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VALORANT Masters London 2026: All You Need to Know About Teams, Schedule, Format, and Prize Pool

Divyesh Moghe
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VALORANT Masters London 2026: All You Need to Know About Teams, Schedule, Format, and Prize Pool

International VALORANT is back, and this time it has crossed into new territory. VALORANT Masters London 2026 is the second global VCT event of the year, and it marks the first time Riot has brought a global VALORANT tournament to the United Kingdom. Twelve teams, a million dollars, and a London crowd that has been waiting years for this.

Here is everything you need to know before the first shots fire on June 6.

When and where is Masters London 2026?

Masters London runs from June 6 to June 21, 2026, at the Copper Box Arena in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The venue holds around 7,500 fans and is no stranger to Riot events, having hosted the League of Legends 2023 Mid-Season Invitational. This is, however, the first international VALORANT competition ever held on British soil.

It is the second Masters of the 2026 season, following Masters Santiago earlier in the year, and one of the final big checkpoints on the road to VALORANT Champions Shanghai.

Which teams qualified for Masters London?

Twelve teams made it, three from each of the four VCT regions: EMEA, Americas, China, and Pacific. They booked their spots through Stage 1 of their respective international leagues.

The full team list:

  • EMEA: Team Heretics, Team Vitality, FUT Esports
  • Americas: NRG, Leviatán, G2 Esports
  • China: EDward Gaming, Xi Lai Gaming, Dragon Ranger Gaming
  • Pacific: Paper Rex, Global Esports, FULL SENSE

A couple of names jump out. Global Esports are the first Indian organisation in VCT history to reach a Masters event, breaking through after three years in VCT Pacific without an international LAN. FULL SENSE, the Thai roster that took the Pacific partner slot, are at a Masters in their first Tier 1 season, with their only prior international appearance dating back to Champions 2021.

One interesting wrinkle: only five teams from this field also played Masters Santiago (G2, NRG, Xi Lai Gaming, EDward Gaming, and Paper Rex). Santiago champions Nongshim RedForce did not even qualify. That kind of turnover says a lot about how unstable the 2026 meta has been.

How does the Masters London format work?

The format mirrors Masters Santiago, split into two stages.

The four regional winners (the top seeds) skip straight to the Playoffs. The remaining eight teams start in a Swiss Stage from June 6 to 10. In Swiss, teams play until they hit either two wins or two losses. Go 2-0 or 2-1 and you advance. Go 0-2 or 1-2 and you are done. The top four from the Swiss Stage join the four seeded teams in the bracket.

Playoffs run from June 13 to 21 as an eight-team double-elimination bracket. Every series is best-of-three, except the lower bracket final and the grand final, which are best-of-five. The whole thing wraps with the grand final on June 21.

Masters London 2026 prize pool

There is $1,000,000 on the table. The champions walk away with $350,000, and the runner-up banks $200,000. The rest of the purse is split among the other ten teams based on where they finish.

Money is not the only prize, though. Masters London also hands out VCT Championship Points, which feed directly into qualification and seeding for VALORANT Champions later in the season. The top six teams earn points, so even sides that fall short of the trophy have a real reason to grind out every placement. For teams sitting near the Champions cutoff, a deep London run could be the difference between Shanghai and an early summer at home.

How to watch Masters London 2026

Every match streams live on Riot’s official VALORANT Esports channels on Twitch and YouTube. The broadcast covers everything from the opening Swiss matches through to the grand final, and full VODs land on YouTube afterward if you miss a session.

There are also free in-game rewards on offer through Watch and Earn Drops, Pick’Ems, and the live Shotcall prediction game, so tuning in pays off even if your bracket falls apart.

Who are the favourites?

Paper Rex, NRG, and G2 Esports come in as some of the most consistent names on the global circuit, and all three showed well at Santiago. The Chinese contingent is dangerous too, with Xi Lai Gaming having torn through their regional group stage and EDward Gaming arriving with pedigree as former world champions.

That said, the meta volatility this year makes London genuinely hard to call. Half the Santiago field did not even make it back. If form holds, the usual suspects contend, but this is exactly the kind of event where a rookie roster catches fire and rewrites the bracket.

