MPKBK has announced a new $50,000 Counter-Strike 2 LAN event in Moscow, dropping at a very deliberate moment on the competitive calendar. The tournament will run from April 2 to 5, landing just one day before the VRS ranking cut off used for invites to the IEM Cologne Major.

For teams hovering around the qualification bubble, this is the kind of last chance LAN that can change everything. Here is what teams need to know.

CIS LAN #4 Dates, Format, And Location

The event, officially titled CIS LAN #4, will be held entirely offline in Moscow, Russia, continuing the organiser’s LanDaLan series. Sixteen teams will compete across four days, with every match played as a best of three.

The group stage uses a GSL format, followed by a single elimination playoff bracket. There are no online matches, every stage takes place on LAN.

The venue is Izi in Moscow, using the same PCs and monitors from LanDaLan #3.

Registration Details And Entry Requirements

Registration opens on February 16 and runs on a first come, first served basis. Each team must pay a $3,000 entry fee, with payment required within 120 hours once a payment link is issued. Only one team per organisation is allowed.

MPKBK has confirmed that it will not provide travel or visa assistance. All players must be able to travel to Russia and obtain the required documentation. The organiser may request proof of travel ability, and failure to provide it can result in removal from the event.

Teams must confirm participation by March 13, otherwise their slot will be passed to the next team in line.

VRS Impact And Eligibility Rules

There are no direct VRS invites or wildcards. Any team from Valve’s Global Region is eligible to sign up, provided they meet travel requirements.

Seeding will be based on Valve’s official VRS rankings published in March. Following a formal application, HLTV.org will decide which matches and stages count toward VRS. That status is not guaranteed until officially confirmed.

This timing makes the event especially valuable for teams sitting just outside Major invite positions, as the April 6 VRS snapshot will determine invites for Cologne.

Prize Pool Breakdown

The $50,000 prize pool is funded through team registration fees and sponsors. The distribution is heavily weighted toward the top finishers.

First place takes $30,000
Second place earns $10,000
Third place receives $5,000
Fourth place gets $2,000
Fifth to sixth place earn $1,000 each
Seventh to eighth place receive $500 each

Why These LANs Matter More Than Ever

LanDaLan events have already shown how impactful regional LANs can be under the current VRS system. PARIVISION’s win at Majestic LanDaLan 3 last September pushed the team into the European top 15 and helped secure an invite to the StarLadder Budapest Major.

That run snowballed into further invites in 2026, before the team climbed to fourth in the global rankings after winning the BLAST Bounty Season 1 Finals, sweeping Falcons in the final.

CIS LAN #4 is designed to offer that same opportunity, giving one or two teams a realistic shot at forcing their way into the Cologne Major conversation.

What Comes Next

With registration opening soon and slots limited, teams looking to make a late Major push will be watching this event closely. If history is any indication, Moscow could once again be where a Major storyline quietly begins.

The post MPKBK Announces $50,000 Moscow LAN Ahead Of IEM Cologne Major VRS Cut-Off appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

North American tournament organiser Fragadelphia has officially revealed FRAG 20, a major Counter-Strike 2 LAN event set to take place in Las Vegas from April 24 to 26, 2026. The tournament will run in partnership with LVL UP EXPO and will be hosted at the Las Vegas Convention Center South Hall.

Frag returns to Las Vegas for our biggest event yet proudly hosted in partnership with @LVLUPEXPO!

Featured in the massive Las Vegas Convention Center, Frag 20 will be our first ever hybrid Invite & Open tournament!

Showcasing the Top 8 Ranked NA VRS teams, a scaling prize pool… pic.twitter.com/xiC4hT37uL

— Frag (@fragadelphia) December 29, 2025

FRAG 20 marks a milestone for Fragadelphia as its first-ever hybrid open and invitational tournament, featuring space for up to 64 teams and a tiered prize pool that can reach $50,000 if all slots are filled.

A First-Ever Hybrid Format for Fragadelphia

For the first time, Fragadelphia is combining open competition with direct invites. The opening stage will allow up to 56 teams to enter an open double-elimination bracket, giving emerging squads a clear path into the main event.

Waiting in Stage 2 will be eight invited North American teams, selected using the February 2, 2026 update of the Valve Regional Standings. Invites will be issued the following day, with rankings filtered to the North America sub-region and excluding teams ranked inside the global top 12.

Seeding for the tournament will be finalised using the April 2026 VRS update, setting the stage for a tightly contested playoff run.

Tournament Structure and Competitive Flow

FRAG 20 will unfold across three distinct stages. Stage 1 features the open double-elimination bracket, from which eight teams will advance. These teams will join the eight invited squads in Stage 2, which will use a GSL group format.

From there, the top eight teams will progress into a single-elimination playoff bracket, culminating in the Grand Final in front of a live audience at LVL UP EXPO.

The event has been confirmed as a Tier 2 ranked tournament using the Americas VRS system, with an added regional focus on North America.

Prize Pool Breakdown and Scaling Rewards

The total prize pool for FRAG 20 scales based on the number of participating teams, starting at $20,000 and reaching the full $50,000 once all 64 slots are filled.

At maximum capacity, the prize distribution will see first place earn $20,000, second place $12,500, third place $7,500 and fourth place $4,000. Teams finishing between fifth and eighth will each take home $1,500.

This structure makes FRAG 20 one of the most lucrative open Counter-Strike 2 events scheduled for 2026.

Sign-Ups, Team Passes and Event Access

Team sign-ups will open on January 5, with registration windows and pricing increasing closer to the event. Early team passes start at $650, with options available for teams including a coach. Later registration phases will rise to $850 for teams entering in the final window.

Tickets purchased through the FRAG website provide access to the event outside of LVL UP EXPO public show hours, starting daily from 10am through to the end of competition. Fragadelphia has advised that team managers, staff and fans wanting full access should purchase tickets directly through FRAG rather than via the expo.

Too Late for Cologne, Still Vital for VRS

While FRAG 20 will take place after the invite deadline for the Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2026 Major, the event is still expected to attract teams from across the world. Fragadelphia events have become increasingly important for organisations looking to climb the VRS ladder, with previous tournaments drawing European teams chasing Major qualification points.

As one of the largest open LANs of 2026, FRAG 20 is set to act as a strong indicator of the health and depth of North America’s Counter-Strike 2 scene.

More Than Just Counter-Strike at LVL UP EXPO

Alongside FRAG 20, LVL UP EXPO will host a wide range of gaming and pop culture activities across its three-day schedule. Attendees can expect console esports tournaments for titles like Tekken 8, Street Fighter 6, 2XKO and FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves, as well as retro competitions featuring Super Smash Bros., Halo 2 and Tekken 3.

With a hybrid format, a scaling prize pool and a packed convention atmosphere, FRAG 20 is shaping up to be Fragadelphia’s most ambitious event to date.

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