The Thunderpick World Championship 2025 in Malta gathers eight elite CS2 teams fighting for $850,000. Our preview breaks down the structure, top contenders, and odds, offering expert 2025 CS2 Thunderpick WC predictions and betting tips. This Counter-Strike 2 Thunderpick 2025 preview highlights everything you need to know — from the tournament structure and location to betting odds, top contenders, and expert predictions.
The Thunderpick World Championship 2025 stands out as one of the elite CS2 events in the second half of the year, featuring elite global rosters competing for a massive $850,000 prize pool. Taking place from October 15 to 19 in Malta, it promises a thrilling week of tactical depth, sharp aim, and psychological battles on stage.
The Thunderpick 2025 World Champ marks the culmination of the Thunderpick esports circuit, bringing together eight of the strongest teams from across regions. Four have been invited directly based on their performance throughout the season, while the other four earned their spots through tough regional qualifiers.
| ℹ️ Tournament: | Counter-Strike 2, Thunderpick World Championship 2025 |
| 🧾 Format: | S-tier LAN tournament with 8 teams and a few stages |
| 🏟️ Venue: | Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre, Attard, Malta |
| 🗓️ Dates: | October 15 – 19, 2025 |
This year’s event brings a more balanced field than ever before. Teams from Europe, Asia, and the Americas all converge to test their skills under the bright LAN lights, ensuring that fans and bettors alike will experience top-level Competitive CS2.
The Thunderpick World Championship uses a clear and engaging format. The opening Group Stage follows a GSL system — two groups of four, each match played as best-of-three. The top two teams from each group advance to the Playoffs, which adopt a single-elimination bracket. Both semifinals and the third-place decider are best-of-three series, while the final will be a best-of-five clash.
The $850,000 prize pool ensures motivation at every stage. That financial incentive, combined with global visibility, makes this one of the most valuable non-Major tournaments on the CS2 calendar. With teams such as The MongolZ, FURIA, NAVI, and OG in the mix, the intensity will be sky-high.
The final stage unfolds offline in Malta, a location that has become a regular host for top esports competitions. The switch from online qualifiers to LAN finals introduces a new layer of pressure — the crowd, the cameras, and the direct player-to-player energy all factor into performance.
Teams that thrive in LAN settings, such as NAVI and The MongolZ, generally gain a psychological advantage. In contrast, younger or less experienced squads may find adapting to the stage environment challenging. The format rewards adaptability, depth in map pools, and strong communication under stress — all key aspects when evaluating betting value later on.
The CS2 Thunderpick World Championship 2025 odds are now available on popular bookies for Esports, offering markets for the outright winner, matchups, and special props. To understand the event better, let’s look at the top-5 contenders according to the bookmakers:
The Brazilian team FURIA has been resurgent lately, powered by a refreshed roster and improved tactical cohesion. They combine sharp aim with a fast-paced, risk-heavy approach that can dismantle more conservative European setups.
After strong showings in recent regional tournaments, FURIA’s odds to win have shortened significantly. They remain a fan favorite due to their explosive playstyle and emotional intensity, which often fuels deep tournament runs. If their momentum holds, they could easily push for another top-three finish.
The defending champions, The MongolZ, arrive as clear front-runners. Their growth over the 2025 season has been remarkable, transitioning from an unpredictable side to a structured, LAN-tested powerhouse. Their in-game leader has developed a keen sense for momentum control, while their star riflers maintain consistent fragging even against Tier-1 European opposition.
Their style, aggressive yet disciplined, suits the Bo3 format perfectly, which even brought them a #1 place in HLTV’s ranking. They excel in map-control scenarios and execute late-round plays with confidence. As defending titleholders, they will be the benchmark every other team measures against in Malta.
When it comes to experience and pedigree, NAVI remain unmatched. Despite a transitional year, the Ukrainian powerhouse continues to command respect on LAN. Their disciplined tactical structure, world-class AWPer, and deep map pool make them a serious threat when in rhythm.
Consistency has been their main weakness in 2025, but Malta could provide a fresh start. If NAVI can synchronize their calling and maintain composure through the group stage, their ceiling remains high. Bettors should never discount their ability to perform under pressure, and their recent victory at the StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2025 confirms they are capable of winning when top dogs are absent.