What to watch next

The Swiss Stage opens June 6 and immediately starts trimming the field, so the early matches carry weight from day one. For Indian fans, Global Esports’ debut on a Masters stage is the storyline to follow, win or lose. For everyone else, it is the first read on which rosters are actually built for Champions and which ones peaked in qualifying.

For the full bracket, rosters, and daily results as they come in, keep up with TalkEsport’s VALORANT coverage through the rest of the tournament.

VALORANT Masters London Watch and Earn: Every Free Drop, Pick’Ems Reward, and Shotcall Detail

Divyesh Moghe
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0
VALORANT Masters London Watch and Earn: Every Free Drop, Pick’Ems Reward, and Shotcall Detail

Masters London is finally underway, and the good news is you do not have to win anything to walk away with loot. Riot is giving out free in-game rewards just for showing up to the broadcast.

The event runs June 6 to 21 at the Copper Box Arena, the first time a global VALORANT tournament has ever landed in the UK. Twelve teams, a $1 million prize pool, and a pile of free cosmetics on the line for viewers. There are three ways to earn while you watch, and they barely overlap, so it is worth knowing how each one works before the matches eat your whole weekend.

Just watching gets you Drops

This is the lazy option, and there is no shame in it. Tune into the live broadcast with a linked Riot account and you pick up rewards without lifting a finger.

The headline item is the “Gutted” title, unlocked by catching any live match between June 6 and 21. That is the whole requirement. Watch one map, claim a title.

To get Drops working, link your Riot account to wherever you are watching before you start. If you watched Masters Santiago earlier this year, your account is probably already set up and you are good to go.

Shotcall is where the effort pays off

If passive watching feels too easy, Shotcall is the interactive layer. It runs on Twitch, desktop only, through the official VCT broadcast, and it lets you predict maps, rounds, and key moments live while the game is happening. Correct calls earn points, and points climb the leaderboard.

There are two rewards tied to it. Rack up 100 points across the course of Masters London and you earn the “Rubbish” reward. Place in the top 5% of any single game during the tournament and you unlock the “Party of 1” spray. The spray is the tougher grab of the two, since finishing top 5% in even one lobby means actually reading the game well, not just clicking buttons.

One catch worth repeating: Shotcall is desktop Twitch only. No mobile, no YouTube. If you have been watching on your phone, you will need to move to a computer for this one.

Pick’Ems is the bracket game, and it is back

The other returning feature is Pick’Ems powered by AWS, and this is the one for people who think they can read a bracket better than their friends.

The idea is simple. Predict the results of each match. Every correct call banks points, and the more you nail, the higher you climb. You can make picks in the VALORANT client or at valorantesports.com/pickems. With twelve teams in the field, there is plenty of room for a chaotic call to age into a genius one by the end.

The timing matters here, because the windows lock fast:

  • Swiss Stage Pick’Ems opened May 27 at 9:00 AM PT and lock June 6 at 8:00 AM PT, right as Groups begin.
  • Playoffs Pick’Ems open June 10 after the draw is set, estimated around 6:00 PM PT, and lock June 12 at 8:00 AM PT when Playoffs start.

Miss the lock and you are out for that stage, so set a reminder if you are the type who forgets.

The rewards scale with how well you do. Everyone who makes at least their first picks gets the “Bossman” title. Land in the top 50% and you earn the “REF?!?” buddy. Crack the top 20% and it upgrades to the golden version. And if you somehow go a perfect 100% on your picks, you get the ultra-rare “100%” title, which is the kind of flex that does not come around often.

A quick eligibility note

Pick’Ems is available in most regions, but not all. Riot lists a handful of excluded territories, including China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Sudan, Venezuela, Myanmar, Quebec, and a few others, plus anywhere local rules void the offer. Reward eligibility can also shift by region depending on local regulations, so your mileage may vary depending on where you are logging in from.

Why this Masters matters for India

There is an extra reason for Indian fans to be glued to this one. Global Esports are at Masters London as the first Indian organisation in VCT history to reach a Masters event. After three years grinding through VCT Pacific without an international LAN, they finally broke through in Stage 1. Watching them on the global stage, while also farming free Drops, is not a bad way to spend June.

Where to watch

All the action streams through the official VALORANT Esports channels, with Twitch being the place to be if you want Shotcall in the mix. The VCT YouTube channel carries the broadcast too, though remember Shotcall will not work there.

