Stake Ranked

Our Esports Commitment

Stake is proud to sponsor and co-organise Stake Ranked, a new Counter-Strike 2 tournament series launched in partnership with leading esports organiser StarLadder. The series represents a long-term investment in competitive Counter-Strike, reinforcing Stake’s growing presence in the global esports scene after an amazing 2025 season with our Esports partner, Team Vitality. Stake Ranked represents Stake’s continued commitment to the growth, integrity, and future of competitive Counter-Strike 2 by supporting the development of teams aiming for the highest tier of professional play.

Pushing the Ranks

Designed as a Tier 2 LAN circuit, Stake Ranked provides emerging teams with a clear pathway to elite competition under true professional conditions. The series combines open online qualification with high-pressure offline finals, giving teams the opportunity to earn meaningful results, improve their standing within the competitive ecosystem, and prove themselves in a LAN tournament environment that mirrors the standards of top-tier international events.

A Competitive League

Stake Ranked operates fully in line with Valve’s tournament framework and is integrated with the Global Valve Regional Standings (VRS). Invitations and seeding are determined by Global VRS rankings, ensuring transparency and competitive integrity at every stage. Each event features Open Qualifiers, followed by a Closed Qualifier where 14 teams invited via VRS will compete alongside 2 teams qualified from the Open Qualifiers. The tournament then culminates in an eight-team LAN Finals stage, played in a double-elimination, best-of-three format. Every Stake Ranked event offers a minimum $100,000 prize pool, rewarding consistent performance and competitive progression.

The Inaugural Event - EP1

The inaugural event, Stake Ranked Episode 1, runs from February through April 2026, beginning with online Open Qualifiers, progressing through Closed Qualifiers in March, and concluding with a live LAN Finals from April 1 - 4 within one of the European capital cities within the Schengen zone. Delivered together with StarLadder, whose experience spans more than two decades and includes multiple Valve-sanctioned CS2 Majors, Stake and StarLadder aim to raise the standard of Tier 2 Counter-Strike and support the next generation of competitive CS2 talent.

Watch aspiring CS2 teams battle it out live right here at Stake Sportsbook and discover how you can be a part of the action with our vast range of Esports betting markets. Explore our Esports betting guides including our CS2 bet guide and various tournament predictions!