Update from September 4, 8:46 CEST: ESL's response was swift — the company stated that their initial announcement of dates for 2025 was published three weeks before PGL's. However, that announcement did not specify particular tournaments, only general time frames.

SVP Game Ecosystems, Ulrich Schulze from ESL Faceit Group, provided a link to the announcement and emphasized:

Here is our announcement of the 2025 dates, published on March 10, 2024

Ulrich Schulze

Original News:

The situation surrounding the largest CS2 tournament organizers is rapidly escalating. PGL accuses ESL and BLAST of deliberately violating Valve's rules and attempting to maintain a monopoly on event hosting. If the words of the PGL head are confirmed, the esports scene is headed for a serious conflict.

How the Situation Developed

PGL announced the dates for their championships in Bucharest and Chengdu for 2025–2026 on March 31, 2024. This meant that all other organizers were aware of the schedule in advance. However, on October 3, 2024, ESL and BLAST almost simultaneously released their calendars, which overlapped with PGL's.

According to Silviu Stroie, the head of PGL, this is not a coincidence but a deliberate strategy to pressure teams. He claims that competitors not only overlap tournament dates but also threaten organizations if they agree to participate in PGL championships.

PGL's main grievance against ESL and BLAST is their attempt to limit choices for teams and players. Valve previously established rules stating that organizers should not hinder teams from participating in third-party events. If Stroie's words are true, the competitors' actions contradict these principles.

Silviu Stroie emphasized in his statement that the situation cannot be called a coincidence:

They were well aware of our dates for 2025 and 2026 before deciding to continue their monopoly, and they will do everything possible to prevent teams from participating in PGL tournaments. So there is no coincidence here; it is a joint strategy.

Silviu Stroie, CEO PGL

If the accusations are confirmed, the situation could escalate beyond a typical organizer conflict. The diversity of tournaments and the independence of the professional CS2 scene could be at risk. For Valve, this will be a test: will the company intervene and uphold its own rules, or will ESL and BLAST continue to shape the calendar to their advantage?