PGL Esports

Last updated

SC PGL Esports S.R.L.
Company type Private
Industry Esports
FoundedFebruary 25, 2002
Headquarters
Bucharest
,
Romania
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Silviu Stroie (CEO)
Number of employees
51-200
Website www.pglesports.com

PGL Esports (simply PGL) is a Romanian esports production company based in Bucharest that produces Dota 2 and Counter-Strike 2 tournaments. They are most notable for producing developer-sponsored events such as Counter-Strike Major Championships as well as The International series of events. [1]

Contents

History

PGL was founded in Romania in 2002. [2] PGL began hosting Dota 2 tournaments with the Manila Major in 2016. [3] Since then, they have hosted major events including each of The Internationals between 2016 and 2024. Recently, PGL announced events between 2024 and 2026, including their Wallachia series of events. [4]

PGL has hosted multiple Counter-Strike Major Championships, including PGL Major: Krakow 2017 and PGL Major Stockholm 2021, as well as the first Counter-Strike 2 Major, PGL Major Copenhagen 2024. [5] They also produced the English broadcast for the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024. [6]

Dota 2

PGL has hosted Dota 2 tournaments since 2016, including Valve-sponsored Majors and The International, as well as their own independent tournament series.

Notable tournaments

NameDateLocationChampionRunner-upPrize poolRef.
The Manila Major 2016 June 3–12, 2016 Mall of Asia Arena, Manila OG Esports Team Liquid US$3,000,000 [7]
The International 2016 August 2–13, 2016 Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle Wings Gaming Digital Chaos US$20,770,460 [8]
The Boston Major 2016 December 3–10, 2016 Wang Theater, Boston OG Esports Ad FinemUS$3,000,000 [9]
The Kiev Major 2017 April 24–30, 2017 National Palace of Arts, Kyiv OG Esports Virtus.pro [10]
The International 2017 August 2–12, 2017 Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle Team Liquid Newbee US$24,787,916 [11]
The Bucharest MajorMarch 4–11, 2018 Polyvalent Hall, Bucharest Virtus.pro VGJ.Thunder US$1,000,000 [12]
Dota 2 Asia Championships 2018March 29–April 7, 2018 Shanghai Oriental Sports Center, Shanghai Mineski LGD Gaming [13]
China Dota2 SupermajorJune 2–10, 2018Yuanshen Gymnasium, Shanghai Team Liquid Virtus.pro US$1,500,000 [14]
The International 2018 August 15–25, 2018 Rogers Arena, Vancouver OG Esports LGD Gaming US$25,532,177 [15]
The Kuala Lumpur Major November 9–18, 2018 Axiata Arena, Kuala Lumpur Virtus.pro Team Secret US$1,000,000 [16]
The International 2019 August 15–25, 2019 Mercedez-Benz Arena, Shanghai OG Esports Team Liquid US$34,330,068 [17]
ONE Esports Singapore Major 2021 [a] March 27–April 4, 2021 Fairmont Singapore, Singapore Invictus Gaming Evil Geniuses US$500,000 [18]
The International 2021 October 7–17, 2021 Arena Națională, Bucharest Team Spirit LGD Gaming US$40,018,195 [19]
PGL Arlington Major 2022August 4–14, 2022 Esports Stadium Arlington, Arlington Team Spirit LGD Gaming US$500,000 [20]
The International 2022 October 15–30, 2022 Singapore [b] Tundra Esports Team Secret US$18,930,775 [21]
The International 2023 October 12–29, 2023 Seattle [c] Team Spirit Gaimin GladiatorsUS$3,380,455 [22]
PGL Wallachia Season 1May 10–19, 2024PGL Studio, Bucharest Team Spirit Xtreme GamingUS$1,000,000 [23]
The International 2024 September 4–15, 2024 Royal Arena, Copenhagen Team Liquid Gaimin GladiatorsUS$2,776,566 [24]
PGL Wallachia Season 2October 4–13, 2024PGL Studio, Bucharest HEROIC Team Falcons US$1,000,000 [25]
PGL Wallachia Season 3March 8–16, 2025 Team Liquid Tundra Esports [26]
PGL Wallachia Season 4April 19–27, 2025 Team Liquid PARIVISION [27]
PGL Wallachia Season 5November 15–23, 2025TBDTBD

