Astralis, HEROIC, 100 Thieves Confirmed for Stake Pulse Beat II

Astralis, HEROIC and 100 Thieves are among the 14 teams confirmed for Stake Pulse Beat II, strengthening the field for the $60,000 Counter-Strike 2 LAN scheduled for September 21–26, 2026 in Stockholm, Sweden.

The confirmed lineup was determined through open registration, with the 14 highest-ranked eligible registrants based on the August 3 Valve Regional Standings selected for the tournament. Two more teams will complete the 16-team field through open qualifiers on August 20 and 21.

 

Quick Summary

Detail	Information
Tournament	Stake Pulse Beat II
Game	Counter-Strike 2
Dates	September 21–26, 2026
Location	Stockholm, Sweden
Format	LAN
Teams	16
Confirmed teams	14
Remaining slots	2 via open qualifiers
Prize pool	$60,000
Open qualifiers	August 20–21
Headline teams	Astralis, HEROIC, 100 Thieves
Group format	Four GSL groups, BO3
Playoffs	Eight-team single-elimination bracket

 

Astralis, HEROIC, 100 Thieves Headline Stake Pulse Beat II Team List

Stake Pulse has confirmed the first 14 participants for the second tournament in its 2026 Counter-Strike circuit.

The most recognizable names include Astralis, HEROIC and 100 Thieves, but the field also contains fnatic, Virtus.pro, EYEBALLERS and Stake Pulse Beat I champion Betclic.

According to HLTV, the teams were selected from the open-registration pool using the August 3 VRS update, with the 14 highest-ranked eligible registered teams earning places.

Confirmed Stake Pulse Beat II Teams

Team	Status
Astralis	Confirmed
HEROIC	Confirmed
100 Thieves	Confirmed
Johnny Speeds	Confirmed
fnatic	Confirmed
EYEBALLERS	Confirmed
Betclic	Confirmed
Sashi	Confirmed
Virtus.pro	Confirmed
Phantom	Confirmed
INFINITE	Confirmed
ASTRAL	Confirmed
EAC	Confirmed
Sangal	Confirmed
Open Qualifier #1 winner	TBD
Open Qualifier #2 winner	TBD

The 14-team list is confirmed by HLTV's August 12 report.

 

How the Remaining Two Teams Will Qualify

Stake Pulse Beat II is not yet a closed field.

Two places remain available through open qualifiers scheduled for August 20 and August 21 on FACEIT. Each qualifier awards one main-event berth.

The qualifiers use a single-elimination structure, with best-of-one matches leading into a best-of-three final. Qualifier winners also receive the tournament's team package without paying the standard registration fee.

For registered teams, that package costs $3,000 and covers benefits including accommodation, practice facilities, meals and local transportation.

 

Stake Pulse Beat II Format Explained

Stake Pulse Beat II will bring 16 teams together for a six-day Counter-Strike 2 LAN competition in Stockholm.

 

Once the 16-team lineup is finalized, competition moves to LAN in Stockholm.

The tournament uses four GSL groups of four teams, with matches played as best-of-three series. The top two teams from each group advance, producing an eight-team playoff bracket.

The playoffs then switch to single elimination.

That structure gives established organizations such as Astralis, HEROIC and 100 Thieves some protection from a single poor opening match during the group stage, while the playoff phase leaves no room for recovery after a series loss.

Event Schedule

Stage	Date
Open Qualifier #1	August 20, 2026
Open Qualifier #2	August 21, 2026
Final roster deadline	September 7, 2026
Group A	September 21
Group B	September 22
Group C	September 23
Group D	September 24
Playoffs	September 25–26

The official Stake Pulse information lists the main event for September 21–26 and requires final rosters by September 7.

 

Background: What Is Stake Pulse?

Stake Pulse is a new 2026 Counter-Strike tournament circuit produced by Black Molly Entertainment in partnership with Stake.

The circuit consists of three "Beat" tournaments during the second half of the year:

Tournament	Dates	Prize Pool
Stake Pulse Beat I	July 31–August 5	$60,000
Stake Pulse Beat II	September 21–26	$60,000
Stake Pulse Beat III	October 12–17	TBD

Stake Pulse describes the circuit as a 16-team VRS Tier-2 tournament series, with the events played at Black Molly Entertainment's studio facility.

Betclic won the inaugural Beat I event, and the Polish organization is already confirmed to return for Beat II.

 

Why Astralis, HEROIC and 100 Thieves Matter to the Field

100 Thieves add another major international name to the Stake Pulse Beat II lineup as the organization continues its renewed Counter-Strike campaign.

 

The presence of Astralis, HEROIC and 100 Thieves substantially increases the profile of the second Stake Pulse tournament.

Astralis

Astralis enter the confirmed field as one of its most recognizable organizations.

HLTV's current event listing shows a $60,000 ranked LAN, meaning Stake Pulse Beat II is more than an isolated exhibition event.

For Astralis, it creates another opportunity to compete in a LAN environment during a strategically important portion of the 2026 calendar.

HEROIC

HEROIC add another established European name to the competition.

