The next big CS2 tournament is here — PGL Bucharest 2025 kicks off on April 6 and runs until April 13. The event will feature 16 teams battling it out for a massive $1,250,000 prize pool. But unlike some other big events, the playoffs won’t happen in a large arena. Instead, it’s a studio LAN format, just like the last PGL tournament. That means a more focused and quieter environment — no crowd noise, just pure Counter-Strike.
Tournament format
The structure is familiar:
Group Stage
- Swiss system
- All matches are Bo3
- Top 8 teams go to playoffs
Playoffs
- Single elimination
- Bo3 matches
- Grand Final is Bo5
Opening matches
Here’s what we’re getting on Day 1:
- The MongolZ vs 3DMAX
- Virtus.pro vs Rare Atom
- Falcons vs Complexity
- G2 vs GamerLegion
- Eternal Fire vs paiN
- Liquid vs Legacy
- FaZe vs Astralis
- FURIA vs Apogee
Underdogs
Four teams from closed qualifiers — Complexity, Rare Atom, Legacy, and Apogee — are clear underdogs. Apogee will play their first LAN. Complexity have fallen far compared to last year. Rare Atom are strong in Asia, but still unproven internationally. Legacy is a young team with potential, already qualified for PGL and IEM Dallas. But they need more big wins to prove themselves.
What’s going on with paiN, Liquid, and Falcons?
One of the biggest questions ahead of PGL Bucharest 2025 is the final roster for paiN Gaming. They haven’t officially announced their fifth player, and the clock is ticking. All signs point to a promotion from their academy — a young but talented anchor Iago “deemO” Henrique is the likely pick.
This could be a big opportunity for deemO to show what he’s made of on the big stage. His natural role fits well into paiN’s system, especially after Kaue "kauez" Kaschuk left. If the swap is confirmed, it might even improve the team’s structure.
Meanwhile, Team Liquid continue to confuse everyone. With the event only days away, they still haven’t confirmed their final lineup. That’s not a good sign. Rumors have been flying for weeks that Kamil "siuhy" Szkaradek, formerly of MOUZ, is set to join as the new in-game leader. He’s a proven IGL who led teams deep into Majors. His addition could be exactly what Liquid need to bring order and confidence back into the team.
But nothing is official yet. If Liquid decide to play with their old roster — the same one that’s been underperforming since the start of 2025 — they could be in trouble in terms of their performance at BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025.
Falcons had a rough time at BLAST Open Spring 2025, but reached the final at the last PGL event. This tournament has no Vitality, no Spirit, no MOUZ — meaning Falcons have a chance. Expectations are high for degster, but so far, he hasn’t performed like a top-tier AWPer. This event will be important for his confidence.
Teams that need to step up
GamerLegion have been silent since their last match at ESL Pro League on March 11. That loss to G2 kept them out of playoffs. Now they come in with higher expectations. It’s time to prove they’re not just a one-tournament team.
G2 — what to expect?
G2 is always a question mark. On one hand, they should be aiming to win this tournament, especially without the biggest teams attending. On the other hand, their recent results don’t look good. Ilya "m0NESY" Osipov is playing great, but the others need to step up. If their stars don’t show up, they could even miss playoffs. If everything clicks, they could win the whole thing. G2 is unpredictable — that’s what makes them exciting.
The favorites
The MongolZ and Eternal Fire are dark horses. MongolZ missed playoffs at BLAST Open Spring, but are still on the rise. They’re building their map pool and team structure step by step. Eternal Fire exited early at PGL Cluj-Napoca, but now İsmailсan "XANTARES" Dörtkardeş is healthy again. If all five players are ready, they’re real contenders.
PGL Bucharest 2025 is wide open. With no Vitality, Spirit, NAVI or MOUZ, we could see a new team step up. FaZe, G2, The MongolZ, Eternal Fire, Falcons — they all have something to prove. Some teams are rebuilding. Some are under pressure. Others are just starting their journey. That’s why this tournament matters. It’s not just about the prize money. It’s about confidence, ranking points, and showing who’s ready for the Major.
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