Stake Pulse
Stake x BME CS2 Tournament Circuit 2026Our Esports Commitment
Stake is proud to present Stake Pulse, a brand-new Counter-Strike 2 Tier 2 tournament circuit produced in partnership with Black Molly Entertainment (BME) and hosted live from the BME Studio in the Nordics. Building on our expanding portfolio of first-party esports properties - including our own Stake Ranked circuit and long-standing sponsorships across the competitive CS2 scene - Stake Pulse is a series that gives rising CS2 teams a professional platform to compete in front of a live audience with full broadcast production. Across three Beats in 2026, we're backing 16 teams per event with paid accommodation, catering, dedicated practice rooms, and over $180,000 in combined prize money.
The Pulse Circuit
The Stake Pulse circuit is built around three distinct Beats spread across 2026: Beat I (31 July - 5 August, $60,000), Beat II (21-26 September, $60,000), and Beat III (12-17 October, prize pool TBA). Each event follows the same competitive framework - 16 teams split into four GSL groups playing BO3, feeding into a Single Elimination 8-team playoff that culminates in a Grand Final. Two slots per Beat are earned through Open Qualifiers, with the remaining 14 available on a first-come, first-served basis. As a Valve-recognised Tier 2 event, every match delivers Global Valve Regional Standings (VRS) points, giving teams meaningful progression toward the Valve Major cycle.
Stake Pulse Beat I - Coming Up
Stake Pulse Beat I gets underway on 31 July 2026, running through to the Grand Final on 5 August live from BME Studio. Sixteen teams have locked in their spots for the inaugural event: Team Liquid, Fnatic, G2 Ares, 9INE, Acend, Betclic Apogee, Metizport, The Last Resort, Johnny Speeds, BRUTE, Lilmix, XCLAN, 6666, Atputies, HOTU, and EAC. The $60,000 prize pool breaks down to $20,000 to the champion, $8,000 to the runner-up, $6,000 each for third and fourth, $4,000 each for fifth through eighth, and $1,000 each for ninth through twelfth. Full brackets, group draws, and live Stake Pulse betting markets are available now on Stake.
Bet on Every Stage of the Action
Watch every group stage match, playoff series, and Grand Final live with free live streams and real-time odds on Stake Sportsbook, across the full range of markets from match winners and map handicaps to correct scores and total maps. New to CS2 betting? Our CS2 betting guide, broader Esports betting guide, and FPS terminology explained cheat sheet have you covered whether you're new to esports or a seasoned sports bettor!