What is a Swiss-format stage?
Swiss format pairs teams with the same record each round (1-0 vs 1-0, 1-1 vs 1-1, etc.). Once a team reaches 3 wins they advance; once they hit 3 losses they're eliminated. Each Swiss stage takes 5-7 rounds. The format avoids "group of death" imbalance because every loss matters equally regardless of starting bracket.
How are matches scored in the Major?
Stage 1: best-of-1s for opening matches and best-of-3s for elimination/qualification matches. Stage 2: same structure. Champions Stage: every match is best-of-3 except the grand final which is best-of-5. All matches use MR12 with 3-round overtime if tied 12-12.
What's the prize pool of a CS2 Major?
Valve-funded Majors carry a $1,250,000 prize pool. The winning team takes $500,000, runner-up $170,000, semifinalists $70,000 each, quarterfinalists $35,000 each. Sticker revenue (from Major capsule sales) is shared with participating teams and players, often exceeding the base prize pool.