Aurora enters the Thunderpick World Championship 2025 as one of the four favorites with the potential to clinch the title. The team has shown steady growth throughout the year, particularly in online qualifiers, combining solid team coordination with individual firepower. Their tactical approach emphasizes early-round map control and adaptive mid-round calls, which can frustrate higher-seeded opponents.
They also don’t lack LAN experience and can easily perform well under pressure on the stage, while their hunger and unpredictability make them dangerous in any match. Aurora could be a so-called dark horse, especially in the group stage, offering intriguing value for bettors seeking CS2 2025 Thunderpick World Champ betting tips.
The European side OG enters the event as a qualifier but shouldn’t be underestimated. Their aggressive entries, confident trading, and fluid map reads make them dangerous opponents. Their run through the regional qualifiers demonstrated resilience and flexibility, two crucial ingredients for tournament upsets.
They’ve historically performed well in GSL group structures, where adaptability and momentum matter most. OG may not be the top favorites, but their potential to surprise Tier-1 opponents makes them an intriguing outsider bet for those exploring betting predictions for CS2 2025 Thunderpick markets.
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The primary call among analysts and bettors alike is FURIA to win outright. Their success in clutch scenarios and their ability to grind out tough best-of-three matches gives them a measurable advantage over rivals. Among all CS2 predictions for Thunderpick WC 2025 winners, the Brazilian organization looks the most logical and worth a bet.
FURIA’s aggressive tempo and strategic flexibility make them ideal title contenders. This aligns with our betting prediction for competitive Counter-Strike 2 coverage for top LAN events. As such, this is one of the stronger angles for those looking to bet on 2025 CS2 Thunderpick World Championship outcomes beyond the outright winner market.
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Despite the bookies seeing both teams as the major favorites for the title, we see a gap in performances between them in recent times. The Brazilian side won a tough Fissure Playground 2 final 3-2 over the Mongolians and made easy playoffs on the ESL Pro League S22 after that. They lost to eventual winners, Vitality, and a close 2-1 game, confirming consistency and good mood.
On the contrary, The MongolZ showed form downfall after gaining HLTV’s number 1 spot, underperforming at the important events. Of course, they combine LAN confidence with a proven formula of tactical intelligence and sharp execution. However, their recent performances in international events suggest that they aren’t at their best and can still seek new motivation ahead of the challenges of Malta.
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Professional tournaments rarely become a place for risky moves like knife kill, but the disparity between the top-4 and remaining teams is really big. In this case, the representatives of tier-1 teams can feel the need to prove their dominance against underdogs. On the contrary, if the game goes well for one of the tier-2 sides, their desire to show that the odds were completely wrong will increase significantly. Both scenarios are pretty likely, and waiting in the Nuke’s Ventilation with the knife for a right-click kill can pay off for both players and bettors.
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For those who prefer player-focused wagers, a side bet on a NAVI player to claim the HLTV MVP award provides another angle. Thus, a lot of popular Counter-Strike sportsbooks offer individual players and team props, and the bet on the Mihai ‘iM’ Ivan looks like an approved risk. Although ‘b1t’ and ‘w0nderful’ have much smaller odds, the Romanian player is one of the most stable members in the team in 2025.
Even if NAVI don’t win the event, their star rifler often posts extraordinary stats in tight matches and can deliver serious personal stats across the event. With Natus Vincere being among the favorites, their appearance in the final won’t surprise anyone, and backing the realistic option with such odds is quite a good opportunity.
The Thunderpick World Championship 2025 will deliver five days of high-stakes CS2 action in Malta. With eight elite squads, a huge prize pool, and a well-structured LAN format, it stands as one of the most intriguing tournaments of the remaining season. For bettors, the landscape is rich with opportunities, and we offer the following options:
The stage in Malta is set — the teams are ready, and the fans are waiting. The only question left: who will lift the trophy and claim the Thunderpick crown this October? Our 2025 CS2 Thunderpick WC predictions can satisfy punters with different strategies, but don’t forget about responsible playing.
