The MongolZ, NAVI, FURIA, Aurora and more headline $1 million Counter-Strike event in Malta this October
VALLETTA, Malta, Sept. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Thunderpick World Championship (TWC), one of the largest independently sponsored CS2 tournaments in the world, today announced the dates and teams for its 2025 Finals. With a $1 million USD prize pool on the line ($850,000 for the finals), the championship will bring together 20 of the top Counter-Strike teams to compete in front of a global audience this fall.
The TWC Finals Closed Qualifier will run Sept. 9 to 11, determining the final teams punching their ticket to the TWC Finals (LAN stage) in Malta on Oct. 15 to 19.
Teams competing at TWC 2025 include:
- The MongolZ - Defending Thunderpick World Champions, currently ranked #3 in the world
- NAVI - Ukrainian powerhouse, former Major champions, and a perennial top-10 team
- FURIA - Brazil's top CS2 roster, known for their aggressive playstyle (#8 world ranking)
- Aurora - Rising Russian squad, solidified as a global top-five contender (#5 world ranking)
- Ninjas in Pyjamas (NiP) - Legendary Swedish organization with a rich Counter-Strike legacy
- SAW - Portugal's leading team, climbing steadily in the European scene
- BB - Prominent CIS roster competing at the highest international level
- ECSTATIC - Denmark's up-and-coming team with upset potential
- TNL - South Korean squad representing Asia's growing CS2 presence
- Nemiga - Belarusian veterans with experience on the international stage
- BIG - German giants, fan favorites with multiple international titles
- ENCE - Finnish-led team, known for deep runs at Majors and top-tier consistency
- PARIVISION - Fast-rising CIS squad making waves in qualifiers
- KOLESIE - Underdog team emerging from the Eastern European circuit
- OG - European mix team, returning to TWC after competing last year
- JiJieHao - One of China's strongest representatives in CS2 competition
- Team Legacy - International lineup with veteran leadership
- M80 - North America's breakout team with a young, talented roster
- Imperial - Brazilian fan favorites led by seasoned veterans
- 9z - South America's rising stars, representing Argentina and Uruguay
This year's tournament features four top-10 ranked teams, setting the stage for one of the most competitive editions yet. The MongolZ's return to defend their 2024 title among the presence of perennial powerhouses like NAVI, FURIA and Aurora.
"As we enter our third year, the Thunderpick World Championship continues to push the boundaries of competitive Counter-Strike," said Kelly Sanders, Head of Strategy at Thunderpick. "With top teams from around the world converging on Malta and the return of defending champions The MongolZ, fans can expect an unforgettable event full of high-stakes gameplay."
The TWC 2025 Finals are presented in collaboration with Hotspawn, the leading hub for esports news and analysis. Together, Thunderpick and Hotspawn are committed to elevating the fan experience with innovative production, compelling storytelling, and fair play at the heart of the competition. All matches will be broadcast live on twitch.tv/thunderpicktv.
About Thunderpick World Championship
The Thunderpick World Championship is a premier Counter-Strike 2 tournament with a $1,000,000 prize pool - the highest prize ever sponsored by a bookmaker to date. Now in its third year, the championship brings together the world's best CS2 teams to compete across online qualifiers and live LAN finals. Hosted in collaboration with data partner GRID, TWC has quickly become a fixture of the global Counter-Strike calendar.
About Thunderpick
Made by gamers for gamers, Thunderpick is the premier esports platform with a massive selection of events and markets to participate in and watch via high-quality live streams. Enabled by world-leading technology, Thunderpick's platform offers lightning-fast, easy, and fee-free payment solutions, a large Welcome Bonus for new users, and various giveaways and contests, to provide an electrifying value to the players.
CONTACT:
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