The next major event in the CS2 calendar is here: PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025, running from February 14 to February 23. With a $1,250,000 prize pool, 16 teams will battle through a Swiss System Group Stage, followed by an eight-team single-elimination Playoffs bracket. The tournament is an excellent opportunity for teams looking to cement their place in the Valve Regional Standings (VRS) to guarantee the Major invites on April 7th..

Tournament Format

• Group Stage: 16 teams, Swiss System format. All matches are Best-of-Three (Bo3). The top 8 teams advance to the Playoffs.
• Playoffs: Single-Elimination bracket. Quarterfinals and Semifinals are Bo3, while the Grand Final is Best-of-Five (Bo5).

Prize Distribution

Opening Matches - February 14, 2025

• MOUZ vs. BIG
• 3DMAX vs. Virtus.pro
• FaZe vs. SAW
• Falcons vs. FlyQuest
• The MongolZ vs. Complexity
• MIBR vs. Wildcard
• paiN vs. Astralis
• Eternal Fire vs. Imperial Fe

Tournament Expectations and Team Analysis

Teams Facing an Uphill Battle

Some teams enter this event as clear underdogs. Imperial Female is perhaps the weakest roster, having received an invite only due to FURIA’s withdrawal. They are expected to struggle heavily against tier-one competition. Complexity and SAW are also in tough spots. Both teams have undergone roster changes, which have significantly reduced their performance level. BIG and FlyQuest, while slightly stronger, have shown inconsistent form, especially online, making it unlikely for them to go deep in the tournament.

Teams That Could Challenge for Playoffs

The mid-tier group features MIBR, 3DMAX, Wildcard, and Virtus.pro—all teams with potential to reach the top 8, but with uncertainties. MIBR has struggled to build on last year’s strong performances and has yet to find stability in 2025. 3DMAX is an interesting prospect after replacing Thomas "Djoko" Pavoni with Alexandre "bodyy" Pianaro, adding experience and leadership to their lineup. The French squad recently qualified for IEM Dallas, showing they have what it takes to compete at this level.

Wildcard has been making steady progress and looked competitive at IEM Katowice, with stanislaw’s leadership proving crucial. Virtus.pro, despite a surprise playoff run in Katowice, still faces big questions about their weak map pool and Denis "electroNic" Sharipov’s ability as an in-game leader.

Dark Horses and Rising Teams

Astralis and paiN are two teams looking to bounce back from mixed results. Astralis had a rough start to 2025 but recently found some form in online competitions, qualifying for BLAST Open Lisbon 2025 and performing well in IEM Dallas qualifiers. paiN, on the other hand, started the year strong but has since struggled, failing to make it out of Play-In at Katowice. Their match against Astralis in the first round will set the tone for both teams.

Another team to watch is Falcons. They have been slowly adjusting after their disastrous Katowice run, and their recent success in IEM Dallas qualifiers suggests they are finally getting into form. Nikola "NiKo" Kovač and Emil "Magisk" Reif need to step up if this team is to meet the lofty expectations set when they were first assembled.

MOUZ remains a wildcard in this event. The team recently added Lotan "Spinx" Giladi, which adds firepower, but Ludvig "Brollan" Brolin as the IGL remains a major question mark. This tournament will be a key test to see if MOUZ can compete at the highest level after their disastrous IEM Katowice showing.

Top Contenders for the Title

With several top-tier teams skipping this event, the door is open for Eternal Fire, The MongolZ, and FaZe to make deep runs.

• Eternal Fire has been one of the biggest surprises of 2025. They reached the BLAST Bounty final and IEM Katowice playoffs, showing that they are a legitimate tier-one team. With İsmailсan "XANTARES" Dörtkardeş leading the charge, they are among the favorites to take the title.
• The MongolZ made history at IEM Katowice by reaching the semifinals, marking the best-ever performance for an Asian CS team at a major event. Their aggressive playstyle and mechanically skilled roster make them a dangerous opponent.
• FaZe is still adapting to their new lineup with Jonathan "EliGE" Jablonowski, but they have the talent and experience to dominate. If they reach the playoffs, their ability to perform under pressure in front of a crowd makes them one of the scariest teams in the field.

Final Thoughts

PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025 offers a golden opportunity for rising teams to prove themselves in a tier-one setting. While the tournament lacks some of the biggest names like Vitality, NAVI, and Spirit, it is still packed with exciting storylines.

• Can Eternal Fire continue their breakthrough year?
• Will FaZe find their footing with EliGE?
• Is The MongolZ's Katowice run a one-off, or are they the real deal?
• How will MOUZ perform with Spinx?

With $400,000 on the line for first place, expect the exciting battles and plenty of surprises.