Overview
- Stage 3 began Thursday at the Palladium in Cologne as the first Major stage where every match is played best‑of‑three, with 16 teams competing for eight playoff spots and the LANXESS Arena finals scheduled June 18–21.
- Team Vitality recovered from an opening‑map loss to complete a 2‑1 reverse sweep of FUT to advance in Stage 3, while B8 reached Stage 3 after best‑of‑three wins over BIG and MIBR in Stage 2.
- Natus Vincere is positioned as a title contender and is set to meet Team Spirit in Stage 3, a matchup that tests NaVi’s bid for a third Major under the new longer‑series format.
- ESL’s official broadcasts and sponsor lineup show no cryptocurrency or Web3 partners, yet independent prediction markets tied to the event reportedly handled roughly $12.3 million in volume off‑platform.
- Valve’s Major shop uses a centralized, non‑blockchain token system for stickers and collectibles, a setup that underscores two trends: traditional sponsors reclaiming marquee esports space and crypto activity moving to informal, fan‑driven markets.