Make your picks, link your account, and pick a screen. London is not waiting around, and neither are those Pick’Ems lock times. For the full team list and bracket, TalkEsport’s Masters London qualified teams rundown has you covered.

Free Fire OB54 Advance Server: Download Guide, Release Date, and Registration

Divyesh Moghe
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Free Fire OB54 Advance Server: Download Guide, Release Date, and Registration

Garena has opened registrations for the Free Fire OB54 Advance Server, and the test build goes live on June 5, 2026. If you want first access to the unreleased weapons, characters, and system changes coming in the next major update, here is everything you need to get in.

The Advance Server is Garena’s testing ground. It lets a limited pool of players try new content before it reaches the live game, report bugs, and shape what eventually ships. Spots are gated behind an Activation Code, so registering early matters.

Free Fire OB54 Advance Server Release Date

The OB54 Advance Server opens on June 5, 2026, and stays live until June 18, 2026. That gives players a two-week window to test new features and send feedback to Garena before the server shuts down.

Registration is already live, so you can lock in your spot now rather than scrambling on launch day.

EventDate
Registration StartLive now
Server Open DateJune 5, 2026
Server Close DateJune 18, 2026

What You Get on the Advance Server

The whole point of the Advance Server is early access. Players who get in can test unreleased weapons, new characters, and system updates ahead of everyone else. It is the first real look at what the OB54 patch will bring to the main game.

There is a catch worth knowing. The Advance Server is a separate APK from your normal Free Fire install, and you need an official Activation Code to actually log in. No code, no entry, which is why early registration is the part you do not want to skip.

How to Download and Register for the OB54 Advance Server

Getting set up takes only a few minutes. Here is the full process.

  1. Open your browser and head to the official Garena Free Fire Advance Server site at ff-advance.ff.garena.com.
  2. Log in with the Facebook or Google account tied to your main Free Fire profile. Use the wrong account and your progress will not link properly.
  3. The client APK download link goes live on June 5. Return to the site that day and tap the “Download APK” button to grab the separate test app.
  4. Install the downloaded APK and launch the Advance Server.
  5. When prompted, paste your Activation Code to start playing.

A quick heads-up on the Activation Code: Garena only hands these out to a limited number of registered players. Registering does not guarantee a code, so the earlier you sign up, the better your odds of getting selected.

Why the Advance Server Matters

For competitive players, the Advance Server is more than a sneak peek. It is a chance to learn new weapon balancing, character abilities, and map changes before they hit ranked. Knowing how a new character plays two weeks ahead of the crowd is a real edge once the OB54 update lands on live servers.

For everyone else, it is simply the most direct way to influence the game. Garena uses Advance Server feedback to fix bugs and tune features before release, so the reports players send during this window genuinely shape the final patch.

What to Watch Next

The download link activates on June 5, so set a reminder if you have already registered. Once OB54 goes fully live after the test window closes on June 18, the new content will roll out to all players through a standard update.

For more on Garena’s competitive side while you wait, check out TalkEsport’s coverage of the Free Fire MAX India Cup and the wider Free Fire esports scene, and keep an eye on the official Free Fire channels for the OB54 patch notes when they drop.

BMPS 2026 Survival Stage Day 4: Schedule, Groups, and Points Table

Divyesh Moghe
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0
BMPS 2026 Survival Stage Day 4: Schedule, Groups, and Points Table

The Battlegrounds Mobile India Pro Series (BMPS) 2026 Survival Stage returns for its fourth day on June 3, with teams looking to improve their position on the overall leaderboard. After an action-packed second day, Team Apex Gaming sits at the top of the standings with 109 points, while Myth Official and Team Ax complete the top three.

With only eight Semi-Finals spots available, every match will play a crucial role in deciding which teams continue their BMPS 2026 journey. A total of six matches are scheduled for Day 4 across Rondo, Erangel, and Miramar.

BMPS 2026 Survival Stage Day 3 Match Schedule

The day will begin with a Rondo match before shifting to Erangel and ending with two Miramar games.

