PGL Major Stockholm viewer's guide

23-10-2021 13:33

Find out the schedule and format of the 2021 CS:GO Major and see which teams will be competing for the $2,000,000 prize with our viewer guide.

The first Counter-Strike Major in over two years, PGL Major Stockholm, will take place in Sweden's capital on October 26 - November 7 with a total of 24 teams competing for one of the largest prize pools in the game's history.

The event will feature 18 of the 20 highest-ranked teams in the world — including Natus Vincere, G2, and Astralis —, and the playoffs will be played in the Avicii Arena in front of a live audience.

The Champions stage will be played in from of a crowd in Stockholm

PGL Major Stockholm is split into three parts: the Challengers, Legends, and Champions stages. In the first one (October 26 - 29), previously known as the Main Qualifier, 16 teams will compete in a Swiss system format where the eight best teams will advance to the second stage. Underdogs such as TYLOO, Renegades, and Sharks will be playing in the Challengers stage, but so will some big names such as Astralis, Virtus.pro, and FaZe that didn't live up to their status in the Major-qualifying cycle.

Challengers stage teams

The Legends stage follows (October 30 - November 2), where eight teams that accumulated the most points qualifying for the Major will join the eight ones advancing from the Challengers stage, setting up another 16-team Swiss group. Natus Vincere, G2, and Liquid will start their tournaments at this point, and again, the eight best teams will advance further.

Legends stage teams

Challengers #1

Challengers #2

Challengers #3

Challengers #4

FURIA

Liquid

Evil Geniuses

Challengers #5

Challengers #6

Challengers #7

Challengers #8

Biggest takeaways from lineups submitted for PGL Major

In the Swiss system, each team has to win three games to advance or lose three games to be eliminated. Matchups for each round are drawn shortly after the previous one is concluded, and teams with the same win-loss record are paired in every round. At the PGL Major, BO1 matches will be used for the initial games, until elimination or promotion games are reached — those will be BO3.

Finally, the playoffs will take place in the Avicii Arena on November 4-7, following a one-day tournament break. Eight teams will fight their way to the Major title through a single-elimination bracket, concluding with a BO3 grand final on Sunday, November 7 at 20:00 . All playoff matches will be played in front of a crowd, while the Challengers and Legends stages will take place in a studio environment.

Coverage hub: PGL Major Stockholm

Matches will be broadcasted on two streams on both Twitch and YouTube during the Challengers and Legends stages, with a 4K quality option being available for a Major for the first time. Details about community co-streaming the tournament can be found here, while the list of alternative-language broadcast partners is available here.

The Challengers (C) and Legends (L) schedule is available below:

Tuesday, October 26 (C) & Saturday, October 30 (L)
10:00 - Round 1 match #1 | BO1
10:00 - Round 1 match #2 | BO1
11:15 - Round 1 match #3 | BO1
11:15 - Round 1 match #4 | BO1
12:30 - Round 1 match #5 | BO1
12:30 - Round 1 match #6 | BO1
13:45 - Round 1 match #7 | BO1
13:45 - Round 1 match #8 | BO1
15:00 - Round 2 match #1 | BO1
15:00 - Round 2 match #2 | BO1
16:15 - Round 2 match #3 | BO1
16:15 - Round 2 match #4 | BO1
17:30 - Round 2 match #5 | BO1
17:30 - Round 2 match #6 | BO1
18:45 - Round 2 match #7 | BO1
18:45 - Round 2 match #8 | BO1

Wednesday, October 27 (C) & Sunday, October 31 (L)
10:00 - Round 3 match #3 | BO1
10:00 - Round 3 match #4 | BO1
11:15 - Round 3 match #5 | BO1
11:15 - Round 3 match #6 | BO1
12:30 - Round 3 match #1 | BO3
12:30 - Round 3 match #7 | BO3
16:15 - Round 3 match #2 | BO3
16:15 - Round 3 match #8 | BO3

Thursday, October 28 (C) & Monday, November 1 (L)
10:00 - Round 4 match #1 | BO3
10:00 - Round 4 match #2 | BO3
13:45 - Round 4 match #3 | BO3
13:45 - Round 4 match #4 | BO3
17:30 - Round 4 match #5 | BO3
17:30 - Round 4 match #6 | BO3

Friday, October 29 (C) & Tuesday, November 2 (L)
10:00 - Round 5 match #1 | BO3
13:45 - Round 5 match #2 | BO3
17:30 - Round 5 match #3 | BO3

After the eight best teams at the event are found, the action will move to the Avicii Arena where Counter-Strike will be played in front of a massive crowd for the first time since 2019.

