Thunderpick is placing $1,000,000 on the desk — and it’s not simply shopping for status. The crypto-backed platform’s third annual Counter-Strike 2 World Championship is shaping as much as be one of many largest open occasions of the yr, with a LAN closing scheduled for Malta and a rising foothold within the professional CS2 scene.
Since its launch in 2023, the Thunderpick World Championship has quietly advanced from a distinct segment match right into a critical annual fixture. Backed by a seven-month season, international qualifiers, and a beneficiant $1 million prize pool — the biggest seen by a bookmaker in esports — the 2025 version marks Thunderpick’s most formidable effort but.
The corporate has additionally dedicated to returning in 2026, signaling long-term intent to construct a permanent circuit alongside the likes of BLAST and ESL.
This yr’s season spans from April via October and started with open regional qualifiers throughout Europe, North America, and South America. The highest groups will battle via group phases earlier than heading to the LAN finals, as soon as once more hosted in Malta.
All matches will likely be broadcast dwell on Twitch, and the occasion is being produced in partnership with knowledge agency GRID, in addition to Dexerto and HLTV, with Hotspawn returning because the match’s presenting associate.
Thunderpick World Championship 2025 Schedule
TWC EU1: April 28 – Might 7
TWC NA1: Might 8 – Might 16
TWC SA1: June 27 – July 2
TWC SA2: July 8 – July 13
TWC NA2: July 24 – August 1
TWC EU2: August 5 – August 14
Closed Qualifier: September 9 – September 11
LAN Finals in Malta: October 15 – October 19
Whereas CS2’s aggressive calendar is already full of occasions like IEM and BLAST Premier, Thunderpick is carving out its area of interest with an open, non-franchise format. That accessibility helped appeal to a formidable lineup in 2023 and 2024, together with FaZe Clan (2023 Champions), Virtus.professional, MOUZ, Cloud9, Monte, Heroic, Complexity, and FURIA.
This yr’s prize pool — $150,000 unfold throughout regional phases and $850,000 reserved for the finals — isn’t simply record-breaking for a bookmaker-sponsored occasion. It’s a transparent escalation in Thunderpick’s bid to be seen not simply as a platform, however as a reputable match organizer.
Kelly Sanders, Thunderpick’s Head of Technique, emphasised that the group’s focus stays on delivering a top-notch expertise for each gamers and followers. With the 2025 season in progress and preparations for 2026 already underway, she highlighted Thunderpick’s continued dedication to supporting and rising the CS2 aggressive scene.
Whether or not Thunderpick turns into a real rival circuit or stays a high-profile outsider, its presence provides one thing significant to the CS2 scene: an open door. In an ecosystem trending towards exclusivity, Thunderpick’s mannequin is a throwback with loads at stake.
For followers, which means extra to observe. For up-and-comers, it means extra to combat for.
