Stake and StarLadder Partner to Launch New CS2 LAN Tournament Series

Stake, the global leading betting platform, and StarLadder have officially announced a strategic partnership to launch a new series of Counter-Strike 2 LAN tournaments: Stake Ranked. This circuit is designed to provide a true offline atmosphere for the global community, focusing on providing a stable environment for teams looking to bridge the gap between Tier 2 and Tier 1. The project has one clear purpose: ranking climbing under professional conditions with pure competition.

StarLadder brings over 20 years of production experience to the project. Having been selected by Valve to host two Major Championships—including the most recent Budapest Major—the organizer is uniquely positioned to provide a solid LAN experience. At the same time, Stake has continued to expand its interest and investment in the esports ecosystem, recently signing a landmark sponsorship deal with the current #1 ranked team in the world, the French powerhouse, Team Vitality.

Global Roadmap and 2026 Plans

For the current year, the series will be focused across Europe, with a total of six events planned for the region. While a global presence in the Americas and Asia is a key perspective for the future, the immediate goal is to establish a firm foundation in the EU. Multiple events are already scheduled to run through the end of 2026.

The first two tournaments are strategically placed within the competitive calendar:

• • Stake Ranked Ep.1: April 1st – 4th (Held immediately before the Cologne Major invite cut-off)
• • Stake Ranked Ep.2: May 27th – 30th 

Both events will be held in European capital cities, with final locations selected to ensure the best possible conditions for the players.

"Our goal with Stake Ranked is to create a genuine pathway for ambitious teams to progress from Tier 2 to Tier 1 competition. We believe the heart of Counter-Strike lies in the LAN environment—where talent is proven, stories are built, and the community truly connects with the game. This partnership allows us to deliver professionally managed events that raise the standard of Tier 2 competition, while giving Stake an authentic role in supporting the growth and future of competitive Counter-Strike,” says Akhil Sarin, Chief Marketing Officer of Stake.

Roman Romantsov, Founder of StarLadder, added: "Our legacy is in LAN events production. We see that Tier 2 events are often not treated properly due to various reasons, and we are here to fix that together with Stake. Stay tuned; invites will be sent soon, according to Valve rules."

Teams are encouraged to monitor their official communication channels as invites based on the VRS will be issued shortly. 

Tournament Structure

The Stake Ranked sits in Tier 2, built for growing teams who aim to move up the competitive ladder. The circuit features a minimum $100,000 prize pool per event. 
While the system is built around the Valve Regional Standings (VRS), the Stake Ranked tournaments remain accessible to almost all participants. Each event will culminate in an 8-team Final stage:

6 Teams: Direct invitations based on Global VRS.
2 Teams: Advancing from a Closed Qualification stage.

The Closed Qualifier will feature 16 teams, with 14 invited via VRS and 2 slots reserved for Open Qualifiers, ensuring a path for rising squads to prove their worth.

Stake Ranked Ep.1 details:

Direct VRS Invitations

Direct invitations will be issued based on the Global VRS as published by Valve.
Invitations will be issued starting from 13th VRS rank, moving downward until all Direct Invite slots are filled.
A total of 20 rosters will receive Direct VRS Invites per event: 6 top teams will be invited to the LAN stage and 14 teams to the Closed Qualifiers. 
The VRS publication date used for issuing Direct Invites: 12th of February (VRS update released on 2nd of February will be used)
The VRS publication date used for Closed Qualifier seeding: 2nd of February (February VRS update)
The VRS publication date used for the Main Event seeding: 2nd of March (March VRS update).

Closed Qualifier
The Closed Qualifier will be held online and feature 16 competing teams:

14 teams invited via Global VRS, and
2 teams advancing from Open Qualifiers.

Dates: March 4th - 8th
Format: Single Elimination Bo3
Game servers location: Europe

Open Qualifiers
Open Qualifiers will be held online on Faceit platform.
Dates: February 21st - 22nd
Format: Single Elimination Bo3
Game servers location: Europe

We do not restrict the participation of teams from other VRS regions in the Qualifiers, as a team may be based in Europe at the time the Qualifiers take place for good ping on the game servers.

Finals
8 finalist teams will fight for the ultimate prize and glory of the tournament LAN in the Schengen zone.
Format: Double Elimination Bo3

Rosters must meet Valve eligibility requirements and comply with all tournament integrity and roster lock rules.

Prize Pool Distribution

Total Prize Pool: $100,000
1st place - $25 000
2nd place - $17 500
3rd place - $13 500
4th place - $11 000
5th-6th place - $9 000 each
7th-8th place - $7 500 each

*Teams are responsible for covering their travel and accommodation expenses. The exact venue for the LAN Finals will be disclosed prior to or alongside the tournament invitations.

The qualifiers dates, prizepool and its distribution for Stake Ranked Ep.2 will be announced later.

Further updates regarding the 2026 roadmap and specific host cities will follow. Stay tuned!

About Stake
Stake is the world's most popular online casino and sportsbook. Founded in 2017, Stake attracts over 80 million monthly visits, more than any other iGaming platform, and sees more than 100 billion bets a year. Stake is renowned for its innovation in crypto wagering as well as its growing expansion into regulated local-currency gaming markets in Italy, Denmark, and Latin America. It also boasts a roster of global sponsorships, including Canadian superstar Drake, the Stake F1 Team, Everton Football Club, and the UFC. For more information and press enquiries, please contact:  [email protected]

About StarLadder
StarLadder is one of the leading esports tournament organizers in the world, with a legacy of producing top-tier events since 2001. With a global audience and a reputation for quality, StarLadder continues to shape the future of competitive gaming.