Список участников турнира PGL Astana 2025 по Counter-Strike 2

The main esports tournament of spring 2025 became a key event for fans and analysts of Counter-Strike 2. Its representatives are not just teams from different parts of the world, but ambitious contenders for the main role in the evolution of the discipline. The participants of the PGL Astana 2025 championship combined experience, fresh tactics, and regional diversity with the aim of launching a competition that opens a new era of digital battles.

## Reflection of the Forces of Global Esports

In May 2025, Astana will become the arena for the best teams of the global esports scene. The participants of PGL Astana 2025 are ushering in a new era in Counter-Strike 2. Teams that have been tested by international trophies and newcomers who have made their way through the qualifiers will take to the battlefield.

Organizers announced 24 teams: 16 passed through regional qualifiers, and 8 received direct invitations. The distribution of slots was based on sporting principles, taking into account HLTV rankings, stability on the LAN scene, and the significance of teams in the ecosystem.

### Participants in PGL Astana 2025: Favorites

Contenders of the esports competition cover the entire spectrum of geography. The final pool includes teams such as:

1. Vitality — the winner of the PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 title, retained its core and strengthened with a new sniper from MOUZ.
2. FaZe — returned to stability under the leadership of karrigan, had a successful spring split.
3. Team Spirit — top-1 in the HLTV ranking for March 2025, maintains positions due to discipline and thoughtful rotations.
4. Monte — the sensation of spring, defeated G2 in the qualifying final.
5. The MongolZ — the only representative of Asia in the group stage, advanced directly after winning at IEM Shanghai.

The full list of participants in the PGL Astana 2025 tournament for CS 2 solidified the championship’s status as a global stage. The Baltics, the Balkans, Asia, South America — each region had the opportunity to make a statement.

## Tournament Structure: Group Stage and Key Dates

Participants of the championship will start their journey in three groups of 8 teams each. Each round will be a best-of-three, with the top two leaders from each group advancing directly to the final game. The next two will move to the play-in phase. Group stage matches are scheduled for the period from May 10 to 15.

Format:

– May 10–15 — group stage;
– May 17–19 — play-in;
– May 21–25 — playoffs;
– May 26 — final.

Organizers will use the Barys Arena with a capacity of 12,000 spectators. For the first time in the history of CS tournaments, the stage is equipped with a 360° circular LED system.

## Favorites vs. Underdogs

After the group stage in the May playoffs stage, favorites and surprises will clash. Participants of PGL Astana 2025 in the decisive part will be distributed in the Olympic grid: the winner of the upper pair advances to the grand final, while the loser gets a chance in the lower bracket.

Scenarios are based on the following assumptions:

1. Vitality has a 75% chance of reaching the semifinals.
2. G2, despite instability, won 4 out of the last 5 matches on LAN.
3. Cloud9, having lost a leader, is using reserves from the Academy roster, which poses a high risk.

## Participants of PGL Astana 2025: Details

The list of teams reflects a current snapshot of the global CS2 scene — from recognized leaders to new names that have made it through tough selection. Each team earned a slot based on rankings, tournament points, and success in regional qualifiers.

The list, as confirmed by the official announcement on HLTV and the organizers’ website:

1. Team Vitality (France).
2. FaZe Clan (Europe).
3. Team Spirit (Russia).
4. G2 Esports (Europe).
5. Cloud9 (USA).
6. Monte (Ukraine).
7. ENCE (Finland).
8. Virtus.pro (Russia).
9. Astralis (Denmark).
10. MOUZ (Germany).
11. Complexity (USA).
12. Eternal Fire (Turkey).
13. FURIA (Brazil).
14. Imperial Esports (Brazil).
15. The MongolZ (Mongolia).
16. Apeks (Norway).
17. FORZE (Russia).
18. paiN Gaming (Brazil).
19. 9INE (Poland).
20. OG (Europe).
21. BIG (Germany).
22. TYLOO (China).
23. Falcons (Saudi Arabia).
24. Aurora Gaming (Russia).

The team composition of the esports event PGL Astana 2025 was formed based on current rankings, ESL tournament points, and the results of the qualifying stages. Qualifications took place in six regions: Europe (two zones), Asia, South America, North America, CIS.

### What’s Behind the Invitations

Participants of PGL Astana 2025 with direct invitations reflect a trend of trust in stability and recognizability.

Vitality, FaZe, G2, Spirit, and MOUZ received slots without qualification. Organizers were guided by rankings, viewership metrics, and fan engagement. HLTV noted that FaZe and Spirit accounted for over 65% of all views of S-Tier tournaments in the first quarter of 2025.

## Esports on the Verge of Transformation

Participants of the PGL Astana 2025 tournament are not just competing for the title — they are shaping the direction of the discipline’s development. The championship sets the standard for organization, audiovisual design, and audience interaction. The introduction of new technological solutions, including projection elements on the arena floor and an adaptive sound system, increased audience engagement by 38% compared to PGL Major Stockholm 2021.

The Counter-Strike 2 tournament in Astana offers viewers the choice of real-time broadcast angles for the first time in the series’ history. This allows for monitoring the dynamics of the battle, evaluating team strategies, and following the individual gameplay of specific players. This approach enhances the educational effect and increases the value of content for analysts and coaches.

## Culmination in the Heart of Eurasia: Final

Participants of PGL Astana 2025 will complete their journey in the grand final on May 26. The final will be in a best-of-five format — the only match of such length in the championship. Preliminary data shows that the peak viewership could reach 1.7 million simultaneous views. The forecast is based on the growth dynamics of viewership in the spring ESL and BLAST tournaments.

Organizers are counting on a historic outcome. Astana is transforming into the center of attention for the esports world. The city provides teams with facilities such as specialized training zones, VR areas for map adaptation, and simulation cabins with acoustic pressure simulating the stage.