Counter-Strike

PGL has hosted Counter-Strike tournaments beginning in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive with Minor qualifiers for MLG Major Championship: Columbus in 2016. Since then, PGL have hosted several Valve-sponsored Major Championships. Beginning in 2025, after Valve banned tournament organizers from selling tournament spots to teams, [28] PGL announced that it would organize independent non-Major events in 2025 and 2026 for the first time. [29]

PGL also organized the English-language broadcast for the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024. [6]

Notable tournaments

NameDateLocationChampionRunner-upThird placePrize poolRef.
In Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
PGL Major Kraków 2017 July 16–23, 2017 Tauron Arena, Kraków Gambit Esports Immortals Astralis
Virtus.pro 		US$1,000,000 [30]
PGL Major Stockholm 2021 October 26–November 7, 2021 Stockholm [d] Natus Vincere G2 Esports Gambit Esports
Heroic 		US$2,000,000 [31]
PGL Major Antwerp 2022 May 9–22, 2022 Sportpaleis, Antwerp FaZe Clan Natus Vincere Team Spirit
ENCE 		US$1,000,000 [32]
In Counter-Strike 2
PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 March 17–31, 2024 Royal Arena, Copenhagen Natus Vincere FaZe Clan Team Vitality
G2 Esports 		US$1,250,000 [33]
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025February 14–23, 2025 Bucharest/Cluj-Napoca [e] MOUZ Team Falcons Astralis [34]
PGL Bucharest 2025April 6–13, 2025PGL Studio, Bucharest Team Falcons G2 Esports FaZe Clan US$1,250,000 [f] [35]
PGL Astana 2025May 10–18, 2025 Barys Arena, Astana Team Spirit Astralis Aurora Gaming [36]
PGL Masters Bucharest 2025October 26–November 1, 2025PGL Studio, Bucharest Aurora Gaming LegacySAW [37]
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026February 11–22, 2026 BTarena, Cluj-Napoca TBDTBDTBD
PGL Bucharest 2026April 2–12, 2026PGL Studio, Bucharest
PGL Astana 2026May 7–17, 2026 Barys Arena, Astana US$1,600,000 [g]
PGL Masters Bucharest 2026October 24–31, 2026PGL Studio, Bucharest US$1,250,000 [f]
PGL Major Singapore 2026November 25–December 13, 2026 Singapore Indoor Stadium, Singapore US$1,250,000

Notes

  1. ↑ Organized in partnership with ONE Esports.
  2. ↑ The playoffs weekend was played at Suntec Singapore, and the finals weekend was played at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
  3. ↑ The playoffs weekend was played at Seattle Convention Center, and the finals weekend was played at the Climate Pledge Arena.
  4. ↑ The first and second stages were played at the Quality Hotel Globe, and the playoffs were played at the Avicii Arena.
  5. ↑ The group stage took place at the PGL Studios in Bucharest, and the playoffs took place at the BTarena in Cluj-Napoca.
  6. 1 2 Player share: US$625,000
    Organization share: US$625,000
  7. ↑ Player share: US$800,000
    Organization share: US$800,000

