Counter-Strike 2 event organiser, PGL has introduced that the Masters Bucharest occasion will now end a day earlier on Saturday, November 1st, 2025.
Information of the schedule change coincided with rule revisions for PGL occasions subsequent yr, confirming {that a} new VRS Invite rule, set to take impact at Cluj-Napoca 2026, won’t apply to different tournaments.
PGL Masters Bucharest Finishes a Day Earlier
The Masters Bucharest event was initially scheduled to happen from October twenty fourth to November 2nd, 2025. PGL has not shared the reasoning behind the adjustments made.
Nonetheless, it has resulted in a two-day hole between the top of PGL’s Counter-Strike 2 occasion and the beginning of IEM Chengdu. Each occasions characteristic invited groups based mostly on the World Valve Regional Standings (VRS), with Chengdu based mostly on August rankings and Masters Bucharest on September.
The Masters Bucharest 2025 occasion will see 16 groups compete for the lion’s share of a $625,000 (~£462,500) prize pool. The competitors will characteristic a Group Stage with a Swiss System Format, with the highest eight groups progressing to the Playoffs in a Single-Elimination Bracket.
PGL Walks Again VRS Invite Rule for 2026 Occasions
Along with the schedule change, PGL shared an replace on VRS Invitations guidelines for the subsequent season, although it would nonetheless be utilized to the Cluj-Napoca 2026 occasion.
The rule states {that a} crew could be ‘denied an invite’ if it did not attend a previous PGL occasion for which the org had accepted an invite. Whereas this rule will nonetheless take impact for the Cluj-Napoca 2026, PGL has shared that the ‘rule won’t apply’ to different occasions it plans to carry subsequent yr or ‘any future tournaments.’
Because of this the breadth of groups that would doubtlessly seem on the occasion is much less restrictive. The event is scheduled to happen from February 2nd to twenty third, 2026, and can see the highest 16 groups invited from the January 2026 VRS World outcomes compete for a share of a $625,000 prize pool.
