Action gets underway at $800K PGL Astana 2026

Sixteen Counter-Strike 2 teams began group stage play Saturday as action got underway at the $800,000 PGL Astana 2026 tournament in Kazakhstan.

Seven of the eight opening matches were sweeps, with MOUZ defeating Gentle Mates 2-1 in the lone exception.

The group stage runs through Wednesday, with all matches best-of-three in a Swiss System format and the top eight teams advancing to the playoffs. The single-elimination playoffs are best-of-three matches until the best-of-five grand finale on May 17, with the winner taking home $256,000.

HEROIC swept Aurora Gaming with a 13-8 win on Nuke and a 13-11 win on Dust II. G2 Esports beat Fisher College 13-1 on Ancient and 13-5 on Inferno. The MongolZ outlasted magic 25-23 on Mirage and won 13-4 on Inferno. Team Falcons posted a 13-5 win on Dust II and a 13-11 decision on Ancient against K27. Team Spirit defeated The Huns Esports 13-6 on Dust II and 13-3 on Ancient. FURIA delivered 13-3 wins on Nuke and Overpass against Monte. 9z Team defeated PARIVISION 13-6 on Inferno and 13-8 on Ancient.

MOUZ sandwiched a 16-12 won on Nuke and a 13-5 victory on Ancient around Gentle Mates' 13-4 win on Mirage.

Sunday's Round 2 High Matches (1-0 teams):

--MOUZ vs. G2 Esports

--The MongolZ vs. Team Spirit

--FURIA vs. HEROIC

--Team Falcons vs. 9z Team

Sunday's Round 2 Low Matches (0-1 teams):

--K27 vs. Gentle Mates

--Aurora Gaming vs. The Huns Esports

--PARIVISION vs. Fisher College

--Monte vs. magic

PGL Astana 2026 Group Stage standings:

1. FURIA, 1-0

2. Team Falcons, 1-0

3. MOUZ, 1-0

4. The MongolZ, 1-0

5. Team Spirit, 1-0

6. G2 Esports, 1-0

7. 9z Team, 1-0

8. HEROIC, 1-0

9. PARIVISION, 0-1

10. Aurora Gaming, 0-1

11. Monte, 0-1

12. K27, 0-1

13. Gentle Mates, 0-1

14. magic, 0-1

15. The Huns Esports, 0-1

16. Fisher College, 0-1

PGL Astana 2026 prize pool:

1. $256,000

2. $120,000

3. $96,000

4. $56,000

5-8. $40,000

9-11. $20,000

12-14. $12,000

15-16. $8,000

--Field Level Media