The Counter-Strike Professional Player Association has been one of the most requested bodies of governance in esports in decades and marks a new direction.

Photo Credit: (Nathan Wentworth)

HLTV has announced the new players association that reportedly has 90 players from top Counter-Strike teams. This is by far one of the most important events; not only for Counter-Strike, but for esports generally. This is the first time in esports history that there has been a “no strings attached” players association. In League of Legends, the players association is run by Riot Games and reportedly uses their legal staff. It also is exclusive to the North American League Championship Series (NALCS) so it is not like this extends to Europe or Asia which are arguably more volatile regions for being taken advantage of legally. This makes the Counter-Strike Professional Players’ Association (CSPPA) the first players association that is free from influence from game developers, league organizers, and organizations/teams similar to its counterparts in the National Football League.

Michael Døi, a legal advisor who is the primary legal council for the CSPPA says in a statement, “the CSPPA’s main objective is to help players with legal advice and assist them in signing contracts with teams and organisations, as well as to ‘become the collective voice of the players in CS:GO and an important stakeholder in the industry.’ ”

“As any other players’ association, we will work to secure the best possible working conditions for players in CS:GO, while of course taking into account the special nature of the industry. In any sport, it makes sense that players can influence their employment conditions. There is certainly a huge difference in how CS:GO contracts are structured, and there will definitely be players that could benefit from guidance when signing them. Our goal is to represent the players in the best possible way and help the entire scene grow in a positive direction. We see a lot of possibilities for doing that.”

Requirements wise, Døi mentions

“any player who is contracted or actively seeking a contract as a professional Counter-Strike player and ‘who competes at an elite level’ is eligible to be an active member of the CSPPA.”

This makes the CSPPA quite open for most to all legal advise and can help new players sign proper contracts. The CSPPA also makes Counter Strike look professional and as an esport. When world cup events like the Olympics include Counter Strike, the CSPPA will be massive in bringing all the top players to those kind of events.

It is not clear who is actually in the CSPPA as of now except for the current board of players.

Andreas “Xyp9x” Højsleth

Epitacio “TACO” de Melo

Tarik “tarik” Celik

Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski

Jordan “n0thing” Gilbert

Chris “chrisJ” de Jong

Nathan “NBK-“ Schmitt

The CSPPA will create waves throughout esports as players in the Overwatch League and EULCS and LCK start to point to Counter Strike and ask for what this scene now has.

Are you excited about the CSPA? Comment below your thoughts and opinions on how this will grow the scene.

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