FISSURE Playground 2 is the second major offline tournament for Counter-Strike Online (CS2) organized by the FISSURE series. It will be held at the Belgrade Arena in Serbia from September 12th to 21st, 2025. The tournament will have a total prize pool of $1,250,000 USD, consisting of a $500,000 player share and a $750,000 club share.
FISSURE Playground 2 is divided into two phases:
1. Swiss System (Best of Three), held from September 12th to 17th, with 16 teams competing. The first team to win three games or lose three games will advance or be eliminated respectively.
2. Knockout Stage, held from September 19th to 21st, using a single-elimination system, with the quarterfinals and semifinals being Bo3 and the final being Bo5.
The tournament has a significant impact on the Valve Regional Rankings (VRS) and is related to the qualification for the StarLadder Budapest Major later this year.
Participating Teams and Exciting Matches in the Opening Round
Officially, 16 teams were invited to participate, with the selection criteria based on the VRS rankings in July 2025. Although Vitality, MOUZ and Spirit are absent, most of the top-10 teams will still participate, including Falcons, The MongolZ, Aurora, G2, FaZe, FURIA, Astralis, HEROIC, GamerLegion, 3DMAX, Liquid, TYLOO, Lynn Vision, paiN, Legacy, Virtus.pro.
The first round matchups (September 12–13) are as follows:
GamerLegion vs TYLOO
The MongolZ vs 3DMAX
Falcons vs Virtus.pro
Aurora vs Astralis
HEROIC vs Legacy
G2 vs Lynn Vision
FaZe vs paiN Gaming
FURIA vs Liquid
Several matches worth watching of FISSURE Playground 2:
Liquid vs FURIA: This clash is not only a continuation of the reunion of former teammates, but also related to Liquid’s VRS status and Major prospects.
G2 vs Lynn Vision: After the success of BLAST Open London, G2 continued its upward momentum. By adding a new roster to strengthen its competitiveness, it rose to 15th in VRS and is expected to compete for the Major qualification.
FaZe vs paiN: The addition of jcobbb has improved FaZe’s combat power. This opening match will test its performance stability under the new lineup.
Prize Distribution Details of FISSURE Playground 2
The player and club share of the total prize pool are as follows:
| Placement | Players’ Share | Clubs’ Share |
| 1st Place | $200,000 | $160,000 |
| 2nd Place | $100,000 | $130,000 |
| 3rd–4th Place | $40,000 | $90,000 |
| 5th–8th Place | $17,500 | $50,000 |
| 9th–11th Place | $10,000 | $13,330 |
| 12th–14th Place | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| 15th–16th Place | $2,500 | $5,000 |
This distribution plan not only ensures personal benefits for players, but also encourages clubs to invest and support, further improving the competitive level and professionalism of the event.
Media Coverage and Fan Interaction
HLTV will provide comprehensive event coverage, including video highlights, game commentary, interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. In addition, HLTV will launch an official Fantasy game, which is divided into two parts: Swiss Round and Elimination Round, where players can compete for skin rewards and season points.
Key Points and Potential Trends of FISSURE Playground 2
1. Ranking Reversal Opportunity
G2 is in good form after winning the BLAST Championship and is expected to further improve its VRS ranking and consolidate its prospects for qualifying for the Major. If Liquid can qualify from the bottom, it can avoid the ranking pressure caused by falling out of the top 32.
2. Qualifying suspense and possibility of upset
The Swiss round system easily creates strong and weak teams competing against each other, and there is room for many reversals and suspense. Cold-blooded teams such as Aurora and Legacy may also make it to the quarterfinals if they can seize the opportunity.
3. Event scale and organizational capability verification
Although this is the second event, FISSURE has already gathered many strong teams and set up high prize money, showing that it has a certain strength in organization and attracting top resources. It may become one of the important season nodes of CS2.
Conclusion
FISSURE Playground 2 is a feast of CS2 elite confrontation with a clear structure, a luxurious lineup and generous prize money. The combination of Swiss rounds and knockout tournaments ensures a balanced and intense tournament experience. A $1.25 million prize pool ensures a highly competitive tournament. While the field lacks some traditional powerhouses, it still includes a strong lineup of top-tier teams. Combined with VRS ranking incentives and a Major hospitality channel, the event is incredibly meaningful. Whether teams are striving for rankings, players are competing for prize money, or fans are engaging in fantasy gaming, FISSURE Playground 2 offers a wealth of exciting content.