Scheduled to kick off on Tuesday, September 8, FISSURE Playground #3 is the first instalment of the FISSURE Playground series of the year, succeeding FISSURE Playground #2, which concluded in September 2025.
This year, the event moves to Suzhou, China, where 16 of the world’s elite CS2 teams will battle it out for a share of the US$1,000,000 prize pool, with $300,000 reserved for the champions.
As a Tier-1 tournament, FISSURE Playground #3 promises to produce unforgettable moments for esports fans as they watch the attending teams battle through a GSL-style group stage and single-elimination playoffs to claim the coveted trophy.
All the spotlight, however, will be on the defending champions, FURIA, who head to China as the team to beat.
They have proven their worth with deep tournament runs in bigger events this season and will be expected to shine in what is a softer field than the competitions they’ve featured in not long ago.
However, with the likes of G2 Esports, Legacy, and FaZe Clan also travelling to China, FURIA’s road to the top will be anything but easy.
Here is all the information you need to know about FISSURE Playground #3, including the dates, format, schedule, favourites, and which bookmakers offer outright odds for the event.
FISSURE Playground #3 Format
FISSURE Playground #3 is divided into two parts, starting with the group stage, where 16 participating teams will be split into two double-elimination groups of eight. All group stage matches will be played as a best-of-three, with the top three teams per group proceeding to the playoffs.
FISSURE Playground #3 playoffs move to a single-elimination bracket with group winners securing a direct bye to the semifinals, runners-up to the quarterfinals as high seeds, and third-place teams to the quarterfinals as low seeds.
All playoff matches are best-of-three, except for the grand finals, which are best-of-five.
Group Stage
16 teams
Two double-elimination groups
All games are best-of-three
Top three teams from each group proceed to the playoffs
Group winners get a semifinal bye
Runners-up advance to quarterfinals as high seeds
Third-place teams proceed to quarterfinals as low seeds
Playoffs
Six teams
Single-elimination bracket
Finals are best-of-five
Other games are best-of-three
How to Bet on FISSURE Playground #3?
Betting on FISSURE Playground #3 is straightforward, thanks to the excellent range of FISSURE Playground #3 markets across various bookmakers. While there are numerous platforms that will offer FISSURE Playground #3 odds, Stake stands out as one of the more popular options.
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Log in or register a new account using the promo code NEWBONUS
Open the CS2 category and look for FISSURE Playground #3 markets
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FISSURE Playground #3 Favourites
FISSURE Playground #3 will welcome 16 Counter-Strike 2 teams, 15 of whom have been invited based on their position in the Valve Regional Standings (VRS). This ensures a competitive field, with some of the world’s top squads in attendance.
However, while FISSURE Playground #3 is packed with world-class talent, only a handful of squads are given a realistic chance of making a run for the trophy. FURIA sit atop that list.
FURIA travel to China as one of the most successful teams in attendance, having recently placed second in the Intel Extreme Cologne Major, fourth at the Esports World Cup, and top-six at BLAST Open Fall.
While big titles have eluded FURIA, they’ve proven capable of holding their own against some of the world’s elite teams, and a softer field in FISSURE Playground #3 should not present them with many challenges.
G2 Esports fall in the same bracket as a world-class squad that has found some success in bigger events but has been fairly unsuccessful in securing big titles. Like FURIA, they left a positive mark at BLAST Open, where G2 placed top-six, and will be hopeful they can produce another promising run in China.
Moving down the list of likely champions, Legacy and FaZe Clan can’t be overlooked either.
Legacy are one of the more exciting squads attending FISSURE Playground #3, having shown great form of late.
The Brazilians placed third in IEM Atlanta and the Esports World Cup, and won CS Asia Championships in May. While Legacy did not impress in Cologne (12th-14th) or BLAST Open Fall (ninth-12th), they played close games against elite teams, notably Team Vitality and Team Falcons, against whom Legacy have taken one map apiece.
FaZe Clan have been a bit volatile recently, but not necessarily in a bad way. Since May, FaZe have secured a top-four finish in three events, including BLAST Bounty Summer, where FaZe made the semifinals.
More recently, they did not make it far in the Esports World Cup (ninth-16th), but FaZe deserve some slack as they got eliminated by Team Vitality in the first round of the playoffs.
Having now had extra time to rest and prepare, FaZe can be a threat if they find their old form.
FISSURE Playground #3 Odds
Team
Odds
FURIA
3.25
G2 Esports
4.50
Legacy
5.00
FaZe Clan
8.00
9z Team
11.00
BetBoom Team
11.00
Astralis
13.00
The MongolZ
13.00
PARIVISION
21.00
GamerLegion
41.00
BIG
51.00
MIBR
67.00
magic
67.00
TYLOO
101.00
Alliance
101.00
Asian Qualifier Team
251.00
FISSURE Playground #3 FAQ
When is FISSURE Playground #3?
FISSURE Playground #3 is scheduled to kick off on Tuesday, September 8, with the first games of the group stage. The tournament will run for six days, and conclude on Sunday, September 13 with the grand finals.
Who are the favourites to win the FISSURE Playground #3?
FURIA are the leading favourites to win FISSURE Playground #3, priced at the shortest odds on the outright markets. G2 Esports and Legacy are close behind, with FaZe, 9z Team, and BetBoom Team all holding the tag of dangerous outsiders.
Where can I find betting odds for the FISSURE Playground #3?
Esports fans can find betting odds and markets for FISSURE Playground #3 on any major esports streaming platform as well as numerous traditional bookmakers. Out of al the options, however, Stake stands out as one of the more popular, thanks to its excellent market coverage, competitive odds, and other features esports punters will appreciate.
Esports Writer & Betting Tipster • 10+ Years of Experience, Esports Betting Writer
Tit Krajnik is a leading expert in the betting and gambling industry with a particular interest in Esports.
Kicking off his writing career way back in high school, he covers various esports titles, including Counter Strike, Valorant and League of Legends.
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