Sponsorship · Guides
Astralis and Stake: Four Majors, Then a New CS2 Era
Astralis's competitive history, its four CS:GO Majors and its partnership with Stake announced in March 2026 for the Counter-Strike team.
Published by The Gambling Desk ·
- Origin
- Danish organisation founded in 2016
- Honours
- Four CS:GO Majors from 2017 to 2019
- Stake agreement
- Official partner since March 2026
Astralis was founded in Denmark in 2016 around a project in which the players wanted greater influence over the direction of their team. Its legacy rests on four Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Majors. Ten years after its creation, the organisation began a new era in Counter-Strike 2 and announced Stake as an official partner.
In 2016, a Project Built around the Players
The first Astralis team brought together five Danish players who were already competing at the highest level. At the time, the project stood out for the place it gave competitors within the structure, in an era when they generally depended on an external organisation.
This origin shaped an identity centred on collective preparation. Astralis does not, however, refer only to the five people present at its creation: it is the organisation, while its roster is the line-up of players and staff competing at a given time. This distinction avoids presenting a 2026 line-up as immutable.
Four Majors from Atlanta to Berlin
A Major is a Counter-Strike tournament supported by publisher Valve and positioned at the top of the competitive calendar. Astralis won four on CS:GO:
- ELEAGUE Major Atlanta, in January 2017;
- FACEIT Major London, in September 2018;
- IEM Katowice Major, in March 2019;
- StarLadder Berlin Major, in September 2019.
The last three titles were won consecutively. Astralis thus became the first team to reach four Major victories and the only one to win three in a row. This sequence, more than the detail of later player changes, remains the lasting benchmark of its dominant period.
From CS:GO to an International Team in CS2
Counter-Strike 2, or CS2, replaced CS:GO in September 2023. Astralis's four Majors therefore belong to the former game; they should not be counted as titles won in CS2.
At the end of 2025 and then the beginning of 2026, the organisation adopted a new international direction. Stake stated in July 2026 that the main team was now communicating in English, a first in its history. This choice describes a specific phase of the CS2 roster, not a break with the organisation's Danish origins.
March 2026: Stake Becomes an Official Partner
Astralis announced the partnership in early March 2026. Stake is presented as the Official Betting Partner, while Astralis management described a principal three-year commitment. The relationship concerns the organisation's Counter-Strike activity.
The most directly documented visibility is on the shirt: the Stake logo appears at the centre of the official 2026 jersey. Communications also announced digital campaigns, content and fan activations. They do not allow the agreement to be automatically extended to all of Astralis's historical or future activities.
A Different Journey from Team Vitality
As of 25 July 2026, the partnership is current with a high level of certainty: the Stake page remains published, Astralis sells its Stake-branded 2026 jersey and the announced agreement covers three years.
A comparison with Stake and Team Vitality is useful without confusing their journeys. Vitality is a French organisation whose Stake agreement covers its CS2 team; Astralis brings a Danish history that began with a player-led project and is structured around four Majors. Stake Ranked represents another model again, since Stake co-organises a circuit rather than sponsoring a team.
FAQ
How Many Majors Has Astralis Won?
Four: Atlanta 2017, London 2018, Katowice 2019 and Berlin 2019. The last three were won consecutively.
Were These Titles Won in Counter-Strike 2?
No. They belong to CS:GO. Counter-Strike 2 replaced that version in September 2023.
When Did the Partnership with Stake Begin?
Astralis and Stake announced it in early March 2026. Stake is the Counter-Strike team's official betting partner.
Does the Astralis Shirt Carry Stake Branding?
Yes. The official 2026 jersey displays Stake at the centre, as shown by the organisation's official shop and media.