Each arena day will feature two matches, following the schedule noted:

Thursday, November 4
16:30 Quarter-final #1 | BO3
20:00 Quarter-final #2 | BO3

Friday, November 5
16:30 Quarter-final #3 | BO3
20:00 Quarter-final #4 | BO3

Saturday, November 6
16:30 Semi-final #1 | BO3
20:00 Semi-final #2 | BO3

Sunday, November 7
18:00 Showmatch | BO1
20:00 Grand final | BO3

A total of 18 people will be broadcasting the Major on the main stream, ranging from Richard Lewis who will be hosting the desk to the observer team featuring Jake "⁠Jak3y⁠" Elton.

Aside from James "⁠BanKs⁠" Banks who will be conducting interviews with players in Sweden from day one, the broadcast team will work remotely from Bucharest, Romania until the final stage of the Major.

The PGL Stockholm Major on-air broadcast team is as follows:

Richard Lewis - Host

Freya "⁠Freya⁠" Spiers - Stage host

Duncan "⁠Thorin⁠" Shields - Analyst
Janko "⁠YNk⁠" Paunović - Analyst
Mathieu "⁠Maniac⁠" Quiquerez - Analyst
Sudhen "⁠Bleh⁠" Wahengbam - Analyst

Chad "⁠SPUNJ⁠" Burchill - Caster
Alex "⁠Machine⁠" Richardson - Caster
Daniel "⁠ddk⁠" Kapadia - Caster
James "⁠BARDOLPH⁠" Bardolph - Caster
Anders "⁠Anders⁠" Blume - Caster
Auguste "⁠Semmler⁠" Massonnat - Caster
Matthew "⁠Sadokist⁠" Trivett - Caster
Jason "⁠moses⁠" O'Toole - Caster

Efren Chuong - Observer
Jake "⁠Jak3y⁠" Elton - Observer
Ryan "ItsRandall" Randall - Observer

James "⁠BanKs⁠" Banks - Interviewer

The eventual winner of PGL Major Stockholm will claim a $1,000,000 prize, with the runners-up having to settle for less than a third of that.

The prize pool distribution is as follows:

1. $1,000,000
2. $300,000
3-4. $140,000
5-8. $70,000
9-16. $17,500

Nice

2021-10-23 13:34

4 replies

2021-10-23 15:43

2 replies

not nice

2021-10-23 18:48

1 reply

2021-10-23 19:11

2021-10-23 17:59

Hype

show match legend it would be better if it was played between players spawn heaton get_right potti markeloff edward zeus dsn walle vb.... definitely I think it would be great to try @pglesports @CSGO @ESLCS counter strike legendary players in history major show match- @n0thing dsn face FaZeRobbaN neo_fkubski natu moddii pronax ceh9 xizt pasha zonic kioshima starix kubben cogu zet Zneel kalle hooch @g5taz

2021-10-23 15:45

ez4ence

nice

EG legendary?

2021-10-23 13:35

6 replies

Why they legends?

pls dont asking stupid questions just go learn how the rmr worked

2021-10-23 13:36

Ah I forgot, if you master guardian in EU you major legend in NA.

2021-10-23 15:44

When is your next live stand up? I wanna go

2021-10-23 17:36

2021-10-23 13:40

2021-10-23 15:36

Imagine if someone on liquid gets corona or something and papito plays. That would be such a throwback to the old days

5 replies

Not only that, but imagine if he plays and they fucking win it

2021-10-23 14:19

Imagine NaVi player get sick and Biade step in, instead of Zeus I know he is retired now, but what if they use him as backup plan, what I mean is, there is a hope so he can retain the major appearance record that he had

2021-10-23 14:39

3 replies

Nice English

2021-10-23 18:06

im getting used to it, i know and aware that my english is not good but at least i understand and can join a conversation its hard to perfecting your english when people around you dont speak english

2021-10-23 18:18

2021-10-23 18:30

lets Fking gooooooooooooooo!

ez4ence!

2021-10-23 13:38

Most boring tournament in years man

2021-10-23 13:39

7 replies

i aren't think that

2021-10-23 13:55

I agreed

2021-10-23 14:00

0/8 moronic

bro, if i had a nickel for how many people I've baited, I would have 3 but it is quite weird as all of them were from NA

2021-10-23 15:24

Cool name tho lol

2021-10-23 17:38

Thanks,got it from a random name generator, want to be a DJ, hobby is wanking and want to be a gangsta

2021-10-24 08:19

I hear there are ton of successful djs here in hltv making tens of thousands of euros a month, Im sure they can give you some tips on how to start.

2021-10-24 12:20

pog

glhf boyz!!! i hope no bad surprises during the tournament

yes, only good surprises

2021-10-23 23:01

wtf no stunna at the major??

2021-10-23 13:41

ikr

2021-10-23 15:30

Gonna miss Stunna on the desk tbh, but excited for this!

