CS2 Esports News

The biggest Counter-Strike 2 event of the year kicks off in a week. Starting June 3rd, 32 of the best teams in the game will take each other on across four stages of the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025. While the professionals play for the prestigious title, us casuals can play along by participating in the Austin Major 2025 Pick’Em Challenge. Whether you choose to root for your favorite team to lift the trophy or play for the coveted souvenir packagesmore

Predecessor, a next-generation team-based strategy MOBA game developed by Omeda Studios, has announced their new championship circuit. The announcement follows the success of the recent Summer Showdown Creator Tournament back in April of this year. Titled the Predecessor Championship Circuit, it is set to seize the momentary momentum garnered and – hopefully transform what has been up until now grassroots and community passion - into a fully-fledged competitive esports circuit. What is Predecessor? Predecessor is a visionary reimagining of themore

Team Vitality have officially etched their names into the history books of Counter-Strike. With their victory over Team Falcons in the IEM Dallas 2025 Semifinals, the squad broke the long-standing record for the longest win streak in Bo3 and Bo5 series on LAN, previously held by Ninjas in Pyjamas with their iconic 28-0 run in 2013. By following it up with a Grand Finals win against MOUZ, Vitality pushed the record to 30 consecutive Bo3/Bo5 victories, setting a new benchmarkmore

The Counter-Strike Lake Map is a small demolition-style map featured in several game modes in CS:GO, including Demolition, Arms Race, Flying Scoutsman, and Wingman. The action unfolds at a lakeside estate with an accessible interior and a wide, open outdoor area. This guide covers the map’s layout, hot spots, effective tactics, and the best weapons to use. Map Overview Lake is set at a small estate beside a lake. The Terrorists are the Phoenix Connexion, while the Counter-Terrorists are SEALmore

Team Vitality continued their unprecedented dominance in Counter-Strike 2 by claiming the IEM Dallas 2025 trophy with a commanding 3-0 sweep over MOUZ in Sunday's Grand Final. The French powerhouse secured their sixth consecutive tournament victory and extended their remarkable winning streak to 30 matches, further cementing their status as the most dominant force in competitive Counter-Strike. The Grand Final showcased Vitality's tactical superiority across three maps: Dust II (13-11), Mirage (13-9), and Inferno (13-8). Despite MOUZ entering the series as the hotter team with impressive form throughout the tournament, Vitality's experience and clutch factor proved decisive when it matteredmore

Team Vitality has done it again—they have secured their sixth Grand Finals in a row after edging out Team Falcons in the IEM Dallas 2025 Semifinals. Their opponent this time is MOUZ, who took down The MongolZ, securing a finals rematch against Team Vitality after missing them in the last two events. The clash will feature two of the strongest teams of 2025, and the reward? The IEM Dallas trophy, $125k, and a chance to register their first win formore

The BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 is here! The first Valve-sponsored Counter-Strike 2 event of the year will feature 32 teams in a highly competitive four-stage tournament. As tradition, the in-game Pick’Em Challenge is now live. Playing the challenge not only awards a collectible coin but also a chance to earn up to three souvenir packages. How to Play the Pick’Em Challenge? To participate in the Austin Major 2025 Pick’Em Challenge, players must buy the Viewer Pass. Currently, there are twomore

We are all ready for what's coming at the IEM Dallas 2025 Semifinals as the world's number one, Team Vitality, prepares to face  Team Falcons in what could be their most challenging test yet. The best-of-three match happens this Saturday, May 24th, at 11:15 pm CET, and represents a potential roadblock in Vitality's quest for continued dominance. Vitality's Unstoppable Momentum ZywOo and company enter this semifinal riding an incredible 28-match winning streak, having recently completed their ESL Grand Slam run.more

With the first quarterfinal of IEM Dallas 2025 wrapped up, two of the hottest teams in the tournament are now set to face off in the semifinals. The MongolZ and MOUZ have both delivered exceptional performances throughout the event, and their clash in Dallas promises to be one of the most exciting matchups yet. The MongolZ: The Eastern Underdogs on Fire The MongolZ have quickly turned heads with their dynamic and fearless playstyle. After a strong run in the groupmore

The BESTIA visa saga has reached a boiling point as new developments emerge daily, transforming what began as a bureaucratic hurdle into one of the most contentious decisions in Counter-Strike Major history. While our previous analysis detailed the initial controversy surrounding BLAST's decision to replace the Argentine team with Legacy, recent events have only intensified the debate and community outcry. The Approved Visas that Changed Everything The whole situation took a sharp turn when BESTIA CEO Alejandro "PapoMC" Lococo announced that the team's long-awaited pending Bestia visa approvals were secured yesterday, May 22nd. This breakthrough represented the culmination of yearsmore