MatchMapGroupsTime
Match 1RondoBD4:00 PM
Match 2ErangelAC4:40 PM
Match 3ErangelCD5:20 PM
Match 4ErangelAB6:00 PM
Match 5MiramarBC6:40 PM
Match 6MiramarAD7:20 PM

Group A

MADKINGS, Team AX, HADX Esports, NoNx Esports, Rapid Chaos Esports, Versatile Esports, Ares Esport, Likitha Esports.

Group B

Jaguar Esports, K9 Esports, Esport Social, Santa Esp, True Rippers, Quantum Sparks, Rising Esports, Team DOXY.

Group C

Naqsh Esports, Learn From Past, Team RedXross, ThunderGods x Tortuga Gaming, Signature Godsent, Team Apex Gaming, DCxSCR Esports, GENxFM Esports.

Group D

Myth Official, Lastade Esports, RiotNationZ, T7xORION Esports, Team H4K, Troy Tamilan Esports, Aura X Esports, Phoenix Esports.

Read More: PMGC Champions Alpha7 Esports Eliminated from PMGO 2026 Season 1 After Disappointing Group Stage Run

BMPS 2026 Survival Stage Points Table After Day 3

  1. Team Apex Gaming – 109 Points
  2. Myth Official – 102 Points
  3. Team AX – 88 Points
  4. True Rippers – 87 Points
  5. Team Versatile – 85 Points
  6. K9 Esports – 79 Points
  7. Rising Esports – 74 Points
  8. Troy Tamilan Esports – 68 Points
  9. Learn From Past – 66 Points
  10. Esport Social – 66 Points
  11. Team REDXROSS – 65 Points
  12. Madkings – 65 Points
  13. GENxFM Esports – 60 Points
  14. Rapid Chaos Esports – 58 Points
  15. Ares Esports – 57 Points
  16. Lastade Esports – 53 Points
  17. DCxSCR Esports – 52 Points
  18. Quantum Sparks – 50 Points
  19. NONx Esports – 49 Points
  20. T7 x Orion Esports – 48 Points
  21. Aura X Esports – 48 Points
  22. Santa Esp – 43 Points
  23. Godsent Esports – 42 Points
  24. Naqsh Esports – 39 Points
  25. H4K Esports – 36 Points
  26. ThunderGods x Tortuga Gaming – 34 Points
  27. Jaguar Esports – 29 Points
  28. HADx Esports – 24 Points
  29. Team DOXY – 24 Points
  30. RiotNationZ – 20 Points
  31. Phoenix Esports – 19 Points
  32. Likitha Esports – 18 Points

BMPS 2026 Survival Stage Format Explained

The Survival Stage is being played from June 2 to June 5 and features 32 teams that advanced from the BMPS 2026 Round 1 competition.

The participating teams have been divided into four groups of eight teams each. Matches are being played in a round-robin format, ensuring every team gets 12 opportunities to earn points.

Once all matches are completed, teams will be ranked on a single overall leaderboard. Only the top eight teams will secure qualification to the BMPS 2026 Semi-Finals, while the remaining 24 teams will see their tournament journey come to an end.

Where to Watch BMPS 2026 Survival Stage Day 4

Fans can watch all BMPS 2026 matches live on the official Krafton India Esports YouTube channel. The tournament broadcast is available in both Hindi and English, allowing viewers to follow all the action live as teams battle for a place in the Semi-Finals.

GamerLegion Qualifies for IEM Cologne Major 2026 Stage 2

Sarjyo Mukherjee
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0
GamerLegion Qualifies for IEM Cologne Major 2026 Stage 2

With Stage 1 of the Intel Extreme Masters Cologne Major almost nearing its end, GamerLegion has become the first team to make it through on Day 3, with TYLOO surviving for another day at the cost of Sharks.

GamerLegion outlasts BIG

Widely considered one of the best teams in Stage 1, GamerLegion missing out on a flawless 3-0 qualification shook the Pick’Ems for many, but they have secured their 3rd win of the Stage, which will see them go through to the next round of play. Facing BIG in the Round 4 match, GL started strong on their defense, only for BIG to level the scoreline and push the game to OT. Having survived the test of overtime, GL went on to survive another close contest in the following map, where they secured a tight 13-11 win and ended the match with a 2-0 scoreline.

