## Counter-Strike 2 Secures Two More Esports World Cup Editions

Counter-Strike 2 will remain part of the Esports World Cup for at least two more editions, with tournaments confirmed for 2027 and 2028. The announcement, made via the Esports World Cup's official channels and reported by Shane the Gamer, extends the game's presence on one of the largest multi-title esports stages in the world (Shane the Gamer).

The 2027 competition will take place at Esports Boulevard in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 20 July to 1 August. The event will bring 32 teams together for a $2 million prize pool, with the champion set to earn $700,000 and the runner-up $300,000.

The 2028 edition is also confirmed for Counter-Strike 2, tentatively scheduled for 14 to 30 July 2028. However, the organiser has not yet announced the format, qualification system, or prize pool for that edition.

## How Can Teams Qualify for the Esports World Cup 2027?

Most of the 32-team field at EWC 2027 will be decided through Valve Regional Standings (VRS) invitations. Invites will use the first available monthly VRS publication from June 2027, while tournament seeding will use the first available July 2027 publication. The organiser also states that invite exceptions will apply if a player is banned (Shane the Gamer).

The qualification routes break down as follows:

That leaves 28 main-event places assigned before the open qualifier, while four remain available through open competition in Riyadh.

## What Is the EWC 2027 Tournament Format?

Stage 1 will divide the 32-team field into four groups of eight teams, each using a double-elimination format. Four teams from every group will advance, cutting the field from 32 to 16 for Stage 2 (Shane the Gamer).

The playoffs will remain on LAN and use best-of-three matches until the Grand Final, which will be played as a best-of-five series. According to the Esports World Cup announcement, every stage of the tournament, including the qualifier, will be played on LAN.

Main-event teams are scheduled to arrive in Riyadh on 18 July, followed by media day on 19 July. Departures are set for 1 and 2 August after the tournament ends.

## Riyadh Open Qualifier: Dates, Format and $100,000 Pool

The Riyadh Open Qualifier will run from 16 to 18 July at Esports Boulevard, giving four teams a route into the main event. It will be an in-person, non-BYOC LAN event, meaning participating teams will not bring their own computers. All teams must register, with more registration information due to be announced later (Shane the Gamer).

The top four teams will earn places in the main event. A separate $100,000 qualifier prize pool is listed for teams that finish outside those qualifying spots: fifth to eighth place receive $9,500 each, while ninth to 16th place receive $7,750 each. Those two payout bands account for the full $100,000.

The qualifier shares the Esports Boulevard venue with the main event, placing both stages of competition in Riyadh.

## Why the Published EWC 2027 Prize Table Falls $10,000 Short

The Esports World Cup lists a $2 million main-event prize pool, but the published placement breakdown does not fully add up. The champion earns $700,000, the runner-up $300,000, third place $150,000, and fourth place $90,000 (Shane the Gamer).

Those published figures add up to $1.99 million, which is $10,000 below the stated $2 million total. The announcement does not explain the difference.

## Winter 2027 Major Heads to Shanghai

Chinese organiser Perfect World Esports announced that it will host the Counter-Strike 2 Winter 2027 Major in Shanghai, China, from November to December 2027. The CS2 Shanghai Major 2027 is scheduled to run from 22 November to 12 December 2027, marking the second time Shanghai has hosted a CS2 Major after the Shanghai Major 2024, where Team Spirit claimed its first CS2 Major championship (GosuGamers).

Perfect World has yet to announce the venue for the event.

The Shanghai Major 2027 will be preceded by two other Majors. The PGL Major Singapore 2026 will take place from 25 November to 13 December in Kallang, Singapore. That will be followed by the FiRe Major Buenos Aires 2027, hosted from 31 May to 20 June 2027 in Argentina.

## How Do CS2 Major Championships Work?

The Majors are the highest tier of competition in the CS2 esports scene, with two Majors hosted in the Spring and Winter every year. Each Major gathers 32 of the best teams in the world across three stages of competition, leading to Playoffs where the top eight teams compete for the championship (GosuGamers).

Participating teams are determined by the Valve Regional Standings, with invited teams also seeded in the first three stages according to their VRS placement. The first three stages use a Swiss System format with best-of-one matches, except for Elimination and Advancement rounds, which are best-of-three.

Stage 1 features the 16th-32nd-ranked VRS teams, with eight advancing. Stage 2 adds the 9th-15th-ranked teams, and Stage 3 adds the 1st-8th-ranked teams. The Playoffs use a single-elimination bracket with best-of-three matches, and a best-of-five grand final. Each Major carries a $1.25 million prize pool, with champions claiming $500,000.

## FAQ

When and where is the Esports World Cup 2027 Counter-Strike 2 tournament?

The EWC 2027 Counter-Strike 2 tournament runs from 20 July to 1 August 2027 at Esports Boulevard in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with 32 teams competing for a $2 million prize pool.

Is Counter-Strike 2 confirmed for the Esports World Cup 2028?

Yes. Counter-Strike 2 is confirmed for the 2028 Esports World Cup, tentatively scheduled for 14 to 30 July 2028. The format, qualification system, and prize pool have not yet been announced.

When is the CS2 Shanghai Major 2027?

The CS2 Shanghai Major 2027, hosted by Perfect World Esports, is scheduled to run from 22 November to 12 December 2027 in Shanghai, China. The venue has not yet been announced.

What did Nertz say about the best Counter-Strike 2 player?

Guy "Nertz" Ilyuz said on Telegram that Danil "Donk" Kryshkovets is "by far the best CS player" and that he does not think anyone has ever been better than him (Hawk Live).