Staff Liquid and GamerLegion amongst PGL Masters Bucharest 2025 Playoff groups

Staff Liquid and GamerLegion are amongst eight groups which have secured qualification for the PGL Masters Bucharest 2025 playoffs.

The ultimate section of the Tier 1 Counter-Strike 2 occasion will see groups competing for a share of a $625,000 (~£474,250) prize pool and Valve Regional Standings (VRS) factors.

PGL Masters Bucharest 2025 is the ultimate CS2 occasion hosted by the match organiser this yr and is without doubt one of the final Tier 1 tournaments earlier than consideration turns to the StarLadder Budapest Main in November.

After navigating a Group Stage that contained a number of high-profile names, the remaining groups have an opportunity to realize championship glory with a robust Playoff efficiency. Right here’s a take a look at all of the groups competing:

After scoring a shock top-four end on the BLAST.television Austin Main, PaiN Gaming has struggled to take care of its type, leading to a pointy decline within the VRS.

Regardless of this, the group managed to earn a Playoff place on the earliest alternative, scoring a 3-0 report with victories over Light Mates, GamerLegion, and B8.

A deep run in Bucharest has the potential to put the foundations for an upward flip of type, which might see PaiN Gaming finish 2025 on a excessive.

HEROIC was one among a number of European groups that narrowly missed out on a spot on the Main, however it’s decided to construct momentum for the 2026 season.

A fourth-place end on the CS Asia Championships 2025 marked a return to type following a top-16 placement at FISSURE Playground 2 and a top-22 end at ESL Professional League Season 22.

The Norwegian organisation is the one Playoff group that secured qualification with out conceding a map, defeating Ninjas in Pyjamas, BetBoom, and Aurora Gaming with 2-0 scorelines.

HEROIC takes on GamerLegion in its quarter-final match in a contest that would go both method if each groups are taking part in to their full potential.

Having proven glimpses of potential at Professional Leauge, B8 have seemed like one of many stronger groups competing in Bucharest.

2-0 sweeps towards Astralis and 3DMAX have been adopted by defeat to PaiN Gaming, however the Ukrainian facet managed to bounce again with a 2-1 win over Legacy to safe its place within the Playoffs and a quarter-final match towards Aurora Gaming.

Since securing a spot on the Main, Staff Liquid has began rediscovering among the type that noticed the organisation compete on the pinnacle of Counter-Strike esports.

The return of Jonathan ‘ELiGE’ Jablonowski has made an impression, main the group to 3rd place on the CS Asia Championship following a disappointing run of outcomes that led to the departure of Russel ‘Twistzz‘ Van Dulken.

Wins over Legacy, BetBoom, and FlyQuest have been sufficient for Staff Liquid to safe its place within the Playoffs. With a number of robust opponents nonetheless in rivalry, it is going to be fascinating to see whether or not the group is able to making a deep run.

Portuguese group SAW has continued to point out indicators of constructing a robust match run following its top-four end at FISSURE Playground 1 earlier within the yr.

Though the group started its Group Stage marketing campaign with a defeat to 3DMAX, it rebounded in convincing vogue with wins over Ninjas in Pyjamas, GamerLegion, and an out-of-sorts Aurora Gaming.

SAW’s opening Playoff match towards Staff Liquid is prone to be a difficult contest, however the group has the capabilities of springing a shock.

Nevertheless, Legacy wanted all 5 rounds of the Group Stage to earn its place within the Playoffs, efficiently defeating Light Mates, Astralis, and FlyQuest.

PGL Masters Bucharest 2025 is the primary occasion because the group received its first-ever trophy. If it may replicate the shape from the CS Asia Championship, Legacy could possibly be in with a shout of including a second trophy to its cupboard.

For GamerLegion, Bucharest is one other alternative to search out some sort of type after a string of disappointing outcomes.

The German esports organisation heads into the Playoffs following consecutive top-16 finishes at ESL Professional League Season 22 and the CS Asia Championships 2025.

Throughout its victories towards Fnatic, FlyQuest, and Light Mates, GamerLegion seemed to have turned a nook with some strong defensive technique already making an impression.

Because the group’s final match earlier than the Main, GamerLegion faces off towards HEROIC for a spot within the semi-finals.

The eighth and last group to qualify for the Playoffs is Aurora Gaming. As one of many highest-ranked groups remaining, the Turkish facet goals so as to add its first trophy of the yr to its cupboard.

Early wins over Fnatic and Staff Liquid constructed some momentum, however consecutive losses to HEROIC and SAW compelled a deciding match towards an Astralis group competing with a stand-in.

Özgür ‘woxic‘ Eker led the cost for Aurora Gaming, scoring an unlikely 1v3 clutch on Mirage to show the tide of the match in his group’s favour to safe a 2-1 victory and one other Playoff look.

Aurora Gaming look removed from its finest, which means its quarter-final match towards B8 might not be an easy contest.