Stake Ranked Episode 2: FaZe on List of Invited Teams
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.
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.
View full profile
Read Also
Esports Betting
Here’s the complete Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 schedule
Hannan Mundia
The Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 has finally arrived, and here’s the complete schedule for the event to ensure you don’t miss anything. While it isn’t exactly the newest name in the esports scene, the EWC has quickly become a leading event for esports fans worldwide. It brings together professional players and fans from various games, combining them into one long event that everyone can enjoy. 2026’s Esports World Cup ...
Counter-Strike
XSE Pro League 2026 in China: Teams, format and prize pool
Owen Harsono
Counter-Strike is back after the IEM Cologne Major, as the XSE Pro League 2026 is the first notable event since then. 16 teams book flights to China to compete in the million-dollar event. Here’s everything you need to know about the XSE Pro League 2026 event. Top-tier Counter-Strike returns to the passionate grounds of China, as the event will take place in the city of Guangzhou. Teams will play in ...
Esports Betting
Will Valve add Cache in the CS2 Premier Season 5 Active Duty map pool?
Wasif Ahmed
Following the highly anticipated return of Cache to Counter-Strike 2 earlier this season, the competitive community has almost started believing that the legendary industrial map would soon make its way into the Active Duty map pool for Premier Season 5. This expectation followed a pattern set by Train, which Valve brought back late last year before quickly pushing it into the main professional tournament rotation. However, in a recent Twitter ...
Counter-Strike
IEM Cologne Grand Final: Team Falcons vs FURIA best betting predictions
Owen Harsono
Coming into the IEM Cologne Major, nobody would have expected a grand final series between Team Falcons and FURIA, but here we are. Will NiKo finally win his first Major, or will FalleN win another one before retiring at the end of the year? Here are our IEM Cologne Major Grand Final predictions. Tournament: IEM Cologne Major 2026 Stage: Grand Final Game: Counter-Strike 2 Format: Best-of-five Betting tip: Team Falcons ...
Counter-Strike
Team Spirit vs Team Falcons IEM Cologne Major: betting predictions and picks
Owen Harsono
We’re in for a treat, as Team Spirit will take on Team Falcons for a spot in the IEM Cologne Major grand final. Will NiKo finally get another shot at winning a Major, or will donk and company prevent him from accomplishing his lifelong goal? Here are our IEM Cologne Major Team Spirit vs Team Falcons predictions. Tournament: IEM Cologne Major 2026 Stage: Semi-Final Game: Counter-Strike 2 Format: Best-of-three Betting ...
Counter-Strike
Vitality vs Falcons betting predictions and best picks: IEM Cologne Major 2026
Owen Harsono
We’re treated to a possible grand final matchup here in the quarterfinal of the IEM Cologne Major, with Team Vitality taking on Team Falcons in an elimination match. These are two of the highest-profile teams in the game right now, but only one of them can continue their chase for the trophy. Here are our IEM Cologne Major Team Vitality vs Team Falcons predictions. Tournament: IEM Cologne Major 2026 Stage: ...
Counter-Strike
IEM Cologne Major 2026 playoffs preview: matchups & predictions
Owen Harsono
The top eight teams at the IEM Cologne 2026 Major are set. Most of the favorites easily secured their spots, but we also have promising underdogs sneaking into the bracket. To keep you up to speed, here’s everything you need to know about the IEM Cologne Major playoffs. We started with 32 teams and are now only down to eight. After a grueling Stage 3, teams have been seeded into ...
