Moscow International Game Week to Host Counter-Strike 2 Finals
The Counter-Strike 2 Finals concluded in Russia as part of the second Moscow International Game Week. Four competitive rosters competed for the title following regional qualifiers that attracted 956 squads across Europe and Asia. The esports tournament ran alongside industry exhibitions that gathered delegates from the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye.
Qualified Teams for Counter-Strike 2 Finals
The closed Swiss-system stage determined the four competitors fighting in the Counter-Strike 2 Finals. HOTU, featuring players from Russia and Kazakhstan, joined Russian squad 1w in the final bracket. In addition, Mongolian outfits 5 Stars Esports and The Huns Esports secured the remaining two spots after emerging from the regional preliminary stages.
Open qualifiers took place from August 12 to 18, 2026, drawing 840 European rosters and 116 Asian teams. Furthermore, the subsequent closed stage featured 16 European and eight Asian squads between August 22 and September 1, establishing the final quartet for the trophy.
Regional Standings and Global Rankings
The competitive fixture forms an official part of the Valve Regional Standings system. Points collected during the Counter-Strike 2 Finals will influence invitations to upcoming Majors and top-tier global tournaments. Consequently, regional contenders aimed to collect essential ranking points before the close of the competitive cycle.
This tournament placement allows squads to improve their standing in international gaming circuits. The matches represent the culmination of weeks of competitive qualification across two continents.
Middle East and International Delegations
Industry professionals from the MENA region attended the exhibition to evaluate commercial opportunities. Faizan Faisal, Head of Publishing at Qatari studio Digital Dunes, joined the delegation to represent regional mobile software and title distribution. Meanwhile, Turkish studios were represented by Ahmet Çetinli of HOGO Games alongside Mustafa Yaya from Blackburne Games Studio.
Actor Ned Luke, who portrayed Michael De Santa in Grand Theft Auto V, also attended the event. The actor previously returned to voice the character in a 2025 update for GTA Online.
Industry Growth and Event Overview
Organized by the Agency of Creative Industries under the Moscow Department of Culture, the gathering spanned hundreds of sites. Russia features 92 million active video game players and places 12th globally in consumer software spending within the digital economy.
The main exhibition hosted more than 80 participating enterprises, including resident studios from the Moscow Game Hub. The inaugural 2025 edition drew 150,000 visitors, setting the stage for expanded international networking among developers from 20 participating nations.
