CS Asia Championships 2026 is the final top-tier Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) LAN event of the season before the IEM Cologne Major. With teams looking to gain momentum, the excitement is palpable.
Let’s break down everything you need to know about the tournament, including the schedule, format, and our expert betting predictions, among other details.
Disclaimer: All the CS Asia Championships 2026 winner odds quoted and VRS Global rankings mentioned are accurate as of May 13, 2026, and are subject to change without notice.
CS Asia Championships 2026 Schedule & Format
Traditionally held later in the year, CS Asia Championships shifts to Q2 in 2026 on the bustling CS2 tournament calendar. Running from May 19 to 24, CS Asia Championships 2026 features two stages of competition.
All 16 teams start in the Group Stage (May 19 to 22), where they are divided into two groups of eight. The format is double-elimination GSL-style, with best-of-one opening matches. All other matches are best-of-three. The winners of each group advance directly to the Semifinals. Runners-up advance to the Quarterfinals as the High Seeds, and 3rd-place finishers advance as the Low Seeds in the Quarterfinals. The rest are eliminated.
In front of a crowd at Shanghai Yuanshen Gymnasium, the final six teams will compete in the single-elimination Playoffs Stage (May 22 to 24). The Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Third-Place Decider matches are best-of-three, and the Grand Final is best-of-five.
Find the match times for your region via our CS2 betting section.
Prize Pool Distribution
CS Asia Championships 2026 boasts a $1 million prize pool, divided into Player Share ($400,000) and Club Share ($600,000), awarded to players and organizations, respectively.
| Place | Player Share | Club Share | Total Prize |
| 1st | $150,000 | $250,000 | $400,000 |
| 2nd | $70,000 | $100,000 | $170,000 |
| 3rd | $60,000 | $70,000 | $130,000 |
| 4th | $40,000 | $50,000 | $90,000 |
| 5th-6th | $20,000 | $25,000 | $45,000 ($90,000) |
| 7th-8th | $10,000 | $20,000 | $30,000 ($60,000) |
| 9th-12th | $4,000 | $6,000 | $10,000 ($40,000) |
| 13th-16th | $1,000 | $4,000 | $5,000 ($20,000) |
| Total | $400,000 | $600,000 | $1,000,000 |
How To Watch CS Asia Championships 2026
Catch every match live right here at Thunderpick. Visit our dedicated CS Asia Championships 2026 section, or navigate to our CS2 betting page. When a match starts, click the “Live” tab or the camera icon. You’ll see an embedded live stream and bet slip appear, allowing users to place in-play wagers using their preferred cryptocurrencies.
Alternatively, watch the action in English via PGL’s Twitch and YouTube channels. For the Chinese audience, check out the Bilibili and HUYA channels.
Teams At CS Asia Championships 2026
Based on VRS Global rankings as of Feb. 2, 2026, 14 teams were invited to compete at CS Asia Championships 2026. Filling the final two slots are two Chinese teams that advanced through the regional Closed Qualifier. Check out all 16 teams competing at the CS Asia Championships below, divided into their respective groups.
Group A Teams:
- Team Falcons
- MOUZ
- NRG
- BC.Game Esports
- M80
- paiN Gaming
- Legacy
- TYLOO
Group B Teams:
- The MongolZ
- PARIVISION
- Team Liquid
- MIBR
- 3DMAX
- Lynn Vision Gaming
- B8
- Ninjas in Pyjamas
Note: Aurora Gaming had to withdraw from the tournament due to VISA issues. They were replaced by Ninjas in Pyjamas.
Our CS Asia Championships 2026 Predictions
The pressure is on at the CS Asia Championships 2026, as teams are competing not only for their share of a huge prize pool but also for momentum heading into the IEM Cologne Major. With Team Vitality, FURIA, Team Spirit, and NAVI absent, the trophy is open for the taking.
To create our CS Asia Championships 2026 predictions, we considered crucial factors such as matchup histories, player stats, past LAN performances, and the latest outright tournament winner odds.
Important: When discussing outright winner odds, we mention both the American and Decimal formats. We also note the implied probabilities, which indicate a team’s chances of success based on the odds. This analysis should not be interpreted as betting advice. Past performance does not guarantee future outcomes. Always gamble responsibly.
Team Falcons (#1)
With the top three teams not competing in Shanghai, it’s Team Falcons’ time to shine and pick up their first top-tier LAN trophy of the year. The superteam sits at #4 on the VRS global leaderboard, having recently earned a third-place finish at IEM Rio 2026 after sweeping TWC 2025 champions, FURIA, in the Third-Place Decider match.
With the legendary Danish IGL, karrigan, leaving FaZe Clan to join Team Falcons (April 20, 2026), and reuniting with NiKo, expectations are through the roof. While the roster change could need some time to marinate properly, Team Falcons could soar above the rest.