Sharks Bow Out

Brazilian side Sharks faced Chinese powerhouse TYLOO, with both teams facing elimination. Starting strong on the first map, Sharks looked to be running away with the series, having secured a 13-6 win. TYLOO responded on Inferno with an equally dominant win to ensure a 13-5 scoreline, which blew the match wide open, ensuring a 13-5 scoreline that blew the match wide open as things moved to the final map. With both teams remaining inseparable to kick off the final map, TYLOO started building momentum, riding a stellar defense to edge out the series with a 2-1 scoreline.

GamerLegion has been a dark horse in several tournaments throughout the year, and their deeper tournament runs keep things interesting. This win will see them secure their place in Stage 2, which will see them face tougher challenges with the potential to cause bigger upsets. BIG, on the other hand, will need one more win to qualify, while a loss would see them get eliminated.

IEM USA 2027 Set for April, Arena Venue Planned as ESL Confirms Return

Marvel Rivals June 4 Patch Notes: Black Cat Fix, New Skins, and More

Aritra Patra
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0
Marvel Rivals June 4 Patch Notes: Black Cat Fix, New Skins, and More

NetEase has pushed a small update to Marvel Rivals today, June 4, 2026. The patch brings the game to version 1.54 on last-gen and version 1.000.091 on current-gen platforms. There is no server downtime. Players can update and jump back in right away.

This is the third content drop of Season 8. Like the two weekly updates before it, today’s patch is light. No new heroes, no big system changes. It fixes two hero bugs and adds new cosmetics to the in-game store.

Marvel Rivals Version 20260604 Update Patch Notes

Here are the full patch notes:

All-New Content

New In Store

Mantis – Mandy Celestine: The Greeter Bundle
Limited Time: June 5th, 2026, 02:00:00 to July 3rd 2026, 02:00:00 (UTC)

Iron Man – Iron Samurai Bundle
Iron Samurai Emoji Bundle
Available From: June 5th, 2026, at 2:00:00 (UTC)

Fixes and Optimizations

Heroes

  1. Black Cat’s Aquatic Blind Spot: Fixed a rather bizarre interaction where if Black Cat and a teammate were gobbled up by Jeff the Land Shark’s Ultimate Ability, her active Faltine Flame Orb would lose its Reveal effect. Cats may hate the water, but Felicia’s mystic surveillance is now fully waterproof!  
  2. Rogue’s Force-Field Friction: Resolved a kinetic anomaly where Rogue’s Team-Up Ability, Hearts as One, would occasionally fail to deal its intended explosive damage if the kinetic blast collided with the Invisible Woman’s force shield. Sue Storm is tough, but Rogue’s Southern hospitality will now properly blast those around the shield as intended!

Other

  1. S.H.I.E.L.D. Encryption Secured: Fixed a UI bug where the anonymity feature in Streamer Mode failed to conceal the other party’s nickname within Private Chat windows. Your secret identities are safe once more! 
  2. Khonshu’s Restored Relic: Fixed a visual anomaly where the Ankh jewel textures mysteriously vanished from Moon Knight’s Suave Spector costume. The artifact’s mystic luster has been fully restored to its moonlit glory.
  3. Jeff’s Endless Groove: We’ve tweaked Jeff the Land Shark’s Primal Groove emote so it now plays in a continuous loop. The best boy in the Chronoverse can now keep the prehistoric rhythm going as long as he wants!

BMPS 2026 Survival Stage Day 3: Match Timings, Teams, Points Table, and Live Stream Details

Divyesh Moghe
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0
BMPS 2026 Survival Stage Day 3: Match Timings, Teams, Points Table, and Live Stream Details

The Battlegrounds Mobile India Pro Series (BMPS) 2026 Survival Stage returns for its third day on June 3, with teams looking to improve their position on the overall leaderboard. After an action-packed second day, Team Apex Gaming sits at the top of the standings with 81 points, while Team Versatile and True Rippers complete the top three.

With only eight Semi-Finals spots available, every match will play a crucial role in deciding which teams continue their BMPS 2026 journey. A total of six matches are scheduled for Day 3 across Rondo, Erangel, and Miramar.

BMPS 2026 Survival Stage Day 3 Match Schedule

The day will begin with a Rondo match before shifting to Erangel and ending with two Miramar games.

