The playoff field for Stake Pulse Beat I has been confirmed after eight teams survived the Counter-Strike 2 tournament’s group stage in Stockholm.
Liquid, fnatic, 9INE, Johnny Speeds, G2 Ares, Acend, Betclic and EAC advanced to the single-elimination bracket. HOTU and Metizport were among the most notable teams eliminated before the quarterfinals despite entering the event with stronger Valve Regional Standings positions than several of their opponents.
Stake Pulse Beat I runs from July 31 to August 5 and features a $60,000 prize pool. The competition is also the opening event in a three-tournament circuit designed to give Tier 2 teams more LAN opportunities and valuable VRS points.
HOTU Suffer the Biggest Group-Stage Upset
HOTU entered the tournament as the second-highest VRS-ranked team in the field. That status made them one of the expected playoff contenders, but their campaign ended after defeats against G2 Ares and EAC.
The team opened Group A with a 2-0 victory over XCLAN. However, a loss to G2 Ares in the winners’ match forced HOTU into a deciding series against EAC. The Danish roster completed the upset with a 2-1 victory and claimed the final playoff place from the group.
The main group-stage surprises included:
- HOTU losing to both G2 Ares and EAC
- Metizport failing to survive Group D
- Johnny Speeds recovering after an opening defeat
- EAC converting an open-qualifier place into a playoff run
HOTU’s elimination was particularly costly because Stake Pulse awards VRS points across the event. Strong results at ranked LAN tournaments can influence invitations and qualification routes later in the competitive calendar.
The group stage showed that ranking position offered no protection against ambitious Tier 2 rosters playing without pressure.
Liquid Advance During a Busy European Schedule
Liquid finished first in Group B after receiving a default victory against atputies and defeating Betclic in a close series.
The Stockholm tournament forms the second part of a demanding European trip for Liquid. The team arrived after competing at the BLAST Bounty Season 2 Finals in Malta and is also scheduled to travel to Paris for the Esports World Cup open qualifier.
Liquid’s reconstructed lineup includes NAF, EliGE, malbsMd, JT and Bulgarian prospect Jorko. Stake Pulse gives the roster additional official matches while it continues developing communication and role distribution.
| Quarterfinal | Playoff position |
|---|---|
| G2 Ares vs Johnny Speeds | Johnny Speeds advanced 2-0 |
| Acend vs Betclic | Quarterfinal |
| Liquid vs 9INE | Quarterfinal |
| fnatic vs EAC | Quarterfinal |
Liquid were drawn against 9INE in the quarterfinals. On paper, Liquid enter as favourites, but 9INE already demonstrated resilience by recovering from an opening loss to BRUTE and winning two consecutive elimination series.
The matchup also offers Liquid another opportunity to collect VRS points before the more difficult Esports World Cup qualifier.
Johnny Speeds Recover From Opening Defeat
Johnny Speeds produced one of the strongest recoveries of the group stage. The Swedish roster began Group D with a defeat against Metizport and immediately faced elimination.
They responded by beating Lilmix before meeting Metizport again in the deciding match. This time, Johnny Speeds won the series 2-1 and eliminated the team that had defeated them earlier.
Their momentum continued in the opening quarterfinal against G2 Ares. Johnny Speeds completed a 2-0 victory to become the first semifinalist of the tournament.
Their route highlights several important qualities:
- Strong adaptation in repeat matchups
- Greater composure during elimination series
- Experience from hampus and draken
- Improved form after a poor opening result
G2 Ares still leave with one of the tournament’s most notable group-stage performances. The academy roster won Group A and benefited from an exceptional individual display by Julius “Junyme” Meyhoff, who recorded a 1.66 rating across the group phase.
Fnatic Face Open-Qualifier Surprise EAC
Fnatic topped Group D by defeating Lilmix and Metizport. Their reward is a quarterfinal against EAC, one of two teams that entered through the open qualifiers.
EAC’s run has already exceeded expectations. After losing their opening match against G2 Ares, the Danish side eliminated XCLAN and then defeated HOTU to reach the playoffs.
Fnatic remain the more experienced team, but the matchup carries risk. EAC have already demonstrated that they can perform under elimination pressure, while fnatic are still working to establish consistency with their current roster.
The other quarterfinal places Acend against Betclic. Acend won Group C after victories over 6666 and BRUTE, while Betclic survived Group B despite using Sebastian “fr3nd” Kuśmierz as a stand-in.
Stake Pulse Creates More Tier 2 LAN Opportunities
Stake Pulse Beat I is the first of three planned events organised through a partnership between Stake and Black Molly Entertainment.
Each tournament features 16 teams competing in four GSL groups before an eight-team single-elimination playoff. Beat II is scheduled for September, while Beat III follows in October.
The champion of Beat I will receive $20,000. The runner-up earns $8,000, while both semifinalists collect $6,000. Every playoff participant is guaranteed at least $4,000.
Beyond prize money, the tournament offers professional studio production, practice facilities and ranked LAN matches. These opportunities are especially valuable for developing teams that rarely receive invitations to larger international events.
Assessment
Stake Pulse Beat I has already delivered the unpredictability expected from a Tier 2 CS2 tournament. HOTU and Metizport entered with respectable rankings but failed to survive their groups, while G2 Ares and EAC used the event to challenge more established opposition.
Liquid and fnatic remain the biggest names in the bracket, but neither can treat the remaining field as straightforward. Johnny Speeds have already converted their recovery into a semifinal place, and 9INE, EAC and Betclic all reached the playoffs after surviving elimination matches.
The tournament’s broader value lies in its competitive setting. Tier 2 teams need regular LAN events where results carry ranking consequences and emerging players can gain experience.
For Liquid and fnatic, winning would provide useful momentum. For the smaller organisations, a deep run could create new roster opportunities and improve their position in the wider CS2 circuit.
