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Stake Ranked: How Stake and StarLadder's CS2 Circuit Works
Format, qualifiers, LAN finals and Valve rankings: understand the Stake Ranked CS2 circuit launched with StarLadder in January 2026.
Published by The Gambling Desk ·
- Format
- CS2 LAN tournament circuit
- Launch
- Stake and StarLadder, 12 January 2026
- As of 25 July 2026
- Three episodes completed, three announced
Stake Ranked is neither a team nor an internal ranking on the Stake website. It is a Counter-Strike 2 tournament series launched by Stake and StarLadder on 12 January 2026. The project is organising six episodes in Europe during the year, with online qualifiers followed by finals played on a local area network.
Tier 2, LAN and VRS: Three Concepts That Define the Circuit
Tier 2 is a common esports term for teams positioned below the scene's immediate elite. It is not an official second division with a fixed membership. A team can move between these levels according to its results and ranking.
A LAN competition brings players together in the same venue on a local network, unlike qualifiers contested remotely. The Valve Regional Standings, or VRS, are the rankings Valve uses to order teams and govern invitations to its competitions. Stake Ranked results can count towards them without guaranteeing a place at a Major.
Three Routes to the Eight-Team Final
Each episode begins with an open qualifier on FACEIT. Two teams then advance to a sixteen-team closed qualifier, where they join fourteen teams invited according to the VRS.
The two winners of this phase join six teams invited directly based on the Valve rankings. The LAN final therefore brings eight participants together in a double-elimination bracket: a first defeat sends a team to the lower bracket, while a second eliminates it. Series are generally played as best-of-three maps, with a best-of-five final in Episode 3.
Stake Provides the Name, StarLadder Produces the Events
Stake presents itself as the circuit's founder, sponsor and co-organiser. Its role goes beyond placing a logo on a jersey: the brand gives the project its name and funds a schedule announced with more than $600,000 in prize money for 2026.
StarLadder is the specialist operational partner. Its schedule announcement states that it organises and produces every event. This division of responsibilities distinguishes Stake Ranked from the agreement between Stake and Astralis, where Stake is a commercial partner of an existing organisation.
Three Winners Across the First Three Episodes
As of 25 July 2026, three episodes had been completed:
- G2 won Episode 1, held from 1 to 4 April in Barcelona;
- Ninjas in Pyjamas won Episode 2, held from 27 to 30 May;
- HEROIC won Episode 3 in Barcelona on 18 July after beating K27 3–0 in the final.
Each LAN final brought together eight teams competing for a $100,000 prize pool, including $25,000 for the winner. The teams did not earn automatic qualification for a Major: their results contribute to their competitive record and can change their position in the VRS.
Three Events Announced for the End of 2026
The schedule published by StarLadder still includes Episode 4 from 1 to 4 October, Episode 5 from 27 to 30 October and Episode 6 from 17 to 20 November 2026. These events have been announced but are not presented as already completed.
The circuit therefore remained active as of 25 July 2026. Its distinctive feature is the combination of an open route, invitations based on the VRS and an offline final. It complements sponsorships of organisations such as Astralis or Team Vitality without itself becoming a team, a franchised league or a direct Major qualifier.
FAQ
Is Stake Ranked an Esports Team?
No. It is a Counter-Strike 2 tournament circuit organised in episodes.
What Is StarLadder's Role?
StarLadder co-organises the project with Stake and handles the organisation and production of the events.
What Is a Closed Qualifier?
Here, it is an online phase reserved for sixteen teams: fourteen invited according to the VRS rankings and two coming from the open qualifier. The top two reach the LAN final.
Do the Winners Automatically Qualify for a Major?
No. The results can contribute to the VRS rankings, but winning Stake Ranked does not automatically grant a place at a Major.
How Many Episodes Had Been Completed by 25 July 2026?
Three, won in order by G2, Ninjas in Pyjamas and HEROIC. Three further episodes were officially scheduled for October and November.