MatchMapGroupsTime
Match 1RondoAC4:00 PM
Match 2ErangelBD4:40 PM
Match 3ErangelAB5:20 PM
Match 4ErangelBC6:00 PM
Match 5MiramarCD6:40 PM
Match 6MiramarAD7:20 PM

Group A

MADKINGS, Team AX, HADX Esports, NoNx Esports, Rapid Chaos Esports, Versatile Esports, Ares Esport, Likitha Esports.

Group B

Jaguar Esports, K9 Esports, Esport Social, Santa Esp, True Rippers, Quantum Sparks, Rising Esports, Team DOXY.

Group C

Naqsh Esports, Learn From Past, Team RedXross, ThunderGods x Tortuga Gaming, Signature Godsent, Team Apex Gaming, DCxSCR Esports, GENxFM Esports.

Group D

Myth Official, Lastade Esports, RiotNationZ, T7xORION Esports, Team H4K, Troy Tamilan Esports, Aura X Esports, Phoenix Esports.

Read More: PMGC Champions Alpha7 Esports Eliminated from PMGO 2026 Season 1 After Disappointing Group Stage Run

BMPS 2026 Survival Stage Points Table After Day 2

  1. Team Apex Gaming – 81 Points
  2. Team Versatile – 62 Points
  3. True Rippers – 61 Points
  4. K9 Esports – 57 Points
  5. Team AX – 56 Points
  6. Myth Official – 54 Points
  7. Learn From Past – 50 Points
  8. Madkings – 49 Points
  9. Esport Social – 47 Points
  10. Lastade Esports – 45 Points
  11. Ares Esports – 42 Points
  12. Quantum Sparks – 41 Points
  13. T7 x Orion Esports – 39 Points
  14. Troy Tamilan Esports – 38 Points
  15. Rapid Chaos Esports – 38 Points
  16. Godsent Esports – 37 Points
  17. Team REDXROSS – 37 Points
  18. Naqsh Esports – 34 Points
  19. NONx Esports – 33 Points
  20. Santa Esp – 29 Points
  21. H4K Esports – 29 Points
  22. Jaguar Esports – 27 Points
  23. Aura X Esports – 26 Points
  24. DCxSCR Esports – 25 Points
  25. GENxFM Esports – 22 Points
  26. Rising Esports – 21 Points
  27. HADx Esports – 19 Points
  28. Team DOXY – 19 Points
  29. ThunderGods x Tortuga Gaming -17 Points
  30. RiotNationZ – 12 Points
  31. Likitha Esports – 11 Points
  32. Phoenix Esports – 10 Points

BMPS 2026 Survival Stage Format Explained

The Survival Stage is being played from June 2 to June 5 and features 32 teams that advanced from the BMPS 2026 Round 1 competition.

The participating teams have been divided into four groups of eight teams each. Matches are being played in a round-robin format, ensuring every team gets 12 opportunities to earn points.

Once all matches are completed, teams will be ranked on a single overall leaderboard. Only the top eight teams will secure qualification to the BMPS 2026 Semi-Finals, while the remaining 24 teams will see their tournament journey come to an end.

Where to Watch BMPS 2026 Survival Stage Day 3

Fans can watch all BMPS 2026 matches live on the official Krafton India Esports YouTube channel. The tournament broadcast is available in both Hindi and English, allowing viewers to follow all the action live as teams battle for a place in the Semi-Finals.

IEM USA 2027 Set for April, Arena Venue Planned as ESL Confirms Return

Aritra Patra
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0
IEM USA 2027 Set for April, Arena Venue Planned as ESL Confirms Return

ESL has confirmed that a CS2 IEM event will return to the United States in 2027. The tournament is scheduled for April 5-11, and while the host city has not been announced yet, a product manager at ESL has stated the plan is to hold the event inside an arena.

This year’s IEM event in the USA was hosted in Atlanta, on the show floor of a DreamHack convention. Moving to a standalone arena would be a clear change in how ESL approaches the US market.

Tournament Format and Prize Pool

The tournament will be a $1,000,000 event and will feature 16 teams.

Eleven teams will receive invites through the global VRS. One invite each will go to teams from the North America and South America VRS, and the final three spots will come from qualifiers, two global and one Americas.

