So, Valve’s at it again, shaking things up in the world of competitive gaming. If you thought the drama of Counter-Strike 2 was just about headshots and clutch plays, think again! Today, they dropped an update that’ll see the Major tournaments expand. Yes, we’re talking about more teams joining the fray. Grab your favorite snack; this news is bound to stir some excitement!
The folks at Valve have officially updated their rulebook, confirming whispers that the iconic tournament will grow from 24 to 32 teams starting with the BLAST.tv Austin Major in April 2025. That’s right, folks! More teams mean more chaos and maybe even more nail-biting moments!
This new setup means three Swiss Stages instead of two—yeah, I can hear those calculators going wild already! Each stage will still feature those classic best-of-one matches for the first two rounds. What better way to test your skill than jumping straight into intense matchups?
Here’s how it breaks down:
- The top eight teams will get direct invites to the third stage.
- An additional eight will snag invites to the second stage.
- The rest? They’ll battle it out in what is now called Major Regional Qualifiers (MRQs), which replace those good ol’ RMR events.
The fun doesn’t stop there. The distribution of invited teams is based on each region’s performance at prior Majors. Europe gets six slots for stage three, while one team from both the Americas and Asia/Pacific makes it through as well. It’s like a competitive game show where only the best get picked!
If you’re curious about how these MRQs work, they’ve got their set formats, too!
- A group of eight Asia/Pacific competitors will face off in a two-group GSL-style bracket, with four advancing to Stage One.
- Six European squads will emerge from their Swiss Stage battles.
- If ping issues arise, the Americas get split into regions, but don’t worry; invitations will be evenly distributed regardless.
You might be wondering if all this is happening online or on-site… Well, Valve has hinted that MRQs could take place online. But let’s be honest, most players won’t be thrilled about that idea!