At odds of 2.20 (+120), Team Falcons enter as the clear favorites, with an implied probability of 45.45%. The odds also imply a 69.44% chance of reaching the Grand Final, as per the odds of 1.44 (-227.27).
Team Falcons roster:
- Nikola “NiKo” Kovač
- Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov
- René “TeSeS” Madsen
- Maksim “kyousuke” Lukin
- Finn “karrigan” Andersen (IGL)
- Danny “zonic” Sørensen (Coach)
The MongolZ (#2)
The Chinese crowd will likely back The MongolZ, but what’s unclear is whether the crowd will buff the Mongolian side or if the team will show cracks under the added pressure.
At PGL Bucharest 2026, we saw The MongolZ showcase fantastic form, ending third overall and beating PARIVISION with a 2-1 reverse-sweep along the way. During the recent Group Stage of PGL Astana 2026, The MongolZ impressed in an extremely close 1-2 loss against Team Falcons, with overtime on the third map required to separate the squads. These results indicate that The MongolZ has the firepower and strategic depth to make a deep run.
Odds of 5.00 (+400) translate to an implied probability of 20.00% that The MongolZ will lift the trophy in Shanghai. The squad has a 50.00% chance of making an appearance in the Grand Final, as implied by odds of 2.00 (+100).
The MongolZ roster:
- Sodbayar “Techno4K” Munkhbold
- Usukhbayar “910” Banzragch
- Ayush “mzinho” Batbold
- Anarbileg “cobrazera” Uuganbayar
- Garidmagnai “bLitz” Byambasuren (IGL)
- Erdenedalai “maaRaa” Bayanbat (Coach)
MOUZ (#3)
After a string of disappointing results, the organization opted for roster changes. On April 18, 2026, MOUZ announced its rosters for PGL Astana, CS Asia Championships, and IEM Cologne Major.
Since the team is in the midst of a restructuring, Latvian rifler jL will compete in the MOUZ jersey at the CS Asia Championships 2026, on loan from NAVI. An exciting and permanent addition is young Hungarian rifler xelex, who has been promoted from the MOUZ NXT roster to the main squad.
The current iteration of MOUZ showed promise in the Group Stage of PGL Astana 2026, with solid wins against G2 Esports and Aurora Gaming. Ranked #6 on VRS Global, MOUZ is a worthy contender for the podium.
Odds of 7.00 (+600) indicate there’s a 14.29% chance for MOUZ to win the tournament, and odds of 3.75 (+275) imply a 26.67% probability to earn a spot in the Grand Final.
MOUZ roster:
- Ádám “torzsi” Torzsás
- Lotan “Spinx” Giladi
- Adrian “xelex” Vincze
- Justinas “jL” Lekavicius (On loan from NAVI)
- Dorian “xertioN” Berman (IGL)
- Dennis “sycrone” Nielsen (Coach)
PARIVISION (#4)
Ranked #11 on the VRS Global leaderboard, the young stars of PARIVISION, led by the illustrious AWPing IGL, Jame, can click heads with the best of them. If PARIVISION is on form, they can go all the way.
At the start of the season, PARIVISION won their first top-tier LAN event, beating Team Falcons 3-0 in the Grand Final of BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1. The squad also reached the Grand Final of PGL Cluj-Napoca, where they were decimated by Team Vitality.
Odds of 3.50 (+250) imply that PARIVISION is the second-favorite to win CS Asia Championships, with a 28.57% chance of success. There’s a 55.56% chance we’ll see them compete in the Grand Final, as indicated by the odds of 1.80 (-125.00).
Consistency is PARIVISION’s biggest problem, which was clear when they left PGL Astana 2026 in the Group Stage with a 1-3 record. This is why we’ve placed PARIVISION fourth despite the market odds favoring them more heavily
PARIVISION roster:
- Andrey “BELCHONOKK” Yasinskiy
- Emil “nota” Moskvitin
- Vladislav “xiELO” Lysov
- Ivan “zweih” Gogin
- Dzhami “Jame” Ali (IGL)
- Dastan “dastan” Aqbaev (Coach)
Lock In Your CS Asia Championships Picks
With the IEM Cologne Major right around the corner, CS Asia Championships 2026 gives teams a final chance to prove themselves on LAN before one of the biggest tournaments of the year. Momentum, confidence, and crucial VRS points are all on the line in Shanghai, making every match matter.
You can get in on the esports action, too, here at Thunderpick. Check out all the latest CS2 betting odds and use your favorite cryptocurrencies to place your bets. If you’re looking for more, make sure to check out our Thunderpick World Championship 2026 event.
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