So, let’s see who the favourites are, their best players, and who just might be a dark horse and challenge everyone’s expectations.

Tournament Structure and Teams

The competition will be played on a Swiss System group stage, with all games being best-of-three.

Three wins will send teams to the playoffs, with three losses sending them home. The top eight teams will then move on to a single-elimination bracket that will conclude in a best-of-five grand final.

Twelve teams have already received a direct invitation based on their Valve Regional Standings (VRS), including prominent teams such as G2 Esports, FaZe Clan, and Astralis. The other four teams will be decided in regional qualifiers for Europe, North America, South America, and Asia.

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Prize Pool and Venue

The winners will receive $200,000, and the prize pool will be split among the top 16 teams. The tournament will take place at the PGL Studio in Bucharest, Romania, a location that, over the years, has become synonymous with good esports infrastructure and large, prestigious tournaments.

Top Contenders

Based on current form and rankings, the following are the top four teams with the highest estimated chances of winning:

- G2 Esports: Guided by the likes of Alemao, whose consistency and strategic play have contributed to their past success, G2 seems like a safe contender.

- FaZe Clan: A consistent roster with a history of performing well under pressure means FaZe is always at the top of the list. Their most well-liked player tends to be Karrigan, who is also their leader.

- Astralis: This Danish squad has been consistent and skilled, led by blameF, who boasts great game sense and good aim.

- FURIA: A rapidly emerging power in CS2, FURIA has been dazzling with their aggressive approach to the game, spearheaded by players like yuurih, a player most renowned for his clutch plays.

Potential Underdogs

There are several teams outside of the traditional highflyers that could make a splash at the PGL Bucharest 2025. Rare Atom and Complexity are two of those underdogs that have demonstrated excellent form at regional events previously.

Rare Atom currently ranked #74 in the world, is a long-standing force in the Asian circuit. They finished runner-up at the eXTREMESLAND 2024 tournament and took out the XSE Pro League Season 3 championship earlier in the year. Their past achievements consist of winning the ESL Challenger League Season 45 Asia Pacific and Perfect World Arena Premier League Season 3 first place.

The aggressive playstyle and adaptability of Rare Atom have made them well-known, with JamYoung typically being singled out as their ace player because of his clutch plays and consistent fragging value.

In the meantime, Complexity, representing North America, has shown flashes of brilliance in international tournaments. Those who are familiar with their mix of seasoned veterans and youthful newcomers know that Complexity has finished decently in several ESL Pro League seasons. Their most popular player, grim, is renowned for his explosive rifling ability and game-altering potential single-handedly.

Though they are not favoured to win, Complexity's prospects of upsetting highly ranked teams cannot be discounted. Lovers of underdog tales should certainly keep tabs on these two teams as they attempt to shake up the establishment of Counter-Strike 2 esports.


The PGL Bucharest 2025 promises to deliver top-notch competition and thrilling moments as the world's best CS2 teams fight for the champion title.

With its new format and strong team roster, this event promises to excite fans around the world. Though some of the leading teams, like MOUZ, are absent, it adds an element of unpredictability and makes it a very exciting tournament to watch if you are into competitive Counter-Strike. All the action will be live-streamed on PGL's Twitch channel for the fans.