> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.vdoesports.gg/news/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # PGL Cluj-Napoca 2027: European open qualifiers start the road to February - URL: https://www.vdoesports.gg/news/pgl-cluj-napoca-2027-european-open-qualifiers-start-road/ - Published: 2026-11-11T12:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-11-11T08:40:02.000Z - Description: The online European open qualifiers for PGL Cluj-Napoca 2027 run from 10 to 13 November and feed a closed qualifier on 15-18 November. Two places are at stake at the US$1.3 million event, whose playoffs head to BTarena on 19-21 February. - Author: Voodoo Esports Newsroom - Tags: Esports, #src-6cc13ad64ae3, #type-tournament, #seo-auto ## Key facts Event PGL Cluj-Napoca 2027 (Valve Tier 1) Open qualifiers 10-11 and 12-13 November 2026 (online) Closed qualifier 15-18 November 2026 (online) Main event 13-21 February 2027 Playoff venue BTarena, Cluj-Napoca, 19-21 February 2027 Total rewards US$1,300,000 The road to PGL Cluj-Napoca 2027 is open. Two online European open qualifiers, on 10-11 and 12-13 November, will each send one team to a closed qualifier on 15-18 November, and that closed qualifier will decide the last two places at the 16-team Counter-Strike 2 event in Romania next February. PGL Cluj-Napoca 2027 is a Valve Tier 1 tournament and PGL's second event of the year. The main event runs from 13 to 21 February 2027 and is played entirely on LAN, with the playoffs held in front of a live audience at BTarena from 19 to 21 February. It is part of PGL's Tier 1 programme for 2027 and 2028, which has a budget of at least US$22 million. ## How the open qualifiers work Both open qualifiers are played online, run by Fragnet Arena and open to European teams. Places in the brackets are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and teams must check in one hour before their bracket begins. Each qualifier is a single-elimination bracket. The opening rounds are best-of-one, and the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final are best-of-three. There is no second chance: one defeat ends a team's run, and only the winner of each bracket earns a place in the closed qualifier. ## The closed qualifier The European closed qualifier, also played online, brings together eight teams: six invited through the European Valve Regional Standings and the two open qualifier winners. It uses a double-elimination bracket with every match best-of-three, but there is no final. Instead, the two teams that reach the top of the bracket qualify directly for Cluj-Napoca. ## How the 16-team field is built The other 14 places went out as direct invites through the Global VRS, starting from the world number one, based on the ranking published on 2 November 2026\. Seeding for the main event will follow the VRS of 1 February 2027\. The qualification path breaks down as follows: - 14 teams: direct invites via the Global VRS (2 November 2026 ranking) - 6 teams: invited to the European closed qualifier via the European VRS - 2 teams: winners of the two online open qualifiers, who join the closed qualifier - 2 teams: qualify for the main event from the closed qualifier In Romania, the 16 teams will play a Swiss-system stage with every match best-of-three. The top eight advance to the playoffs at BTarena, which cover the quarter-finals, semi-finals and grand final. ## Prize money and the VRS bonus PGL lists US$1,300,000 in total rewards. The core US$1,000,000 is split evenly between US$500,000 in prize money and a US$500,000 club reward. On top of that is a US$300,000 VRS Invite Bonus, which pays US$60,000 to each of the five highest-ranked VRS teams that accept their invitation. If a team declines, its bonus passes down the ranking, but only within the top 14\. The champions will collect US$280,000 in total: US$180,000 in prize money plus a US$100,000 club reward. ## Tickets and what comes next Tickets for the BTarena playoffs are on sale through the ticketing platform iaBilet. Admission is general, with unreserved seats filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Children up to five years old enter free, under-14s must be accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket, and outside food and drink is not permitted. The field will be complete once the closed qualifier ends on 18 November, about three months before the main event. PGL is already looking further ahead, too: it has scheduled a Counter-Strike 2 event for 9-21 February 2028, with details still to come. | Placement | Prize money | Club reward | | --------- | ----------- | ----------- | | 1st | 180,000 | 100,000 | | 2nd | 80,000 | 75,000 | | 3rd | 50,000 | 65,000 | | 4th | 40,000 | 50,000 | | 5th-8th | 25,000 | 39,000 | | 9th-11th | 10,000 | 18,000 | | 12th-14th | 5,000 | \- | | 15th-16th | 2,500 | \- | PGL Cluj-Napoca 2027 prize distribution (US$) ## Frequently asked questions When are the PGL Cluj-Napoca 2027 qualifiers? Two online European open qualifiers take place on 10-11 and 12-13 November 2026, followed by the European closed qualifier on 15-18 November. The closed qualifier sends two teams to the main event. Where and when is the main event? The main event runs from 13 to 21 February 2027 in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, and is played entirely on LAN. The playoffs are held in front of a live audience at BTarena from 19 to 21 February. How much prize money is on offer? PGL lists US$1,300,000 in total rewards: US$1,000,000 in prize winnings, split between prize money and a club reward, plus a US$300,000 VRS Invite Bonus. The champions will receive US$280,000 in total. How can I buy tickets for the playoffs? Tickets are sold through iaBilet. Admission is general with unreserved seating, children up to five enter free, and under-14s must be accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket.