PGL Esports

PGL Esports (simply PGL) is a Romanian esports production company based in Bucharest that produces Dota 2 and Counter-Strike 2 tournaments. They are most notable for producing developer-sponsored events such as Counter-Strike Major Championships as well as The International series of events.^[1]

SC PGL Esports S.R.L.

Company type	Private
Industry	Esports
Founded	February 25, 2002
Headquarters	Bucharest , Romania
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Silviu Stroie (CEO)
Number of employees	51-200
Website	www.pglesports.com

History

PGL was founded in Romania in 2002.^[2] PGL began hosting Dota 2 tournaments with the Manila Major in 2016.^[3] Since then, they have hosted major events including each of The Internationals between 2016 and 2024. Recently, PGL announced events between 2024 and 2026, including their Wallachia series of events.^[4]

PGL has hosted multiple Counter-Strike Major Championships, including PGL Major: Krakow 2017 and PGL Major Stockholm 2021, as well as the first Counter-Strike 2 Major, PGL Major Copenhagen 2024.^[5] They also produced the English broadcast for the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024.^[6]

Dota 2

PGL has hosted Dota 2 tournaments since 2016, including Valve-sponsored Majors and The International, as well as their own independent tournament series.

Notable tournaments

Name	Date	Location	Champion	Runner-up	Prize pool	Ref.
The Manila Major 2016	June 3–12, 2016	Mall of Asia Arena, Manila	OG Esports	Team Liquid	US$3,000,000	[7]
The International 2016	August 2–13, 2016	Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle	Wings Gaming	Digital Chaos	US$20,770,460	[8]
The Boston Major 2016	December 3–10, 2016	Wang Theater, Boston	OG Esports	Ad Finem	US$3,000,000	[9]
The Kiev Major 2017	April 24–30, 2017	National Palace of Arts, Kyiv	OG Esports	Virtus.pro		[10]
The International 2017	August 2–12, 2017	Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle	Team Liquid	Newbee	US$24,787,916	[11]
The Bucharest Major	March 4–11, 2018	Polyvalent Hall, Bucharest	Virtus.pro	VGJ.Thunder	US$1,000,000	[12]
Dota 2 Asia Championships 2018	March 29–April 7, 2018	Shanghai Oriental Sports Center, Shanghai	Mineski	LGD Gaming		[13]
China Dota2 Supermajor	June 2–10, 2018	Yuanshen Gymnasium, Shanghai	Team Liquid	Virtus.pro	US$1,500,000	[14]
The International 2018	August 15–25, 2018	Rogers Arena, Vancouver	OG Esports	LGD Gaming	US$25,532,177	[15]
The Kuala Lumpur Major	November 9–18, 2018	Axiata Arena, Kuala Lumpur	Virtus.pro	Team Secret	US$1,000,000	[16]
The International 2019	August 15–25, 2019	Mercedez-Benz Arena, Shanghai	OG Esports	Team Liquid	US$34,330,068	[17]
ONE Esports Singapore Major 2021[a]	March 27–April 4, 2021	Fairmont Singapore, Singapore	Invictus Gaming	Evil Geniuses	US$500,000	[18]
The International 2021	October 7–17, 2021	Arena Națională, Bucharest	Team Spirit	LGD Gaming	US$40,018,195	[19]
PGL Arlington Major 2022	August 4–14, 2022	Esports Stadium Arlington, Arlington	Team Spirit	LGD Gaming	US$500,000	[20]
The International 2022	October 15–30, 2022	Singapore[b]	Tundra Esports	Team Secret	US$18,930,775	[21]
The International 2023	October 12–29, 2023	Seattle[c]	Team Spirit	Gaimin Gladiators	US$3,380,455	[22]
PGL Wallachia Season 1	May 10–19, 2024	PGL Studio, Bucharest	Team Spirit	Xtreme Gaming	US$1,000,000	[23]
The International 2024	September 4–15, 2024	Royal Arena, Copenhagen	Team Liquid	Gaimin Gladiators	US$2,776,566	[24]
PGL Wallachia Season 2	October 4–13, 2024	PGL Studio, Bucharest	HEROIC	Team Falcons	US$1,000,000	[25]
PGL Wallachia Season 3	March 8–16, 2025		Team Liquid	Tundra Esports		[26]
PGL Wallachia Season 4	April 19–27, 2025		Team Liquid	PARIVISION		[27]
PGL Wallachia Season 5	November 15–23, 2025		TBD	TBD

Counter-Strike

PGL has hosted Counter-Strike tournaments beginning in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive with Minor qualifiers for MLG Major Championship: Columbus in 2016. Since then, PGL have hosted several Valve-sponsored Major Championships. Beginning in 2025, after Valve banned tournament organizers from selling tournament spots to teams,^[28] PGL announced that it would organize independent non-Major events in 2025 and 2026 for the first time.^[29]

PGL also organized the English-language broadcast for the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024.^[6]

Notable tournaments

Name	Date	Location	Champion	Runner-up	Third place	Prize pool	Ref.
In Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
PGL Major Kraków 2017	July 16–23, 2017	Tauron Arena, Kraków	Gambit Esports	Immortals	Astralis Virtus.pro	US$1,000,000	[30]
PGL Major Stockholm 2021	October 26–November 7, 2021	Stockholm[d]	Natus Vincere	G2 Esports	Gambit Esports Heroic	US$2,000,000	[31]
PGL Major Antwerp 2022	May 9–22, 2022	Sportpaleis, Antwerp	FaZe Clan	Natus Vincere	Team Spirit ENCE	US$1,000,000	[32]
In Counter-Strike 2
PGL Major Copenhagen 2024	March 17–31, 2024	Royal Arena, Copenhagen	Natus Vincere	FaZe Clan	Team Vitality G2 Esports	US$1,250,000	[33]
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025	February 14–23, 2025	Bucharest/Cluj-Napoca[e]	MOUZ	Team Falcons	Astralis		[34]
PGL Bucharest 2025	April 6–13, 2025	PGL Studio, Bucharest	Team Falcons	G2 Esports	FaZe Clan	US$1,250,000[f]	[35]
PGL Astana 2025	May 10–18, 2025	Barys Arena, Astana	Team Spirit	Astralis	Aurora Gaming		[36]
PGL Belgrade 2025	October 25–November 2, 2025	Belgrade Arena, Belgrade	TBD	TBD	TBD
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026	February 11–22, 2026	BTarena, Cluj-Napoca				US$1,250,000
PGL Bucharest 2026	April 2–12, 2026	PGL Studio, Bucharest
PGL Summer 2026	August 6–16, 2026	TBA
PGL Fall 2026	October 1–11, 2026
PGL Belgrade 2026	October 22–November 1, 2026	Belgrade Arena, Belgrade

Notes

1. Organized in partnership with ONE Esports.
2. The playoffs weekend was played at Suntec Singapore, and the finals weekend was played at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
3. The playoffs weekend was played at Seattle Convention Center, and the finals weekend was played at the Climate Pledge Arena.
4. The first and second stages were played at the Quality Hotel Globe, and the playoffs were played at the Avicii Arena.
5. The group stage took place at the PGL Studios in Bucharest, and the playoffs took place at the BTarena in Cluj-Napoca.
6. Player share: US$625,000
   Organization share: US$625,000