G2 Lead Invited Teams for Stake Ranked Episode 1 as CS2 Teams Race for VRS Points Before Cologne Major Cutoff

G2 are among the headline teams invited to compete at Stake Ranked Episode 1, a new Counter-Strike 2 tournament designed around the Valve Regional Standings (VRS) system. The LAN event will take place April 1–4 in Barcelona, Spain, offering teams one of the final opportunities to earn crucial ranking points before the IEM Cologne Major invite cutoff on April 6.

With the CS2 Major qualification system now heavily dependent on VRS rankings, tournaments like Stake Ranked are becoming critical for teams fighting for direct invitations.

Invited Teams for Stake Ranked Episode 1

Six teams received direct invitations to the eight-team LAN finals:

G2

GamerLegion

HEROIC

Gentle Mates

Ninjas in Pyjamas

BetBoom

Two additional teams will qualify through the closed qualifier running March 4–8, completing the tournament lineup.

While G2 currently sit in a relatively comfortable position in the VRS rankings, the other invited teams are hovering around the European cutoff line and need strong results to secure their place at the upcoming Major.

Closed Qualifier Teams Fighting for Two LAN Spots

The Stake Ranked Episode 1 Closed Qualifier features 16 teams competing for the final two places:

Passion UA

fnatic

9INE

SINNERS

EYEBALLERS

ECSTATIC

Inner Circle

FOKUS

K27

BIG

Friendly Campers

ENCE

CYBERSHOKE

Nemesis

Tricked

Johnny Speeds

The qualifier stage reflects the growing depth of the European CS2 scene, where even established organizations must battle through stacked qualifiers to reach LAN events.

Why Stake Ranked Matters for the CS2 Major Race

Stake Ranked is part of a new six-event circuit launched by StarLadder and Stake for 2026, with each tournament offering $100,000 in prize money and valuable Valve Regional Standings points.

Because VRS determines invitations to Majors and many top-tier events, teams are prioritizing tournaments that occur shortly before ranking deadlines.

Stake Ranked Episode 1 is especially important because it happens days before the Cologne Major invitation cutoff, making it one of the last opportunities to influence rankings.

Teams Under Pressure in the VRS Era

The switch to the VRS-based Major qualification system has significantly changed how teams approach the CS2 competitive calendar. Instead of relying on RMR tournaments alone, organizations must now perform consistently across multiple events.

Ninjas in Pyjamas captain Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer recently highlighted the urgency teams are facing:

“We are two different teams in practice and official matches… Either we solve it within the next few weeks or we won’t go to the Major.”

The tight qualification race means even mid-tier tournaments can become decisive.

Lack of LAN Opportunities Can Hurt Teams

Another challenge of the VRS system is access to LAN events. BetBoom AWPer Artem “ArtFr0st” Kharitonov previously explained how limited tournament invitations can affect ranking progress:

“It was really rough to qualify just because we didn’t have as many LAN tournaments as other teams from Europe had. The lack of LAN tournaments cost us the Major.”

This dynamic makes new circuits like Stake Ranked particularly important for teams outside the top tier.

The Changing Landscape of Major Qualification

Some players have also expressed nostalgia for the previous RMR-based qualification system, which allowed teams to qualify through a single standout performance.

Portuguese veteran Christopher “MUTiRiS” Fernandes described the old format as:

“A Cinderella story where a team could have a bad year but still make the Major.”

Similarly, Alex “ALEX” McMeekin noted that the previous system created more dramatic qualification runs compared to the current ranking-based model.

Final Thoughts

Stake Ranked Episode 1 arrives at a crucial moment in the CS2 competitive season, with multiple teams needing strong results to secure their IEM Cologne Major invitations.

With G2 headlining the invited teams and several organizations fighting for their Major hopes, the Barcelona LAN could become one of the most important ranking events before the April 6 VRS cutoff.

For fans of competitive Counter-Strike, the tournament represents not only another international LAN—but also a decisive chapter in the race to the next CS2 Major.