PGL Esports

SC PGL Esports S.R.L.
Company typePrivate
IndustryEsports
FoundedFebruary 25, 2002
Headquarters
Bucharest
,
Romania
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Silviu Stroie (CEO)
Number of employees
51-200
Websitewww.pglesports.com

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]

History

[edit]

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 a series of 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

[edit]

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

[edit]
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 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 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 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 TBD TBD
PGL Wallachia Season 4 April 19–27, 2025
PGL Wallachia Season 5 Noevmber 15–23, 2025

Counter-Strike

[edit]

PGL has hosted Counter-Strike tournaments beginning in Counter-Strike: 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,[26] PGL announced that it would organize independent non-Major events in 2025 and 2026 for the first time.[27]

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

Notable tournaments

[edit]
Name Date Location Champion Runner-up Prize pool Ref.
In Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
PGL Major Kraków 2017 July 16–23, 2017 Tauron Arena, Kraków Gambit Esports Immortals US$1,000,000 [28]
PGL Major Stockholm 2021 October 26–November 7, 2021 Stockholm[d] Natus Vincere G2 Esports US$2,000,000 [29]
PGL Major Antwerp 2022 May 9–22, 2022 Sportpaleis, Antwerp FaZe Clan Natus Vincere US$1,000,000 [30]
In Counter-Strike 2
PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 March 17–31, 2024 Royal Arena, Copenhagen Natus Vincere FaZe Clan US$1,250,000 [31]
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025 February 14–23, 2025 Bucharest/Cluj-Napoca[e] TBD TBD
PGL Bucharest 2025 April 6–13, 2025 PGL Studio, Bucharest
PGL Astana 2025 May 10–18, 2025 Barys Arena, Astana
PGL Belgrade 2025 October 25–November 2, 2025 Belgrade Arena, Belgrade
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 February 11–22, 2026 BTarena, Cluj-Napoca
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

[edit]
  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 will take place at the PGL Studios in Bucharest, while the playoffs will take place at the BTarena in Cluj-Napoca.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Sacco, Dominic (December 6, 2016). "Behind the scenes: Who hosts esports events?". British Esports Federation. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  2. ^ Mitrevski, Lydia (April 25, 2018). "PGL appoints Hugh Holland to sell global sponsorship opportunities". Esports Insider. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  3. ^ Fudge, James (March 4, 2024). "PGL Lays Out 2024-2026 Roadmap for Dota 2". The Esports Advocate. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  4. ^ "PGL Announces a Minimum of Eight $1 Million Tournaments from 2024 to 2026. Our first event will occur between May 10 and 19, 2024". press.pglesports.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  5. ^ Daniels, Tom (March 28, 2023). "PGL announces Counter-Strike 2 Major Copenhagen 2024". Esports Insider. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  6. ^ a b "PGL secures English broadcast rights to the Shanghai Major". esports.gg. January 11, 2025. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  7. ^ "The Manila Major - schedule, results, prize pool, statistics — Escorenews". escorenews.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  8. ^ "The International 2016 - schedule, results, prize pool, statistics — Escorenews". escorenews.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  9. ^ "Boston Major 2016 results". Yahoo Sports. December 11, 2016. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  10. ^ "The Kiev Major 2017 - Tournament Results & Prize Money :: Esports Earnings". Esports Earnings. April 30, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  11. ^ Gies, Arthur (August 13, 2017). "Here are the winners of Valve's $24 million 2017 International Dota 2 Championships". Polygon. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  12. ^ "The Bucharest Major - schedule, results, prize pool, statistics — Escorenews". escorenews.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  13. ^ "DAC 2018 - schedule, results, prize pool, statistics — Escorenews". escorenews.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  14. ^ "China Dota2 Supermajor - schedule, results, prize pool, statistics — Escorenews". escorenews.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  15. ^ "The International 2018 - schedule, results, prize pool, statistics — Escorenews". escorenews.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  16. ^ "The Kuala Lumpur Major - schedule, results, prize pool, statistics — Escorenews". escorenews.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  17. ^ "The International 2019 - schedule, results, prize pool, statistics — Escorenews". escorenews.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  18. ^ "ONE Esports Singapore Major 2021 - schedule, results, prize pool, statistics — Escorenews". escorenews.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  19. ^ "The International 2021 - schedule, results, prize pool, statistics — Escorenews". escorenews.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  20. ^ Michael, Cale (August 15, 2022). "Arlington Dota 2 Major: All scores, standings, and results". Dot Esports. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  21. ^ "Dota 2 Esports". www.dota2.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  22. ^ "Dota 2 Esports". www.dota2.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  23. ^ "PGL Wallachia Season 1: Schedule, results, teams, streams | ONE Esports". www.oneesports.gg. May 20, 2024. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  24. ^ "Dota 2 Esports". www.dota2.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  25. ^ "PGL Wallachia Season 2 - schedule, results, prize pool, statistics — Escorenews". escorenews.com. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  26. ^ Stubbs, Mike. "Valve Bans Franchised 'Counter-Strike 2' Tournaments". Forbes. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  27. ^ Šimić, Ivan (December 10, 2024). "PGL shares details for 2025-2026 CS2 esports circuit". Esports Insider. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  28. ^ Ojha, Deepak (July 23, 2017). "Gambit beat Immortals to achieve victory at PGL Major 2017". TalkEsport. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  29. ^ "NAVI win CSGO PGL Major Stockholm 2021". Dexerto. November 24, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  30. ^ "FaZe wins PGL CSGO Major Antwerp 2022: Recap & full results". Dexerto. May 22, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
  31. ^ Stubbs, Mike. "NAVI Wins The First 'Counter-Strike 2' Major In Copenhagen". Forbes. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
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