This year’s tournament comes with some notable changes. First, the event has moved from the Mediterranean island of Malta to ESL’s studios in Stockholm. This means that unlike previous editions, there won’t be a live crowd for the playoffs.
Another major shake-up is the new format. ESL has ditched its previous system in favor of two Swiss-style group stages, leading into an eight-team playoff bracket. Every match in the tournament will be a best-of-three, except for the grand final, which will be a best-of-five. Notably, there will be no third-place decider match this time around.
Seeding for the tournament was determined through a peer-voting system, similar to the method used in the IEM Katowice 2019 Major. This system had an especially big impact on paiN, who benefited the most in Stage 1, jumping up three places to land just below top-seeded Eternal Fire.
One of the biggest talking points this season is the absence of FaZe, who declined their invite to the Swedish studio event. On the flip side, some of the biggest names in Counter-Strike – Spirit, Vitality, G2, Natus Vincere, and Liquid – are all making their return after sitting out PGL Cluj-Napoca.
One of the more intriguing stories this season is HEROIC, who have made it to the event after acquiring the core roster of Sangal, the team that won ECL48 in Europe. Meanwhile, Housebets and Mindfreak will bring an Australian presence to the event, getting a chance to test themselves against top-tier international competition.
The Play-In stage runs from March 1-5, with eight spots in Stage 2 up for grabs. Once that’s settled, the main event kicks off on March 7, running through March 16.
The group stage will feature two simultaneous streams, ensuring fans don’t miss out on any of the action. We can expect four best-of-three matches per day, with games starting at 14:30 CET.
Eternal Fire is set to kick off the tournament’s Stage 1 Play-In with a showdown against Mindfreak on March 1.
Knives are some of the most valuable items in CS2. They are a favorite option for anyone who plays the game regularly. While some use them merely as a cosmetic improvement to their weapons, others prefer to get them to create a valuable collection. Having the most expensive CS2 knife in your arsenal can give you a feeling of pride, especially knowing everyone will admire it and probably ask you if you’re thinking of selling it. But what is the most expensive knife in CS2? This post will reveal the priciest options, so let’s get started.
Making money from CS2 skins involves Valve selecting the best Workshop designs for official cases. As a creator, you then receive a slice of key sales and market trades. This roughly ten percent cut means your artwork can pay off, and this guide explains how Valve compensates its creators.
![How Much do CS2 Skin Creators Make ([year])](/imgs/news_8215/20250523/cache/1747990827_4b80ecb4a61c51b349b9___308_174.jpg "How Much do CS2 Skin Creators Make ([year])")