Fragadelphia’s October LAN sells out in minutes as EU teams snap up spots

August 12, 2025 — Frag x BLOCK2 (also branded Blocktoberfest) has sold out within three minutes, filling all 32 team slots for the October 3–5 Counter-Strike 2 LAN at Localhost Philadelphia (“The Block”). The $10,000 open event arrives on the eve of the Valve Regional Standings (VRS) cutoff for StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, making it a last-chance stop for ranking points and drawing a surge of interest from Europe. 

Event details

Fragadelphia lists the tournament as Frag x Block2: Oct 3–Oct 5 at The Block, with a $10,000 prize pot (1st $5,500; 2nd $2,500; 3rd $1,300; 4th $700). Ticket tiers ranged from $500–$600 depending on purchase date, with spectator passes priced at $60 presale / $80 door. The page also notes a potential Thursday evening start for travel planning. 

Why the rush

The LAN concludes one day before the VRS date of October 6, the point at which Valve freezes rankings to determine invites for Budapest. That timing — plus the additional LAN multiplier baked into VRS — explains the international demand. 

Who’s coming

Fragadelphia’s team list shows a heavy European presence, with organisations such as Fnatic, BIG, ENCE, OG, SAW, Copenhagen Wolves, 9INE, EYEBALLERS, Zero Tenacity, and 500 among the 32 paid entrants alongside NA and South American lineups like Complexity, Ninjas in Pyjamas, 9z, BESTIA, and Sharks. (Fragadelphia has marked the list as “Currently 32 teams are paid.”) 

Community reaction

The rapid sell-out and EU turnout sparked mixed reactions across the NA scene. Some players lamented that locals missed out on spots; others welcomed the chance to test themselves against stronger opposition. Coverage summarising the debate — and pointing to the VRS timing as the catalyst — appeared shortly after the sell-out. 

Bottom line: With all 32 slots gone in minutes and the VRS cutoff looming, October’s Philly LAN sets up as a high-stakes battleground for teams chasing last-minute ranking points ahead of Budapest.