2021-10-23 13:42

#SPUNJOUT

#DITMECHUNGMAYOUT

2021-10-23 14:36

ez for best in the world smoya

2021-10-23 13:43

Lets gooooooooooooo

2021-10-23 13:45

Best of Ones EEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

2021-10-23 13:46

Only for the first 2 rounds in the group stage, it's not a big deal

2021-10-23 13:50

bo1 > any

First time? Gtfo, these rules were in previous majors

2021-10-23 19:33

I know and I believe it is stupid, Best of Three ONLY from now on

2021-10-23 19:49

HYPE

HYPE :D cant wait for the start

RIP NA Viewership tho, it starts at like 4am est

2021-10-23 13:58

Noone cares about NA tho

2021-10-23 14:31

I do :( also screwed up BR

2021-10-23 14:45

I'll be waking up(5) to watch it even if I have to sleep three hours a day

2021-10-23 14:55

Mans grinding

2021-10-23 15:05

Thats the spirit !

2021-10-23 20:31

Valve made 2 years ago or so the announcement for future Majors they want EU prime time for final means Sunday 7-8 pm. So why are you surprised? In Dota EU had all the years a fuck up. All in middle of the night.

Ohh freya so happy for her extremely underrated talent

BO3 final Hmmm

2021-10-23 14:01

Wasn't the talent confirmed to be in Stocholm?

2021-10-23 14:03

When Arena opens

2021-10-23 15:21

read article

EG LEGENDS AXAXAXAXAXAXAXAXAXA holy shit what a joke

hyped af

2021-10-23 14:05

I love how HLTV is saying "$2,000,000 event" like it's a lot, meanwhile valve earns hundreds of millions of dollars every single year of this game and other esports have 10x the prize money

2021-10-23 14:11

8 replies

10x prize money

2021-10-23 14:13

you know what i meant

2021-10-23 14:14

Not really Only ti has 10x the amount Even lol is something like 4 mil So not really 10x, plus csgo majors have hidden money (50% of pass,stickers) which if you add easily surpasses even lol

PUBG had a prize pool of 7M for Global Invitational this year, R6 had 3M for Invitational, those aren't on the same level of popularity as CSGO.

2021-10-23 14:32

Yeah but if you count in the striker and pass money, it's easily over that

2021-10-23 14:34

True teams probably get a shit ton this time cause people will buy sooo many stickers

2021-10-23 16:43

its the most cs has ever had? lol

thats the point

2021-10-24 10:26

Stoked to watch rez and device go ham Lezz go

2021-10-23 14:12

Wooohoo nip out in first stage lesssgo

2021-10-23 16:22

Rez and device go HAMpus

2021-10-23 19:02

2021-10-23 19:13

Where Richard Lewis

The PGL Stockholm Major on-air broadcast team is as follows: United Kingdom Richard Lewis - Host

2021-10-23 14:42

sorry didnt see it, now shut up

2021-10-23 14:53

LMAO you shut up dude, i give the info to you, chill

2021-10-23 15:01

Lmao this dude toxic af But in a funny way

2021-10-23 16:18

+1 yeah, maybe he have a mental problem.

2021-10-23 16:21

interesting, for your pickems u gotta predict the swiss stage matchups I guess, even the top teams will face each other as 'teams with the same win-loss record are paired in every round', so the 2-0 teams will be interesting.

Generously distributed quotas for NA \ SA. For many, it will be great luck to play with Furia and EG. The moment when the Legends stage is not much more difficult than the Challengers stage :)

2021-10-23 14:33

ez for fnatic, OG and Complexity

2021-10-23 14:29

LETS GO

Cant wait.

2021-10-23 14:48

Major final being bo3 feels kinda weird.

2021-10-23 14:51

13 replies

BO5s are way too long, the level of CS drops around the 4th map usually because the players get tired and lose focus.

2021-10-23 14:58

12 replies

and?? that is like a boxing fight when all are tired, then the skill decides. That makes Bo5 so interestring.

2021-10-23 15:10

11 replies

+1111

2021-10-23 15:13

Nobody is gonna perform better when they're tired lol, the level of skill falls of a cliff in the 5th map of any BO5. Idk why people wanna see tier 4 CS out of tier 1 players at a Major final.

9 replies

Where i said people perform better?? Did you actually read my answer? or do you only repeat your comment?

2021-10-23 15:25

You said that skill decides. How can skill decide when players are not at their best?

2021-10-23 15:26

yeah, raw skill. Not tactics or strategy just raw skill is the key to winning. And some players are better when they don't rely so much on strategies others do not. So a good aimer like Electronic has a higher chance to win than for example a Tizian.

