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PGL has officially revealed the full line-up for the upcoming PGL Masters Bucharest 2025, with 16 teams set to battle it out in Romania’s capital from 26 October to 1 November for a share of the $1.25 million USD prize pool.

The event has already stirred debate in the CS2 community. Only two of the top ten squads in Valve’s Regional Standings (VRS), Aurora Gaming and Astralis, have accepted invites to compete. Powerhouses like Vitality, G2 Esports, Team Spirit and Team Falcons have all opted out, most likely due to the clash with IEM Chengdu 2025, which kicks off just days after the Bucharest event.

Originally, PGL Masters Bucharest was scheduled to finish on 2 November, just 24 hours before IEM Chengdu began. PGL shifted the finals forward by one day to create a two-day buffer, but only Astralis, HEROIC, 3DMAX and PaiN Gaming committed to playing in both tournaments.

Full Team List

Here’s the confirmed roster of teams for PGL Masters Bucharest 2025:

  • Aurora Gaming
  • Astralis
  • 3DMAX
  • PaiN Gaming
  • HEROIC
  • Team Liquid
  • Fnatic
  • Ninjas in Pyjamas
  • MIBR
  • Legacy
  • GamerLegion
  • SAW
  • BetBoom
  • Gentle Mates
  • FlyQuest
  • B8

While some of the biggest names are absent, the mix of Tier 1 and underdog squads could make for a wide-open and unpredictable competition.

Format and Schedule

The tournament begins with a best-of-three Swiss Stage, with the top eight advancing to the playoffs. From there, a single-elimination bracket will determine the finalists. The Grand Final will be played as a best-of-five, and fans will also get a third-place decider match.

The event runs from Sunday, 26 October, and concludes on Saturday, 1 November.

Storylines to Watch

One of the biggest talking points heading into Bucharest is Team Liquid’s reunion with Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski. After stints with Complexity and FaZe Clan, EliGE returns to the organisation where he spent eight years and achieved the peak of his career. Liquid will be hoping his return sparks a revival, especially after recent struggles that included a surprise upset at BLAST Premier Rising.

Meanwhile, Astralis and HEROIC will carry the Danish flag as the most established names in the field, while teams like Aurora Gaming and 3DMAX will look to prove they can capitalise on the absence of giants like Vitality and G2.

With StarLadder Budapest Major invites just around the corner in October, and with the event feeding into the road to IEM Cologne Major 2026, the stakes at Bucharest couldn’t be higher.