One of the largest and most well-known tournament operators, PGL, is actively preparing for the end of the year and the start of the new season. Today, on the official website, the company released a list of changes that will be implemented in CS2 tournaments in the upcoming 2025-2026 years, which we will outline below.

All announced Changes

As revealed in the announcement, CS2 tournaments in the coming years will undergo significant changes. These will include venue locations, prize fund payout timings, team invitations, and much more.

Change of Venue for the First Event

Initially, PGL representatives spoke about a change concerning the first event of 2025, namely PGL Cluj Napoca 2025. This tournament was originally supposed to take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, but the organizers later decided to change the location. As stated in the official announcement, this change was made to reduce the burden on teams and improve transportation logistics, as most teams will be participating in European events during that period. Therefore, the future PGL Buenos Aires 2025 will now be called PGL Cluj Napoca 2025 and will take place in the city of Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

Revolutionary Playoff Format

Another significant change concerns the tournament format. As stated by PGL representatives, starting in 2025-2026, they will introduce a new playoff format in which 8 teams will participate, which they describe as revolutionary. Additionally, each tournament will feature a deciding match for 3rd place, giving viewers the chance to enjoy another intense clash between teams.

Faster Prize Payouts

Arguably the most important change for professional teams is the adjustment to prize fund payout times. PGL representatives announced that in the coming years, they will ensure that prize money is paid to teams within two weeks after the tournament concludes. This is much faster compared to other organizers, and PGL's CEO commented on this situation. He mentioned that payouts for some tournaments currently take 6-15 months, which greatly harms the esports aspect of the industry.

Changes in Prize Distribution

Regarding the prize pool, PGL also made slight adjustments to the distribution of funds for upcoming events. The total prize pool will be $1,250,000, and it will be distributed as follows:

• 1st place: 32.0% - $400,000
• 2nd place: 15.0% - $187,500
• 3rd place: 12.0% - $150,000
• 4th place: 7.0% - $87,500
• 5-8th places: 5.0% each - $62,500
• 9-11th places: 2.5% each - $31,250
• 12-14th places: 1.5% each - $18,750
• 15-16th places: 1.0% each - $12,500

Event Schedule for 2026

Finally, the organizers revealed the schedule for upcoming tournaments in 2026:

• PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 - February 11-22
• PGL Bucharest 2026 - April 2-12
• PGL Astana 2026 - May 7-17
• PGL (To be announced) - August 6-16, 2026
• PGL (To be announced) - October 1-11, 2026
• PGL Belgrade 2026 - October 22 - November 1

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You can read more about all the changes by following the link. Stay updated on these and other CS2 tournaments on our website, where you can find all the stats and exciting news about various events.