G2, Aurora and magic sweep into PGL Astana playoffs

Field Level Media|published: Wed 13th May, 11:32 2026

A backlit keyboard is part of the gear online video game streamer Jordan Woodruff uses in his Gilbert home. Jordan Woodruff

Aurora Gaming, G2 Esports and magic clinched the final three playoff spots on Wednesday at the $800,000 PGL Astana 2026 event in Kazakhstan.

All three Round 5 matches were decided with sweeps as Aurora eliminated The MongolZ, G2 knocked out Monte and magic ousted Gentle Mates to conclude the group stage of the 16-team Counter-Strike 2 tournament.

The single-elimination playoffs begin on Friday. All matches are best-of-three until Sunday's best-of-five grand final, where the winning team will take home $256,000.

Aurora beat The MongolZ 13-11 on Overpass and 13-10 on Mirage, with Turkey's Ismailcan "XANTARES" Dortkardes posting a team-high 37 kills.

G2 made swift work of Monte, winning 13-2 on Ancient and 13-4 on Dust II as Israel's Guy "NertZ" Iluz and Nikita "HeavyGod" Martynenko each posted 33 kills.

Led by 26 kills from Russia's Andrey "AW" Anisimov, magic posted a 13-5 win on Mirage and a 16-13 decision on Inferno against Gentle Mates.

Friday's quarterfinal schedule:

--9z Team vs. magic

--Team Falcons vs. FURIA

--MOUZ vs. Aurora Gaming

--G2 Esports vs. Team Spirit

PGL Astana 2026 prize pool:

1. $256,000

2. $120,000

3. $96,000

4. $56,000

5-8. $40,000