Tipsport MČR CS has its first four organizations confirmed for 2026: SINNERS, Dynamo Eclot, UNiTY and BRUTE. Four more teams will earn their places through open qualifiers in October, with the championship concluding on stage at the Life! festival at the BVV exhibition center in Brno.
The organizers have announced a total prize pool of CZK 275,000, including CZK 150,000 for the winner. If you want to compete rather than watch, the open qualifiers remain your route into the eight-team championship.
Invitations belong to organizations, not last year’s rosters
The four invited organizations earned their spots by finishing in the top four at last year’s championship, and all have accepted. SINNERS will enter as the defending champion.
Those invitations do not require the organizations to field their previous lineups. They can change their rosters, but each lineup must contain at least three Czech or Slovak players. The organizers have also confirmed that this year’s Tipsport MČR CS will not be a VRS tournament.
The remaining four places will go to the winners of four open qualifiers during October. Exact dates and further entry details are due to be announced in the coming weeks.
Only the semifinal winners reach the Brno stage
The championship combines online competition with a live final in Brno. Qualifying for the main tournament does not automatically secure a place at the festival: only two of the eight teams will make it to the stage.
- The eight participants will be drawn from seeding pots into two GSL groups.
- Two teams from each group will advance to the playoffs.
- The two semifinal winners will qualify for the on-stage final in Brno.
- The final will decide the largest share of the CZK 275,000 prize pool, with CZK 150,000 going to the champion.
Life! adds an international Counter-Strike tournament
For the first time, the Life! main stage will host two separate Counter-Strike tournaments. Alongside the Czech championship, the new Tipsport RUSH:Brno will bring international teams to the event.
The organizers say they will wait until the PGL Major entry cutoff before issuing invitations for RUSH:Brno, aiming to attract teams outside that Major’s field. It is a separate competition from Tipsport MČR CS, rather than a replacement for the domestic title event.
If you are planning to attend, current Life! ticket prices apply only through September 30. Individual and family single-day tickets are available, along with Premium options, through the official Life! tickets page.
For more Counter-Strike coverage, you can read our article on the Shanghai Major. You can also browse our gaming articles for other coverage.
FAQ
SINNERS, Dynamo Eclot, UNiTY and BRUTE have accepted invitations based on their top-four finishes at last year’s championship.
Four open qualifiers will take place in October, each awarding one place in the main tournament. Exact dates and further details have not yet been announced.
The total prize pool is CZK 275,000. The winning team will receive CZK 150,000.
No. The tournament starts online, and only the two semifinal winners will advance to the live final at the Life! festival in Brno.
No. The 2026 championship will not be a VRS tournament. Lineups must still include at least three Czech or Slovak players.