PGL Masters Bucharest 2026: Teams, Format and Prize Pool

This will be the last big LAN tournament for PGL Major Singapore 2026 before the closing of Major invitations. It will happen in Romania and will involve 16 teams fighting for a prize money of $1.25 million.

The tournament will start on October 24 and will give the participants a chance to better their standing in the Valve Regional Standings before the deadline for Major invitation comes on November 2.

"1. PGL Masters Bucharest 2026: Teams, Format and Prize Pool","1.1. PGL Masters Bucharest 2026 Teams","1.2. Tournament Format","1.3. Opening Matches at PGL Masters Bucharest","1.4. PGL Masters Bucharest 2026 Prize Pool"

PGL Masters Bucharest 2026 Teams

The participant list is made up primarily of 12 of the top 13 teams in the VRS at the time invitations were distributed. The field includes Spirit, Vitality, MOUZ, FURIA, G2, NAVI, and reigning PGL Masters Bucharest champions Aurora.

Falcons were the only team from the top part of the ranking to decline their invitation. As a result, the team will have no tournaments left where it can earn additional VRS points before invitations for the Singapore Major are finalized.

The full list of participants:

• Spirit

• MOUZ

• Vitality

• FURIA

• FUT

• G2

• Legacy

• Aurora

• Natus Vincere

• 9z

• The MongolZ

• BetBoom

• Liquid

• TYLOO

• DENDELE

• Nemiga

Liquid, TYLOO, DENDELE, and Nemiga secured their places through regional qualifiers.

For FUT, the tournament will be the team’s first event after signing Álvaro "SunPayus" García, who replaced Nikita "cmtry" Samolotov as the team’s AWPer. Vitality will also compete with a stand-in: Justinas "jL" Lekavicius will once again play for the team, this time replacing Dan "apEX" Madesclaire, who recently became a father.

Tournament Format

The group stage will use the Swiss system, with all matches played as best-of-three series. The top eight teams from the Swiss Stage will advance to the playoffs.

The decisive stage will use a Single Elimination bracket. All playoff matches will be BO3, while the grand final will be played as a BO5. A separate third-place match will also take place before the final.

There will be no break between the group stage and the playoffs.

Opening Matches at PGL Masters Bucharest

Eight series will be played on the opening day, October 24:

• Aurora vs The MongolZ

• FUT vs TYLOO

• Spirit vs BetBoom

• MOUZ vs Liquid

• Vitality vs 9z

• Legacy vs Nemiga

• G2 vs Natus Vincere

• FURIA vs DENDELE

During the first three days, organizers plan to hold eight BO3 series per day.

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PGL Masters Bucharest 2026 Prize Pool

The total amount is going to be $1.25 million. The prize money is going to be shared equally by the players and the clubs.

Prize distribution:

• 1st place — $225,000

• 2nd place — $100,000

• 3rd place — $68,750

• 4th place — $43,750

• 5th–8th place — $25,000

• 9th–11th place — $15,625

• 12th–14th place — $9,375

• 15th–16th place — $6,250

The clubs will receive the same payouts based on their teams’ final placements.

PGL Masters Bucharest will be the final major test for most of the top teams before the list of invited participants for PGL Major Singapore 2026 is finalized.