Several upsets in the group stage set up a fresh and exciting playoff bracket at PGL Astana 2026. With a mix of the usual heavy hitters and promising newcomers like 9z and magic, it’s tough to tell what’s going to happen.
Which of the quarter-final squads will take their chance and grab a tier one title in the absence of Vitality? Find out in our PGL Astana 2026 betting preview.
xertioN lit up the server in his IGLing debut. Image credit: © MOUZ
Not many people expected the new look MOUZ to look as good as they have in the PGL Astana group stage. The new recruits have done a formidable job, but the biggest X factor for the international squad was hands down Dorian “xertioN” Berman.
It’s difficult to imagine an IGLing debut as good as his. The Israeli rifler delivered tons of impact on the server, both with his calls and, especially, his individual play. While the rest of the roster didn’t set the server alight, the in-game leader may have bought the time his teammates needed to get into their groove and start performing on the stage.
As for Aurora, it’s more of the same. The Turks are always in and around the playoffs, besting some of the world’s best CS2 teams on one occasion, and falling short against borderline top 20 teams like HEROIC on others.
What’s promising this time around is the performance of Caner “soulfly” Kesici. A solid anchor is the pillar of every great CS2 team, so if he maintains his level into the playoffs, Aurora could snatch a high placing in this event.
With Aurora and MOUZ having already faced off at this event and the latter coming out on top, the Hamburg-based organization is more likely to take home the victory for a second time.
Score prediction:
Odds:
Odds courtesy of GG.BET and are subject to change.
donk is doing what donk does best in Astana – dominate. Image credit: Stephanie Lindgren | © BLAST
This event wouldn’t be complete without a Spirit vs. G2 matchup. The two squads seem to meet each other at every event they attend. So far this year, Spirit had the measure of G2 on all three occasions, so naturally, they are the CS2 odds favorites in this quarter-final.
As always, Danil “donk” Kryshkovets is the one delivering the goods for Spirit. It’s no surprise that he is currently the best performing player in Astana, although it will be difficult to keep up his monstrous 1.63 rating in the playoffs.
In the case of their opponents, it’s difficult to predict which G2 is going to show up on the day of the quarter-final. Even though they qualified with a 3:2 record, their victories against Fisher College and Monte were extremely dominant.
If G2 manage to start the match on the right foot and sway the momentum in their favor, there is a world where they run away with the game, eliminating Spirit in the process. That’s an optimistic scenario from a G2 fan perspective. Realistically, chances are that it’s going to be a competitive affair with Spirit coming out on top in the end.
Score prediction:
Odds:
CS2 betting odds courtesy of GG.BET and are subject to change.
luchov popped off in 9z’s group stage run. Image credit: © 9z Globant
While surprising upsets always happen and will continue to happen at upcoming CS2 events, this might be one of the most unbelievable quarter-final pairings at a tier one event in CS2.
Firstly, 9z blitzed through the group stage, beating PARIVISION, Falcons, and MOUZ, advancing to the playoffs with a flawless 3:0 record. The rifling duo of Luciano “luchov” Herrera and Franco “dgt” Garcia has been unstoppable in Astana thus far.
While seeing 9z in the quarter-final of a tier one event is unusual, their opponents served up an even bigger surprise. On the opposite side of the server is magic, an up-and-coming Eastern European formation, whose name might ring a bell for fans of tier two Counter-Strike.
After a disappointing start to their PGL Astana 2026 campaign, magic came back from an 0:2 record in the Swiss, winning three games in a row and booking themselves their maiden playoff spot at a tier one event.
However, taking into consideration the teams magic beat to get here – K27, HEROIC, and Gentle Mates – they might struggle against an in-form 9z. The South American squad should be the one advancing further into the competition.
Score prediction:
Odds:
Odds courtesy of GG.Bet Esports and are subject to change.
Will m0NESY finally lift a trophy in the Falcons jersey? Image credit: Luc Bouchon | © BLAST
We are saving the best for last, with a blockbuster FURIA vs. Falcons matchup in the packed-out Barys Arena closing out the first day of the playoffs.
The current FURIA roster made its debut at this same event a year ago, where Danil “molodoy” Golubenko made a name for himself on home soil, making the playoffs in his first-ever tier one event.
A lot has happened since then, but despite FURIA’s ups and downs in recent months, they look like one of the CS2 betting frontrunners to lift the PGL Astana 2026 trophy.
Unfortunately for their fans, they couldn’t draw a much more difficult quarter-final opponent than Falcons, whom they failed to beat on the last three occasions. However, this is Falcons’ first event with Finn “karrigan” Andersen at the helm, who recently departed FaZe Clan, after they failed to qualify for the IEM Cologne Major.
While Falcons’ group stage play showed a lot of promise, they are nowhere near being a finished article. FURIA should have enough quality to capitalize on the situation and overcome the Saudi organization for the first time this year.
Score prediction:
Odds:
Odds courtesy of GG.BET and are subject to change.
Also read: kyxsan opens up on Team Falcons exit and final weeks with NiKo
Featured image credit: © PGL
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