Stake Ranked Episode 2: FaZe on List of Invited Teams

Owen Harsono Published 21/04/2026

Popular bookmaker Stake is running it back with their second Counter-Strike tournament – Stake Ranked Episode 2. Below, we’ll break down everything you need to know about Stake Ranked Ep. 2, including teams, schedules, and format.

Stake Ranked Episode 2 Event Overview

Event	Stake Ranked Episode 2
Start Date	27 May 2026
End Date	30 May 2026
Prize Pool	$100,000
Teams	8
Location	TBD (Europe)

Stake Ranked Episode 2 Teams

Like the first iteration of Stake Ranked, the tournament organizers are choosing quality over quantity, as we’ll only see a total of eight participants.

On April 21, the esports betting site revealed six direct invitations to the event, which include some very notable teams:

9z Team
HEROIC
Alliance
3DMAX
FaZe Clan
Ninjas in Pyjamas

FaZe Clan (Image via StarLadder)

The remaining two teams are yet to be announced, as the final slots are to be obtained via closed qualification. Some teams set to compete in the qualifiers include G2 Esports, BetBoom Team, and more.

Read also: FaZe Clan will miss IEM Cologne 2026

Format and Schedule

As covered above, there are only eight participants, meaning the tournament is short and sweet. Unlike most Counter-Strike events, Stake Ranked Ep. 2 will only run for four days.

With such a tight schedule, there are no group stages at all, meaning all eight teams will immediately start in the playoffs.

Stake Ranked Ep. 2 Playoffs (May 27 – 30)

The eight participating teams immediately start the tournament in the playoffs.

The format follows a double-elimination bracket.
All matches will be played in Best of 3 format, including the Grand Final.

The double-elimination format implies that teams have two lives. Losing a series means teams are sent down to the lower bracket, where they only have one chance remaining. Losing any more means they are eliminated from the tournament.

Prize Pool Distribution

Stake Ranked Episode 2 has a handsome prize pool relative to the event’s length. Teams are competing for a total of $100,000. Here is how the money is split:

Team Placement	Prize Money Earned
1st	$25,000
2nd	$17,500
3rd	$13,500
4th	$11,000
5th – 6th	$9,000
7th – 8th	$7,500

Not only is the money nice, but teams can also earn VRS Points to increase their chances of qualifying for the PGL Singapore 2026 Major, which will happen at the end of the year.

It’ll be interesting to see new squads like FaZe Clan competing at this event, especially when the best CS2 teams in the world won’t be in attendance. Stake Ranked Ep. 2 is looking to be a breath of fresh air and is set to be a fun tournament to watch.

Owen Harsono

About Owen Harsono

Owen lives for competition, spending most of his gaming hours on Dota 2, CS2, and Valorant. A regular on the SEA Dota 2 leaderboards, he combines his first-hand experience with a deep passion for esports journalism, following the professional scenes of all three esports betting titles religiously. When he’s not writing, he’s most probably betting on esports and watching the latest events.

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