basketball court.
The setup shows no signs of any spectators seats or a viewing area, no stage for players to compete on (many of the qualifying cups were held in huge venues provided by specific CDL teams), and zero atmospherical enhancements.
Clayster Slams Challengers Venue
As the most high-profile player in the Challengers scene - and having seen so many top-notch productions in his career - Clayster immediately expressed his concerns through the typically fine-avoiding sarcasm.
"Very good ecosystem, great support, absolutely awesome," he jibed on Twitter.
"Don’t play challengers for more than a year," he added, inferring that the Challengers scene and "the path to pro" is not worth your time for more than one game cycle.
The winners of the Challengers Championships will walk out of the high-school gym with a $100,000 prize, which comes as quite perplexing given the state of the venue.