PGL Reveals Changes to Counter-Strike 2 Esports in 2025 – 2026

PGL details changes to a key location in 2025, format changes going forward, and a rapid payout system for prize money. Image credit: PGL

International esports tournament organizer PGL Esports announced Tuesday some key updates to its 2025 – 2026 season roadmap for Counter-Strike 2, which includes invitation dates, a new tournament structure, what it describes as “a new standard in prize pool payment,” and a new stop on the calendar.

For starters, the tournament that was previously announced for Buenos Aires, Argentina, will be relocated to Cluj-Napoca, Romania (the company’s home country), at the BT Arena from Feb. 14 – 23, 2025. The change to a European location is meant to reduce travel logistics issues and strain on the teams, according to the announcement. The updated locations for 2025 Tier-1 event are now:

• PGL Cluj Napoca 2025 – Feb. 14-23, 2025.
• PGL Bucharest 2025 – April 6-13, 2025 .
• PGL Astana 2025 – May 10-18, 2025.
• PW CAC 2025 – Oct. 1-13, 2025, This event will be organized by its Chinese partner Perfect World (PGL will serve as the media partner outside China for the event).
• PGL Belgrade 2025 – Oct. 25 – Nov. 2, 2025.

PGL also announced a new playoff structure that now includes eight teams. In 2025, all PGL Tier 1 events will feature an eight-team playoff format, and events in 2025-2026 will feature eight – teams in the playoffs. PGL will also use a “Third-Place Decider Match” format that introduces a “dedicated third-place match,” which will gives   teams another showdown to compete in.

The playoff schedule for all Tier 1 events will be:

• Friday: Four Quarterfinals.
• Saturday: One Showmatch and Two Semifinals.
• Sunday: Third-Place Decider and Final (Bo5).

Finally, PGL announced a revamp of its prize pool payment system, which aims to dramatically shorten the wait for winning teams to receive their prize money.  PGL has committed to making sure that prize money will be paid out within two weeks of an event’s completion, as long as teams submit their invoices/paperwork promptly and barring any acts of God or unforeseen calamities. The specific payout dates for competitions in 2025 will be:

• PGL Cluj Napoca 2025 – March 10, 2025.
• PGL Bucharest 2025 – April 27, 2025.
• PGL Astana 2025 – June 1, 2025.
• PGL Belgrade 2025 – Nov. 16, 2025.

The prize pool distribution for each tournament (in USD) is as follows:

• 1st Place: 32.0% – $400K
• 2nd Place: 15.0% – $187.5K
• 3rd Place: 12.0% – $150K
• 4th Place: 7.0% – $87.5K
• 5th-8th Place: 5.0% each – $62.5K
• 9th-11th Place: 2.5% each – $31.25K
• 12th-14th Place: 1.5% each – $18.75K
• 15th-16th Place: 1.0% each – $12.5K
• Total Prize Pool: $1.25M

In a social media post on Tuesday PGL CEO and Founder Silviu Stroie said the following on these changes:

As detailed in the past, PGL will continue to provide accommodations for eight people per participating team. Each team will receive a hospitality package that includes eight round-trip flight tickets for team members, accommodations at a 4-star hotel, a hospitality package for meals and snacks, and a practice room capable of hosting six players.

More details on the schedule, team invite dates, and qualifier dates can be found here.