The group stage will have two groups of eight teams, both running double elimination. Each group sends four teams to the playoffs.

The eight-team playoff bracket runs a full schedule. Four quarter-finals on Friday, two semi-finals on Saturday, and the third-place match plus grand final on Sunday.

Arena Plan Marks Shift From DreamHack Format

The push toward an arena venue is the most notable detail from the announcement. A Product Manager at ESL stated that the plan is to host the 2027 event in an arena, rather than on a convention show floor as was the case with IEM Atlanta 2025.

ESL has not confirmed which city will host the event. The host city announcement is expected at a later date.

What This Means for North American CS2

North America and South America each get a direct VRS invite path, giving regional teams a guaranteed route into the field. Combined with the Americas qualifier slot, three of the 16 spots are tied specifically to the Americas region.

The April 2027 window puts the event in the middle of the CS2 season calendar, and the $1,000,000 prize pool keeps it in line with other top-tier IEM stops on the circuit.

BetBoom Reaches IEM Cologne Major 2026 Stage 2

Sarjyo Mukherjee
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0
BetBoom Reaches IEM Cologne Major 2026 Stage 2

Day 2 of the IEM Cologne Major is underway, and we have the first teams that will be through to the next round of play, as well as the team to head out first. BetBoom, dominating GamerLegion, has secured its qualification to the next round of play, while SINNERS lost to TYLOO.

BetBoom Goes Through

Securing a quick 2-0 with a dominant first map followed by a close contest in the second, BetBoom was by far the better team, and GamerLegion could do little on both maps. BetBoom continued their momentum on the less favoured side of Nuke, which they carried over till the end of the second map, where GamerLegion failed to force a third map. With a solid showing across both maps, BetBoom will be in Stage 2, while GamerLegion will need one more win.

SINNERS Get Eliminated

SINNERS, facing Asian giants TYLOO, gave us the first team to bow out of the Major as the Slavic misfits gave a tough fight to the Chinese side, with the first map going to overtime before TYLOO managed to edge out a close win in a match that could have easily gone the other way. Inferno for the second map started with SINNERS leading before the end of the first half, only for TYLOO to recover and come back in the second to secure the game with a 2-0 win.

BetBoom’s win would put GamerLegion one win away from qualification, and on the other hand, TYLOO’s win ensures they survive for another day in the event. With two more teams to face the same fate, the Cologne Major Stage 1 is finally shaping up, and only time will tell who goes through.

CS2 Esports World Cup 2026 Invites Announced: All Participating Teams

CS2 Esports World Cup 2026 Invites Announced: All Participating Teams

Sonu Banerjee
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0
CS2 Esports World Cup 2026 Invites Announced: All Participating Teams

Following the June 1 CS2 VRS update, Esports World Cup has officially revealed the full list of 28 teams heading to Paris for one of the biggest events of the year.

For the unaware, the third iteration of the highly anticipated CS2 Esports World Cup is scheduled to take place in August 2026. The event will see 32 elite CS2 teams battling it out on LAN for the prestigious trophy alongside a share of the $2 million USD prize pool.

At the time of writing, all 28 teams receiving direct invites to the Esports World Cup have been confirmed. The remaining 4 teams will be decided via the Open Qualifiers in August.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at all the CS2 teams that have managed to secure their spot at the upcoming Esports World Cup.

CS2 Esports World Cup 2026 Invited Teams List

Below, we have included the full list of 28 teams invited to the CS2 Esports World Cup 2026. All teams have accepted invites to the event:

  • Vitality
  • Natus Vincere
  • Spirit
  • Falcons
  • FURIA
  • Aurora
  • Legacy
  • MOUZ
  • The MongolZ
  • GamerLegion
  • PARIVISION
  • Astralis
  • FUT
  • G2
  • FaZe
  • B8
  • magic
  • paiN
  • MIBR
  • 9z
  • BetBoom
  • 3DMAX
  • Ninjas in Pyjamas
  • Monte
  • M80
  • TYLOO
  • Lynn Vision
  • Wildcard

The Esports World Cup 2026 will be held in Paris, France, marking the first time the tournament will be hosted outside Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The relocation comes amid ongoing regional instability and the wider conflict involving Iran, which prompted organizers to move the event from Riyadh due to security and logistical concerns.

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