CrossFire Stars Grand Finals 2023: Chengdu

Key insights

7 takeaways

01
The CrossFire Stars (CFS) 2023 Grand Finals in Chengdu, China, awarded $1.42 million in total prize money, with the winning team, BaiSha Gaming, receiving $500,000.
02
Smilegate directly manages the CrossFire esports ecosystem in Brazil, Vietnam, and the Western region, while Tencent operates the franchised CrossFire Pro League (CFPL) in China.
03
To maintain a competitive global ecosystem, Smilegate utilizes a 'Player Support Program' that provides direct salary-like payments to international professional players.
04
The CFPL franchise model, introduced by Tencent in 2019, is supported by a 10-year partnership agreement between the league and the Chengdu Gaoxin District.
05
CFS 2023 featured 12 international teams, reflecting a diverse competitive field that included representatives from China, Brazil, Vietnam, Egypt, North America, and Europe.
06
Smilegate is actively seeking to expand its commercial footprint, moving from a passive sponsorship approach to aggressively pursuing new brand partners for the global CrossFire scene.
07
The CrossFire franchise in China currently maintains six major sponsors, including Buick, Bright Dairy, Alienware, AutoFull, and Warrior.

Summary

The CrossFire Stars (CFS) Grand Finals 2023, held in Chengdu, China, served as a focal point for the global expansion and professionalization of the long-running CrossFire esports ecosystem. Hosted by developer Smilegate and publisher Tencent in partnership with tournament organizer VSPO, the event drew over 6,000 attendees to the Chengdu Gaoxin Gymnasium. The tournament featured 12 international teams competing for a $1.42 million USD prize pool, with the Chinese organization BaiSha Gaming securing the championship title and $500,000 in prize money.

The event highlighted Smilegate’s strategic efforts to maintain a sustainable global competitive scene through direct investment and the implementation of a Player Support Program. This initiative provides international professional players with monthly salaries, aiming to bridge the performance gap between established Chinese competitors and emerging regions, including Brazil, Vietnam, the Philippines, Egypt, North America, and Europe. Smilegate currently operates three regional leagues—the CrossFire Brazil League, CrossFire Vietnam League, and CrossFire Western League—while Tencent manages the franchised CrossFire Pro League (CFPL) in China.

The selection of Chengdu as the host city underscores a broader municipal commitment to the industry, supported by a 10-year partnership between the CFPL and the Chengdu Gaoxin District. This collaboration aligns with local government objectives to establish Chengdu as a premier esports hub, with the district targeting an industrial scale exceeding 60 billion RMB. Furthermore, the event signaled a shift in commercial strategy, as organizers move toward more aggressive sponsorship acquisition, moving beyond traditional endemic partners to seek broader brand integration within the CrossFire ecosystem.