PGL 2021 takes place in Stockholm Sweden. This being the second major that PGL has ever hosted. This major brings back the viewer pass which was first introduced back in Katowice 2019 and seems to be the way Valve will continue to do majors. We also got new stickers this major which have sparked the debate are these be the new Kato 2014, Kato Killers???? Or just more overhyped rubbish?




Along with this major we also get a brand new view pass and way to get souvenirs, while it does function the same way as the Katowice 2019 Viewer Pass,

As of last year only way to participate in the Pick'EM predictions and to get souvenir drops is by first buying the viewer pass and then completing the "challenge's" that the pass requires. The pass is $10 USD / $.75€ this give you unlimited team sprays thoughout the duration of the major as well as access the the Pick'Em and Souvenir cases. You also DO NOT have to pay for the stickers to do the Pick'Em unlike previous years its is "free" with the view pass now.


This year they added a $18.99 USD which grants you the viewer pass and 3 souvenir tokens, which allow you to pick any case you want from the matches that are played.


Again just like the View pass and Pick'EM prediction this does FUNCTION the same way where you earn so many points until you can upgrade your coin. The way at which you can do so is different.

You must complete 8 of the challenges you will receive a silver coin and your choice at a souvenir case from any match and map of your choosing.
After completing # of the challenges you will receive a gold coin and another souvenir case. After completing ALL of the challenges you will receive a diamond coin and another souvenir case.

You can now also buy souvenir Tokens to buy cases outright.


Activate your coin before the tournament is over.
Place all 9 Pick'Em predictions for the Challenger Stage
Get Five correct Pick'Em predictions for the Challengers Stage
Place all 9 Pick'Em predictions for the Legends Stage
Get Five correct Pick'Em predictions for the Legends Stage
Place all 7 Pick'Em predictions for the Champion Stage before it begins
Place 2 correct Pick'Em predictions for the Quarter Finals
Place 1 correct Pick'Em prediction for the semifinals
Make a correct Pick'Em prediction for the grand finals

Although this year we do remove the Win 10 Rounds on all the active duty maps



You also get Team Graffitis which you can use throughout the major and rep your favorite team.

This year probably the biggest thing with the major entering the scene is the stickers. Some say these stickers are the kato killers, But one thing is for sure these are probably some of the best stickers to be added to the game in years. These stickers have an ultra clean look, being just the team logo with no back ground and a small Stockholm 2021 banner in the bottom right of the sticker.

These stickers come in the same classic variations of paper, holo, foil, and Gold (which was introduced for the first time in the RMR update For CSGO.) One thing is for sure these holos do go crazy being very simular to the kato 2014 by being completely holo. While the Kato 2014's seem to have a wider range in color in holo effect and better popping of colors these 2021 Stockholm are still amazing "budget" replacements for katos. Also the Holo's and Golds have a very nice texture added to the matching that of the dragon lore.

This year we also see a new addition to souvenir stickers. For the first time ever gold map stickers, which are said to be replacing player autographs for at least the first half of the major.




Thanks to Bastert on twitter

Better pics will be provided at a later date.




This year we lose the ability to buy autograph capsules right off the bat. Instead this year you will only be able to buy 2 different types of player autograph capsules. The Champion Autograph Capsule and the Finalist Autograph Capsule. Meaning that any team that doesn't make it to at least the top 8 the players will not receive an autograph.

This seems to be the same for the souvenirs as well

This year we did get something never seen before and that being team patches. For the first time you can now apply your favorite team patches to your agent of choice. They come in 2 different forms a normal patch style (like a paper sticker) and a Gold Patch. They can be purchased from the in-game store in packs to be open or individually on the steam market.

This year we have quite the stacked talent roaster in the Casting, Analysts, and Host. This lineup is considered to be the best possible line-up for a major. It is definitely the best we have had in years bring back old school CS talent. (This by no means is saying other talent that was excluded is bad in any way shape or form. No disrespect or hate to any of the talent.)

United Kingdom Freya (Freya Spiers)

United Kingdom Richard Lewis (Richard Lewis)

United Kingdom Thorin (Duncan Shields)
Serbia YNk (Janko Paunović)
Switzerland Maniac (Mathieu Quiquerez)
India Bleh (Sudhen Wahengbam)

Denmark Anders (Anders Blume)
United States Semmler (Auguste Massonnat)
United Kingdom Machine (Alex Richardson)
Australia SPUNJ (Chad Burchill)
United Kingdom James Bardolph (James Bardolph)
United Kingdom ddk (Daniel Kapadia)
United States moses (Jason O'Toole)
Canada Sadokist (Matthew Trivett)

United Kingdom James Banks (James Banks)

United States encg (Efren Chuong)
United Kingdom Jak3y (Jake Elton)
United Kingdom ItsRandall (Ryan Randall)

This year we have 24 teams going at it to win the major and the $2,000,000 Prize Pool. This is the largest prize pool ever up for grabs at a major.

