Thunderpick has confirmed the complete team list for its upcoming World Championship in Malta, and the lineup includes some of the biggest names in Counter-Strike. Eight teams will compete for a $1 million prize pool, making this one of the most valuable events left on the calendar before the Singapore Major invite cutoff.
The timing makes this tournament especially significant. With Valve points on the line and the November 2 cutoff fast approaching, every match at this event could influence which teams ultimately qualify for the Major.
Tournament Details and Schedule
The Thunderpick World Championship will run from October 14 to October 18 at the BLAST Arena studio. As a result, teams will have one of their final opportunities to boost their standing in the Valve Ranking System before the qualification window closes.
Who Is Competing
Falcons and FURIA lead the field as the only two teams from the current top five. Meanwhile, FISSURE Playground 3 champions Legacy and the team Aurora also bring top-ten pedigree to the tournament.
South American side 9z will also compete, alongside two Russian organizations, BETBOOM and PARIVISION. In addition, Virtus.pro secured their place through the closed qualifier, a run that pushed them into the top 30 of the global VRS standings. This tournament marks the team’s first major international LAN appearance since IEM Chengdu 2025. However, only two players remain from that earlier roster: Vladimir “b1st” Krasikov and Vadim “tO0RO” Arkov.
Therefore, the full field for the event includes Falcons, 9z, Aurora, PARIVISION, FURIA, Legacy, BETBOOM and Virtus.pro.
Tournament Format
The event will begin with two double-elimination groups. These groups will determine the four teams that advance to the single-elimination playoff stage. Most matches will be played in a best-of-three format. The final, however, will be decided in a best-of-five series.
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Why This Matters
For several of these organizations, the Thunderpick World Championship represents a final chance to strengthen their VRS position before the Major cutoff. Virtus.pro’s appearance is particularly notable, since the team enters with a largely new roster and limited recent LAN experience. As a result, their performance in Malta could shape both their Major hopes and their long-term direction heading into the next season.
