Competition Background and Positioning
FISSURE Playground 1 is Valve’s official Tier‑1 CS2 event, scheduled to be held at the Sava Center in Belgrade, Serbia, from July 15–20, 2025.
Although it is only three days away from IEM Cologne, it still attracted 16 global teams to participate, of which only FURIA ranked in the top ten in the world (9th in VRS)
The total prize money of the event is 1 million US dollars (or 1,000,000 US dollars), of which 450,000 will be distributed to players and 550,000 will be used as club rewards
It can be seen that the event aims to balance the benefits between players and organizations, while injecting vitality into the latter part of the season.
Participating lineups and new faces
Top teams:
FURIA: The only top ten team, formed a new international lineup by introducing Mareks “YEKINDAR” Gaļinskis and Danil “molodoy” Golubenko
paiN Gaming: A strong Brazilian team, with an eye-catching performance in the Austin Major and an impressive semi-final record
Second-tier teams:
Astralis: The latest addition of Rasmus “HooXi” Nielsen to strengthen the tactical core
Virtus.pro: Acquired Ilya “Perfecto” Zalutskiy to improve strategic experience
Complexity, HEROIC, BIG, BetBoom and other participating teams also brought new lineups or substitutes
Potential dark horses:
3DMAX, GamerLegion (new AWPer Kursy), Wildcard, SAW, Rare Atom, Lynn Vision and other teams have the potential to impact the top four
Teams like 3DMAX, GamerLegion (with new AWPer Kursy), Wildcard, SAW, Rare Atom, and Lynn Vision are looking to break through and cause upsets.
FISSURE Playground 1 Format, Schedule & Prize Pool
Group Stage (July 15–17)
Four GSL groups (double-elimination), best-of-3 matches.
Top two from each group advance to the playoffs.
Playoffs (July 18–20)
Single elimination bracket.
Quarterfinals and semifinals are Bo3, while the Grand Final will be Bo5.
Theplayoffs will be held publicly in the Blue Hall of the Sava Center.
Opening Day Matches
GamerLegion vs Wildcard
3DMAX vs Lynn Vision
FURIA vs SAW
paiN vs Rare Atom
Virtus.pro vs TYLOO
Complexity vs BetBoom
Astralis vs MIBR
HEROIC vs BIG
| Placement | Player Cut | Org Cut |
| 1st Place | $150,000 | $140,000 |
| 2nd Place | $100,000 | $120,000 |
| 3rd–4th | $35,000 | $70,000 |
| 5th–8th | $17,500 | $32,500 |
| 9th–12th | $10,000 | $5,000 |
| 13th–16th | $5,000 | — |
This prize structure rewards both top finishes and consistency, with a significant portion directed to team organizations—unique for non-Major events.
Spotlight Matches & Key Storylines of FISSURE Playground 1
FURIA vs SAW: Eyes are on molodoy’s debut after travel issues nearly caused a last-minute replacement. His synergy with YEKINDAR is untested on LAN.
HEROIC vs BIG: A classic EU clash with high tactical value.
Complexity vs BetBoom: Both teams are looking to stabilize after underwhelming showings at previous events.
With roster changes across nearly all participating teams, the early rounds will be crucial in determining who has adapted fastest post-break.
FURIA enters as the favorite with updated firepower and an aggressive international style. Betting sites list them at 3.00 odds to win.
Astralis, Virtus.pro, and paiN have serious upset potential.
Wildcard and GamerLegion may surprise if new players adapt quickly to the LAN environment.
HEROIC remains a wildcard depending on internal consistency and how well they handle a still-developing meta.
This event could also impact player rankings and serve as a proving ground for teams on the verge of securing invites to the next Valve-sponsored events.
Conclusion
FISSURE Playground 1 is more than just a post-vacation warm-up—it’s a strategic battleground ahead of IEM Cologne and the PGL Major qualifiers.
The $1 million prize pool and format depth ensure serious competition, while the presence of newly formed lineups adds volatility and entertainment. Whether FURIA can live up to expectations or a new champion will emerge, Belgrade is set to host one of the most dynamic events in the current CS2 season.
In addition to following the competition, you may be interested in case opening and the CS2 itself. Please continue to pay attention to CS2 news and choose reputable websites for unboxing.