1-Denmark-dupreeh
2-Denmark-Xyp9x
3-Denmark-gla1ve
4-Denmark-Magisk
5-Denmark-Lucky
S-Denmark-Bubzkji
C-Denmark-zonic

1-Sweden-REZ
2-Sweden-Plopski
3-Sweden-hampus
4-Denmark-dev1ce
5-Seden-LNZ
S-Sweden-ztrYoung
C-Sweden-THREAT

1-France-apEX
2-France-ZywOo
3-France-shox
4-France-misutaaa
5-France-Kyojin
S-France-bodyyDouble
C-France-XTQZZZ


1-France-JaCkz
2-France-AmaNEk
3-Serbia-nexa
4-Bosnia and Herzegovina-huNter-
5-Bosnia-and Herzegovina-NiKo
S-France-kennyS
C-France-maLeK


1-Brazil-yuurih
2-Brazil-arT
3-Brazil-VINI
4-Brazil-KSCERATO
5-Brazil-drop
S-Brazil-decenty
C-Brazi- tacitus

1-United States-EliGE
2-Canada-NAF
3-United States-Stewie2K
4-United States-Grim
5-Brazil-FalleN
S-Poland-pashaBiceps
C-United States-jokasteve

1-United States-Brehze
2-Bulgaria-CeRq
3-Canada-stanislaw
4-United States-oBo
5-Poland-MICHU
C-Canada-daps

1-Ukraine-s1mple
2-Russia-electronic
3-Russia-Boombl4
4-Russia-Perfecto
5-Ukraine-b1t
C-Ukraine-B1ad3

1-Russia-nafany
2-Russia-sh1ro
3-Russia-interz
4-Russia-Ax1Le
5-Kazakhstan-Hobbit
C-Russia-groove

1-Finland-doto
2-Denmark-Snappi
3-Israel-Spinx
4-Poland-dycha
5-Poland-hades
S-Finland-allu
C-Finland sAw

1-Germany-tabseN
2-Germany-tiziaN
3-Germany-syrsoN
4-Germany-k1to
5-Denmark-gade
S-Germany-Aqua
C-Germany-LEGIJA

1-Estonia-ropz
2-Slovakia-frozen
3-Lithuania-Bymas
4-Denmark-acoR
5-Australia-dexter
S-Germany-JDC
C-Denmark-mithR

1-Ukraine-somedieyoung
2-Russia-chopper
3-Russia-mir
4-Russia-magixx
5-Russia-degster
S-Russia-Patsi
C-Russia-Certus

1-Norway-rain
2-Sweden-olofmeister
3-Latvia-broky
4-Canada-Twistzz
5-Denmark-karrigan
C-Russia-innersh1ne

1-Brazil-TACO
2-Brazil-felps
3-Brazil-latto
4-Brazil-b4rtiN
5-Brazil-dumau
C-Brazil-cky

1-Kazakhstan-buster
2-Kazakhstan-qikert
3-Russia-Jame
4-Latvia-YEKINDAR
5-Russia-FL1T
C-Kazakhstan-dastan

1-China-somebody
2-China Summer
3-China-Attacker
4-China-SLOWLY
5-China-DANK1NG
C-China-Karsa

1-Australia-malta
2-New Zealand-Sico
3-Australia-INS
4-Australia-Hatz
5-Australia-aliStair
C-Australia-Kingfisher

First off we have the new teams coming to major for the first time ever.

1-Denmark-Jabbi
2-Denmark-nicoodoz
3-Denmark-roeJ
4-Denmark-HooXi
5-Denmark-Zyphon
S-Denmark-NaToSaphiX
C-Denmark-vorborg



1-Russia-El1an
2-Kazakhstan-Lack1
3-Russia-NickelBack
4-Russia-Krad
5-Russia-Forester
S-Russia-flamie
C-Russia-hooch

1-Brazil-jnt
2-Brazil-pancc
3-Brazil-Lucaozy
4-Brazil-realziN
5-Brazil-zevy
C-Portugal-coach

1-Spain-mopoz
2-Spain-ALEX
3-Spain-DeathZz
4-Spain-SunPayus
5-Spain-dav1g
C-Spaim-bladE

