Bucharest welcomes the autumn in the rhythm of gunfire and the roar of fans. From October 26 to November 1, a new chapter of the season will unfold at the PGL studios — a week where every round can be decisive, and familiar names will once again test themselves on the LAN stage. The opening matches promise more than just a battle for points — they are a test of ambition and composure after an intense year.
Format and system
The competition will be held in a Swiss Bo3 format, where every match will be crucial for playoff qualification. The eight best teams will continue in the Single Elimination Bo3 stage, while the grand final will be played in Bo5 format. The map pool comes without surprises: Dust2, Mirage, Inferno, Nuke, Train, Overpass, Ancient.
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Tournament opening: Legacy vs Liquid
The first day will begin with a match that already carries a storyline — Legacy will face Liquid. The Brazilian team recently triumphed at the CS Asia Championships, and now they begin a new chapter of their story in Europe. Their roster is stable, their form confident, with three consecutive victories, and they enter the tournament determined to continue their winning streak.
Liquid, on the other hand, are going through an unstable period: the team has lost its rhythm but still has strong individual talent in EliGE, s1hy, and NAF. Previous encounters between these two teams ended in favor of Legacy — 3:2 over the last five matches. Analysts predict a close contest, where Dust2 and Nuke could become the key maps.
Battle of the regions: paiN vs Gentle Mates
At the same time, on the second stream, another exciting matchup will take place — paiN Gaming vs Gentle Mates. The Brazilian roster, currently holding a place in the HLTV top 20, aims to prove that the international success of their compatriots from Legacy was no coincidence.
Gentle Mates, representing Spain, have something to prove after a series of unsuccessful performances. Their MartinezSa remains one of the most consistent snipers in the region, but the team has lost their last three series. paiN hold a slight advantage in rating — 1.81 versus 1.96, but the map statistics show parity: Nuke and Inferno could determine the outcome of the match.
Other matches of the day
In addition to these two main clashes, the October 26 schedule includes:
- GamerLegion vs FlyQuest
- HEROIC vs Ninjas in Pyjamas
- 3DMAX vs SAW
- BetBoom vs MIBR
- Aurora vs fnatic
- Astralis vs B8
Each match has its own intrigue — from HEROIC’s return after a break to B8’s chance for a sensational start.
🇷🇴 The Day 1 schedule of PGL Masters Bucharest 2025 is here! 🗓️
📅 October 26 – November 1
💰 $1,250,000 in winnings
🎮 16 teams
📍 PGL Studios#PGLMasters pic.twitter.com/mcwjAcJph6— PGL (@pglesports) October 20, 2025
What’s at stake
The $1,250,000 prize pool will be distributed among all participants: the champion will receive $200,000, the runner-up — $93,750, and even the 15th–16th places will earn $6,250. At the same time, the tournament carries significant weight in the VRS ranking ($1,000,000), so the results here will impact the global standings of teams this season.
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Who will surprise in Bucharest
Among the favorites — Aurora, Liquid, and Legacy — it’s worth keeping an eye on GamerLegion, who have a strong Ancient map (67%) and consistently perform well at LAN events. Meanwhile, Astralis remain a major mystery — the team looks refreshed but has yet to face a real test.