The latest update to the game not only introduces the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 Pick’Em Challenge and stickers, but also confirms the return of the fan-favorite map, Cache. Austin Major Pick'Em Challenge Is Here! Wild West-Themed Pick’Em Challenge, Player Autographs, Team Stickers, and More The update introduces the much-awaited BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 Pick’Em Challenge, arriving with a wild-west theme, player autographs, team stickers, and more. Players can now buy the Viewer Pass for around $10 to start playing the challenge. Stay tuned on Strafe for a detailed stage-by-stage Pick’Em guide. Additionally, Legends, Challengers, and Contenders team and player autographmore

The Group Stage of IEM Dallas 2025 concluded with The MongolZ nearly breaking Team Vitality’s streak, but to no avail. Now, we head to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, where the remaining six teams will battle it out for the IEM title. Teams and Format After an intense group stage, only six teams remain: Group A Team Vitality The MongolZ GamerLegion Group B MOUZ Aurora Gaming Team Falcons These teams will now compete in the IEM Dallas 2025 Playoffs.more

Disclaimer: This article reflects the author's personal views and does not necessarily represent the opinions of Strafe Esports as an entity. The Counter-Strike 2 community is closely watching the worst display of bureaucratic inflexibility as BLAST effectively slams the door on Argentine team BESTIA, even as their long-sought U.S. visas are reportedly on the cusp of approval. What should have been a historic moment for Argentine esports, has instead become a tale of regional inequality and questionable tournament management. The decision to replace BESTIA with Legacy just days before their visas would be ready is not just disappointing... it's entirelymore

The livestream by Corinthians Esports, which intended to address mounting fan concerns, degenerated into a spectacle of unmanaged conflicts, financial revelations, and public confrontations on May 20, 2025. Lasting over two hours, the event exposed systemic organizational failures, contested financial practices, and unresolved labor disputes. Below is a chronological reconstruction of the key moments, debates, and controversies that defined this watershed moment for the organization, enriched with direct quotes and contextual analysis to illuminate the depth of the crisis. Themore

At the opening game of IEM Dallas 2025, the returning s1mple and the rest of FaZe Clan clashed against an on-the-rise Team Liquid. The swift yet close 2-0 saw the North American side reign supreme on their home ground. More than 800k viewers tuned in to watch the GOAT take center stage once again. The viewership numbers on a Monday afternoon clearly underline the impact of s1mple on Counter-Strike esports. A Swift Yet Close 2-0  Starting on Team Liquid’s Ancient,more

American Honda Motor Co., Inc has officially ended its partnership with esports organization Team Liquid following a controversial social media post by one of the team's Rainbow Six Siege players. The huge sponsorship termination comes after Lucas "DiasLucasBr" Dias shared an inappropriate GIF related to atomic bombing on his social media account, causing widespread backlash in the esports community and beyond. The incident after CAG Osaka x Team Liquid On May 13, 2025, following Team Liquid's loss to Japanese teammore

The PGL Astana 2025 Grand Final delivered a Counter-Strike spectacle for the ages, as Team Spirit overcame Astralis 3-1 in an entertaining best-of-five to claim the championship title. In front of an excited crowd, Spirit showcased resilience, firepower, and nerves of steel to lift the trophy and prove they are still a menace to anyone on the opposite side of the server. Map Veto & Picks Spirit removed Inferno Astralis removed Anubis Spirit picked Dust2 Astralis picked Nuke Spirit pickedmore

S1mple is back! But before the GOAT takes on the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 challenge, he and FaZe Clan will take on the IEM Dallas 2025 challenge. The week-long tournament hosted by Texas kicks off May 19th and features 16 top Counter-Strike teams fighting for $300k USD and the IEM title. Being the final stop before the major, a good Dallas performance will not only serve as a confidence booster but will set the tone for the teams on American soil. Format and Teams IEM Dallas 2025 will feature two stages: Group Stage and Playoffs Group Stage Two 8-team Groupsmore

The matchup that will crown the champion of the PGL Astana 2025 is decided as Astralis and Team Spirit prepare to battle tomorrow. Scheduled for May 18 at 2:00 pm CET, the Bo5 series promises to deliver a top-tier Counter-Strike clash with $200,000 and the prestigious trophy on the line. Path to the Finals Team Spirit has been nothing short of dominant throughout the tournament, maintaining an undefeated record while showcasing their exceptional skill. Their journey includes a convincing 2-0 victory over Astralis in the Group Stage, as well as a hard-fought 2-1 win against FURIA in the Semifinals. Spirit's win ratemore

Few rifles shape Counter‑Strike the way the AK‑47 does. Terrorists buy it for a simple reason: one bullet to a helmet ends a fight, even at range. The rifle’s power, price, and long history in the series make it a must‑know weapon for anyone who plays the game. This guide explains how the Counter-Strike AK‑47 works, why it is so effective, and how to get the most from it in competitive play. Counter-Strike AK‑47 Weapon Overview Real‑World Roots The real AK‑47 is a 7.62 mm assault rifle first issued by the Soviet Union in 1949. Its reliability turned it into themore