2021-10-23 15:27

awful take

#71 seems you are an awful take

one guy agreed with you? damn u must be right any1 with a life doesnt have time to watch 7 hours worth of cs

2021-10-23 15:46

actually, your "critics" had 0 arguments. So I give a fuck a fuck what you think.

2021-10-23 15:47

2021-10-23 17:44

most viewers having no time is a pretty solid argument and is exactly why the final is bo3

2021-10-23 19:45

BO3 Grand Final ResidentSleeper

EZ4NAVI

2021-10-23 15:12

why bo3 final :/ bo5 is more interesting

2021-10-23 15:15

Agree

2021-10-23 16:12

freya yessir!

2021-10-23 15:18

Gonna miss calling Mousesports for MOUZ ;/

2021-10-23 15:19

who the fuck is bleh? why not spunj on the analyst desk? Also where is Stunna?

2021-10-23 15:28

spunj is casting bleh is good

Hes fine but what was he thinking creating a nickname like this?

SPUNJ is co-casting alongside Machine; though to be fair, even casting his role is more colour-commentator/analyst anyway, along the same lines as Launders.

2021-10-23 20:06

Hype train

2021-10-23 15:40

..... L

2021-10-23 15:56

Ty striker

2021-10-23 15:59

lets go boyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyys

I love the casters but I'm gutted for Harry & Hugo who should be there as well

2021-10-23 16:25

Let's go BIG raise the Great German FLAG HIGH!

2021-10-23 16:30

wait, r u really from USA?

2021-10-23 17:46

Yes I am. I live in california. I'm German-American and im very proud of my people and our heritage.

2021-10-23 21:00

oh I didn't know that, that's nice mens)) I am rooting for BIG cuz they seemed likeable and had Xantares ofc :D

2021-10-23 21:05

That's right brotha

2021-10-24 02:41

Who care about Showmatch ?

2021-10-23 16:32

I know it’s rhetorical question but me) it’s fun to fill up space cuz there is only one bo3

2021-10-23 17:19

hyped.

2021-10-23 18:00

lesgo NIP

2021-10-23 18:22

Talent-wise this might be the most stacked major ever. The level of teams right now is a little middling, but even if teams don't perform too impressively, that talent will just carry the show. I'd watch even a Tyloo vs Sharks match just for the casting and analysis. Though it's too bad that some teams with potential, like OG, Fiend, Fnatic, Sinners, Endpoint, HAVU, ... are missing out while the Americas, Asia, and Oceania get some free slots that they don't deserve.

2021-10-23 18:52

G2 lan buff incoming. #G2Army

2021-10-23 18:58

I'll be watching every single match. ^^

I won't be watching all of the challengers' stage xD But Legends and Champions stage, definitely!

2021-10-23 19:37

That's fair enough. ^^ With me, I almost feel compelled to because it's the first Major since two years. xD I definitely won't be able to catch all of them live, it'll involve a lot of catch-up with VOD's.

2021-10-23 20:04

Eg tryna finesse all of us

2021-10-23 19:27

BUT WHY B01???????

2021-10-23 20:11

HYPE :D cant wait for the start only 2 1/2 days !!!

2021-10-23 22:22

no jks =( feelsbad. a lot of australian talent out the window. sigh. hyped for the major tho!

2021-10-24 05:16

Where is Frankie?((

2021-10-24 05:26

after her reward acceptance speech I am surprised many still call her to work.

2021-10-24 14:22

the what now?

2021-10-24 21:21

she got some reward for casting/analyst and her speech was all about how she hopes she gets to have thorin fired/removed from the scene. You can like or dislike thorin, but using reward acceptance speech, THE your time to shine to say that someone should lose their job is just a sign of a miserable being to say the least. To use your time to shine to bring such negativity made me lose all respect for her, tbh I did like that she improved in the analyst desk and she makes things less centered around her self which is nice, but this is just ewwwww.

2021-10-27 20:35

GOOSEBUMPS CANT WAIT

2021-10-24 06:41

hope tyloo go thru

2021-10-24 10:24

plz reschedule major & start it from today that's the hype

2021-10-24 11:13

lololol what the hell is EG doing in legends spot, or in this major for that matter. wtf

2021-10-24 20:35

+1 should be bo5. Why are other semi-big tornies bo5 then? I can't follow through with the logic. This is supposed to be the biggest fking event in a long time and a bo3 feels fking underwhelming. Being tried forces genuine mental commitment and hence is a showcase of ones intrinsic skill -warmup -feelontheday. The first few maps are essentially a good warmup for both teams as well as a testing of waters. This is the ultimate showdown, a marathon, a vitcory in which the most determined shall take. A grand final should be a microcosm of the hard-fought journeys of both teams leading up/qualifying for the major as it should be a journey in itself.

2021-10-24 23:47