1-Denmark-stavn
2-Denmark-cadiaN
3-Denmark-TeSeS
4-Denmark-refrezh
5-Denmark-sjuush
C-Sweden-Xizt

1-Brazil-PKL
2-Brazil-biguzera
3-Brazil-hardzao
4-Brazil-NEKIZ
5-Brazil-saffee
C-Brazil-felippe1

• Dust 2 (2021 Collection)
  
• Mirage (2021 Collection)
  
• Nuke (2018 Collection)
  
• Inferno (2018 Collection)
  
• Overpass
  
• Vertigo
  
• Ancient

Once again another classic cs map leaves the major scene. This time being Train, Train has had a rough ride at the major being in the first 2 majors of Dreamhack 2013 and Katowice 2014. Then leaving the map pool not to reappear until 2015 Cologne.

This year the the PGL Stockholm major will use the Buchholz System durning the Challenger Stages and Legend Stages. Here is how it works brought to you by https://press.pglesports.com/ They broke it down and explained it better than I ever could.

Swiss Format with Buchholz system

The first round will use seedings from the Challenger and Legends stage-seeding depending on which part of the tournament is being played.

Round 1 will use the initial team seedings to determine their opponents.

• CIS #3 vs EU #11
  
• EU #4 vs EU #10
  
• NA #4 vs CIS #5
  
• EU #5 vs NA #5
  
• EU #6 vs CIS #4
  
• EU #7 vs OCE #1/Asia #1/SA#1 (depending on random seeding draw)
  
• EU #8 vs OCE #1/Asia #1/SA#1 (depending on random seeding draw)
  
• EU #9 vs OCE #1/Asia #1/SA#1 (depending on random seeding draw)
  

• EU #1 vs 3-2
  
• NA #1 vs 3-2
  
• CIS #1 vs 3-2
  
• EU #2 vs 3-1
  
• NA #2 vs -3-1
  
• CIS #2 vs - 3-1
  
• EU #3 vs 3-0
  
• NA #3 vs 3-0

*Ties are resolved by using the Buchholz tie-breaker.

Round 2 in both Challengers and Legends Stage will be split into two groups of Winners and Losers of Round one and use the Challenger/Legends Stage Seed to decide match-ups.

• #1 vs #8
  
• #2 vs #7
  
• #3 vs #6
  
• #4 vs #5

• #9 vs #16
  
• #10 vs #15
  
• #11 vs #14
  
• #12 vs #13

Stage three will be divided into three groups of 2-0, 1-1, 0-2 wins/losses with the help of Buchholz tie-breaker system. Teams that have played each other in previous rounds cannot face each other again.

Buchholz example:
Your team has a 0-2 record (two losses) and your prior opponents are 2-0 and 1-1. Your tiebreaker score is 2 (your prior opponents have 3 wins total, and 1 loss total, so 3-1 = 2)

Another team is 0-2 (two losses), and their prior opponents are both 1-1. Their tiebreaker score is 0 (the prior opponents have 2 wins and 2 losses in total, so 2-2 = 0)

This means your team has the higher seed with a Buchholz score of 2 vs 0 due to stronger opponents.

In cases where teams are still tied. Initial Team Seeding is used.

Round 3 Match-ups:

• #1 vs #4
  
• #2 vs #3

• #1 vs #8
  
• #2 vs #7
  
• #3 vs #6
  
• #4 vs #5

• #1 vs #4
  
• #2 vs #3

Round 4 will once again have the teams re-seeded based on previous opponents’ scores and will be divided into two groups of 2-1 (two wins, 1 loss) and 1-2 (1 win, two losses) with the help of the Buchholz tie-breaker system. Teams that have played each other in previous rounds cannot face each other again.

Round 5 will have the remaining teams with 2-2 score (two wins and two losses) re-seeded based on previous opponents’ scores and will be divided into 1 group with three match-ups. Teams that have played each other in previous rounds cannot face each other again.

• #1 vs #6
  
• #2 vs #5
  
• #3 vs #4

Playoffs will be played with a single elimination best-of-three bracket and use the following seeding:

These are best of one matches

Astralis VS Copenhagen Flames

ENCE VS Godsent

BIG VS Virtus Pro

Heroic VS Tyloo

Team Spirit VS FAZE

paiN VS Entropiq

Movistar Rider VS Renegades

MOUZ VS Sharks Esports

Thanks to Killa on twitter

https://liquipedia.net/counterstrike/PGL/2021/Stockholm

https://www.hltv.org/events/6207/pgl-major-stockholm-2021-challengers-stage

https://press.pglesports.com/

https://twitter.com/killa

https://twitter.com/Bastert55

https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=568865100
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1323685386