Merkur has teamed up with Berlin International Gaming (BIG). At the heart of this collaboration is the Merkur Cash Cups tournament series, which is a revival of the popular Merkur Masters. The latter was one of the largest national Counter-Strike tournaments.

"The Merkur Masters were an important milestone for the German Counter-Strike esports scene. We're all the more excited to continue this chapter with the Merkur Cash Cups," says Daniel Finkler, CEO of BIG. "Having MERKUR back as a partner for one of the largest national esports tournaments underlines the strength and lasting impact of the original concept. With the Merkur Cash Cups, we are finally continuing this success story."

As part of the partnership, BIG will host six Counter-Strike 2 cups every two months via the BIG Club on Faceit. The BIG Club is the largest and fastest-growing Counter-Strike 2 hub in the GSA region. Every month, more than 115,000 members compete for a prize pool of €4,500 - an amount which is now being increased with the addition of the Cash Cup. BIG will also provide regular updates on the tournament across all its digital channels (streaming and social media). BIG and WebID work together to ensure standardised identity checks and age verifications, guaranteeing fair and secure participation conditions. BIG and Merkur are also planning additional activities, such as a joint corporate sports bootcamp at BIG's Berlin headquarters, which will give Merkur employees first-hand insights into the world of esports.

"The goal of this initiative is to strengthen esports in Germany through a strong national competition," explains Nils Rullkötter, Head of Merkur Group Marketing. "Gaming and esports shape the leisure culture of an entire generation today. That makes this environment incredibly exciting for us. With BIG at our side, we have a strong, internationally renowned partner - the perfect foundation for a shared and successful future."

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Marcel Kleffmann
Marcel Kleffmann