References

  1. ↑ Sacco, Dominic (December 6, 2016). "Behind the scenes: Who hosts esports events?". British Esports Federation. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  2. ↑ Mitrevski, Lydia (April 25, 2018). "PGL appoints Hugh Holland to sell global sponsorship opportunities". Esports Insider. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  3. ↑ Fudge, James (March 4, 2024). "PGL Lays Out 2024-2026 Roadmap for Dota 2". The Esports Advocate. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  4. ↑ "PGL Announces a Minimum of Eight $1 Million Tournaments from 2024 to 2026. Our first event will occur between May 10 and 19, 2024". press.pglesports.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  5. ↑ Daniels, Tom (March 28, 2023). "PGL announces Counter-Strike 2 Major Copenhagen 2024". Esports Insider. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  6. 1 2 "PGL secures English broadcast rights to the Shanghai Major". esports.gg. January 11, 2025. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  7. ↑ "The Manila Major - schedule, results, prize pool, statistics — Escorenews". escorenews.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  8. ↑ "The International 2016 - schedule, results, prize pool, statistics — Escorenews". escorenews.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Boston Major 2016 results". Yahoo Sports. December 11, 2016. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  10. ↑ "The Kiev Major - schedule, results, prize pool, statistics — Escorenews". escorenews.com. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  11. ↑ Gies, Arthur (August 13, 2017). "Here are the winners of Valve's $24 million 2017 International Dota 2 Championships". Polygon. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  12. ↑ "The Bucharest Major - schedule, results, prize pool, statistics — Escorenews". escorenews.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  13. ↑ "DAC 2018 - schedule, results, prize pool, statistics — Escorenews". escorenews.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  14. ↑ "China Dota2 Supermajor - schedule, results, prize pool, statistics — Escorenews". escorenews.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  15. ↑ "The International 2018 - schedule, results, prize pool, statistics — Escorenews". escorenews.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  16. ↑ "The Kuala Lumpur Major - schedule, results, prize pool, statistics — Escorenews". escorenews.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  17. ↑ "The International 2019 - schedule, results, prize pool, statistics — Escorenews". escorenews.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  18. ↑ "ONE Esports Singapore Major 2021 - schedule, results, prize pool, statistics — Escorenews". escorenews.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  19. ↑ "The International 2021 - schedule, results, prize pool, statistics — Escorenews". escorenews.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  20. ↑ Michael, Cale (August 15, 2022). "Arlington Dota 2 Major: All scores, standings, and results". Dot Esports. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Dota 2 Esports". www.dota2.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Dota 2 Esports". www.dota2.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  23. ↑ "PGL Wallachia Season 1: Schedule, results, teams, streams | ONE Esports". www.oneesports.gg. May 20, 2024. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Dota 2 Esports". www.dota2.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  25. ↑ "PGL Wallachia Season 2 - schedule, results, prize pool, statistics — Escorenews". escorenews.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  26. ↑ "PGL Wallachia Season 3 - schedule, results, prize pool, statistics — Escorenews". escorenews.com. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
  27. ↑ "PGL Wallachia Season 4 - schedule, results, prize pool, statistics — Escorenews". escorenews.com. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  28. ↑ Stubbs, Mike. "Valve Bans Franchised 'Counter-Strike 2' Tournaments". Forbes. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  29. ↑ Šimić, Ivan (December 10, 2024). "PGL shares details for 2025-2026 CS2 esports circuit". Esports Insider. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  30. ↑ Ojha, Deepak (July 23, 2017). "Gambit beat Immortals to achieve victory at PGL Major 2017". TalkEsport. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  31. ↑ "NAVI win CSGO PGL Major Stockholm 2021". Dexerto. November 24, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  32. ↑ "FaZe wins PGL CSGO Major Antwerp 2022: Recap & full results". Dexerto. May 22, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  33. ↑ Stubbs, Mike. "NAVI Wins The First 'Counter-Strike 2' Major In Copenhagen". Forbes. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  34. ↑ "PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025 - schedule, results, prize pool, statistics — Escorenews". escorenews.com. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  35. ↑ "PGL Bucharest 2025 - schedule, results, prize". escorenews. April 13, 2025. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
  36. ↑ "PGL Astana 2025". escorenews. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
  37. ↑ "PGL Masters Bucharest 2025 - schedule, results, prize pool, statistics — Escorenews". escorenews.com. Retrieved November 1, 2025.
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