Their presence also increases the possibility of high-level regional matchups against Astralis, fnatic, Virtus.pro and other teams in the field, although groups and opening matches have not yet been announced.

100 Thieves

100 Thieves are particularly notable because of the organization's renewed presence in Counter-Strike.

Their confirmed participation puts another meaningful LAN on the team's schedule and creates potential meetings with several established European organizations.

The exact group allocation remains TBD.

 

Current Rosters of the Three Headline Teams

The following lineups are those displayed by HLTV alongside the tournament announcement. Final event rosters should still be treated as subject to the September 7 submission deadline.

Team	Players listed by HLTV
Astralis	HooXi, phzy, jabbi, Staehr, ryu
HEROIC	Brollan, nilo, susp, MartinezSa, Chr1zN
100 Thieves	device, rain, Gizmy, sirah, poiii

Stake Pulse states that teams must submit their final rosters by September 7. From that point, a core of at least three players must be maintained.

 

Why Stake Pulse Beat II Matters

The $60,000 prize pool is only part of the significance of the tournament.

Stake Pulse Beat II is listed as a ranked event, while the tournament organizer states that seeding is based on Valve Regional Standings.

HLTV also notes that the event arrives before the November 2 cutoff connected to PGL Major Singapore, making the September LAN potentially relevant to teams seeking to improve their competitive position.

The exact number of VRS points a team could gain or lose cannot be reliably stated in advance, so no projected ranking changes should be treated as confirmed.

 

Tournament Impact

Stake Pulse Beat II has developed into a field that mixes internationally recognizable organizations with teams trying to establish themselves higher in the European hierarchy.

Astralis, HEROIC, 100 Thieves, fnatic and Virtus.pro provide recognizable names. Betclic arrive as the previous Stake Pulse champions, while organizations such as EYEBALLERS, Sashi and Johnny Speeds add further regional depth.

That combination could make the tournament particularly relevant for VRS positioning: teams are not simply facing opponents from one competitive tier.

The open qualifiers also leave room for two additional teams to change the competitive balance before groups are drawn.

 

Tactical Impact

No group draw has been announced, so specific matchup analysis would be premature.

Structurally, however, the GSL format rewards consistency across full best-of-three series rather than best-of-one volatility. Teams must survive a compact group before entering a single-elimination playoff bracket.

That creates two distinct competitive demands: adaptability during the GSL phase and immediate series execution once the playoffs begin.

For newer or recently altered rosters, the tournament can therefore provide a useful measure of both map-pool depth and adaptation across multiple opponents.

 

Timeline

Date	Development
July 17	Registration for Stake Pulse Beat II opened
August 3	Team-selection process based on the relevant VRS ranking
August 12	14 participating teams publicly confirmed
August 20	First open qualifier
August 21	Second open qualifier
September 7	Final roster submission deadline
September 21	Stake Pulse Beat II begins
September 25–26	Playoffs
September 26	Champion determined

 

Key Details

Question	Current Answer
Are Astralis confirmed?	Yes
Is HEROIC confirmed?	Yes
Are 100 Thieves confirmed?	Yes
Is the full field confirmed?	No
How many teams are missing?	Two
How are the final teams selected?	Open qualifiers
Is the main tournament LAN?	Yes
Where is it played?	Stockholm, Sweden
Prize pool	$60,000
Groups announced?	TBD
Opening matches announced?	TBD
Final rosters locked?	Not yet

 

What Changes Now?

The announcement moves Stake Pulse Beat II from an open-registration phase toward a defined tournament field.

Fourteen organizations can now prepare specifically for the Stockholm LAN, while prospective participants have only the two open qualifiers left as routes into the tournament.

The next major administrative milestone comes on September 7, when teams are required to submit their final rosters.

After that, attention will turn toward seeding, group placement and the opening matchups.

Two open-qualifier places remain before the full 16-team Stake Pulse Beat II field is finalized.

 

What to Watch Next

Open qualifier winners: The August 20 and 21 qualifiers will complete the 16-team lineup.

Final rosters: The September 7 deadline is important because current team lineups could still change before the tournament.

VRS seeding: Stake Pulse says tournament seeding will use Valve Regional Standings, making the relevant ranking update an important part of how the field is structured.

Group draw: Group allocations have not been confirmed and will determine whether major names meet immediately or remain separated early in the tournament.

Betclic's title defense: The Beat I champions return for the second tournament, creating the first opportunity for a team to win consecutive events in the new circuit.

 

FAQ

When is Stake Pulse Beat II?

Stake Pulse Beat II will take place from September 21–26, 2026 in Stockholm, Sweden.

Are Astralis, HEROIC and 100 Thieves confirmed?

Yes. Astralis, HEROIC and 100 Thieves are among the 14 teams confirmed through the registration process.

How many teams will compete at Stake Pulse Beat II?

The main tournament will feature 16 teams. Fourteen are currently confirmed, while two will qualify through open qualifiers.

What is the Stake Pulse Beat II prize pool?

The guaranteed prize pool is $60,000.

How can teams still qualify for Stake Pulse Beat II?

Two open qualifiers are scheduled for August 20 and August 21 on FACEIT. Each qualifier awards one place at the main event.