Everything you need to know about the CS:GO PGL Major

Fans are delighted that the highly-anticipated Counter-Strike: Global Offensive PGL Major 2021 is just around the corner. This year’s PGL Major is the 16th CS: GO Major Championship. Due to the pandemic, the last CS: GO Major was the StarLadder Major in Berlin in 2019.

The PGL Stockholm Major is the third Major to take place in Sweden but the first event hosted in Stockholm at the massive Avicii Arena. Recently, the Swedish government lifted all previously instated COVID-19 restrictions for esports events.

Teams will fight for a piece of a whopping $2 million prize pool, the largest in CS: GO history. The PGL Major prize pool is twice the amount of previous Major prize pools due to the lack of offline competition amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

CS:GO PGL Major Format

Valve confirmed participating teams would be chosen based on their accrued Regional Major Rankings (RMR) points to qualify for the Major. Qualifying RMR events will occur in the varying competitive regions around the world and culminate with one offline RMR tournament preceding the PGL Major.

The Stockholm 2021 Major consists of three stages: New Challengers Stage, New Legends Stage, and New Champions Stage.

New Challengers Stage

• 16 team Swiss System format
  • Elimination and advancement matches are best-of-three.
  • Non-elimination and advancement matches are best-of-one
• Top 8 teams proceed to the New Champions Stage
• Bottom 8 teams are eliminated

New Legends Stage

• 16 team Swiss System format
  • Elimination and advancement matches are Bo3
  • Non-elimination and advancement matches are Bo1
• Top 8 teams proceed to the New Champions Stage
• Bottom 8 teams are eliminated

New Champions Stage

• Single-elimination bracket
• All matches are Bo3

PGL Major Participants

There are a total of 24 qualifying teams from differing competitive regions at the 2021 PGL Stockholm Major. Qualifying teams have been sorted into their prospective categories based on their performance at RMR events.

Legends status

• Ninjas in Pyjamas
• Team Vitality
• G2 Esports
• FURIA Esports
• Team Liquid
• Evil Geniuses
• Natus Vincere
• Gambit Esports

Challengers status

• Astralis
• ENCE
• BIG
• Movistar Riders
• Heroic
• Mousesports
• paiN Gaming
• Team Spirit

Contenders status

• Copenhagen Flames
• FaZe Clan
• GODSENT
• Virtus.pro
• Entropiq
• Sharks Esports
• TYLOO
• Renegades

PGL Major Schedule

The tournament’s start is scheduled for Oct. 26 and will run through Nov. 7. The Challengers and Legends segments will be held at Annexet Arena. However, PGL  announced the playoffs (Champions Stage) would be held at Avicii Arena from Nov. 4-7.

Tournament schedule:

• Challengers stage: Oct. 26 – 29
• Legends stage: Oct. 30 to Nov. 2
• Champions stage: Nov. 4-7

Breakdown of playoff schedule:

• Thursday, Nov. 4: Quarterfinals 1 and 2
• Friday, Nov. 5: Quarterfinals 3 and 4
• Saturday, Nov. 6: Semifinals 1 and 2
• Sunday, Nov. 7: Finals

Broadcast Talent

The PGL Major features a star-studded line-up. Hosted by Richard Lewis, the broadcast roster features Duncan “Thorin” Shields, Jason “Moses” O’Toole, and James Bardolph. After mounting pressure from fans, PGL CEO Silviu Stroie confirmed the talent team will commentate from inside Avicii Arena. The organization initially planned for talent to cast and analyze from the PGL headquarters in Bucharest, Romania.

Analysts:

• Duncan “Thorin” Shields
• Janko “YNk” Paunović
• Mathieu “Maniac” Quiquerez
• Sudhen “Bleh” Wahengbam

Interviewer:

• James Banks

Commentators:

• Daniel “ddk” Kapadia
• Chad “SPUNJ” Burchill
• Alex “Machine” Richardson
• James Bardolph
• Anders Blume
• Auguste “Semmler” Massonnat
• Matthew “Sadokist” Trivett
• Jason “Moses” O’Toole

Observers:

• Efren “encg” Chuong
• Jake “Jak3y” Elton
• Ryan “ItsRandall” Randall

Fans interested in attending the PGL Stockholm Major 2021 can find tickets on the Avicii Arena website. All events will be streamed on official PGL Twitch channels.