Stake Ranked Episode 3 Tournament Preview & Guide – NiP Chase Second Stake Ranked Title
Stake Ranked Episode 3 will ignite the CS2 esports scene in Barcelona from July 15-18, featuring eight top teams competing for a $100,000 prize pool and spots in future qualifiers. Defending champions Ninjas in Pyjamas remain favorites, but HEROIC's revamped roster could shake up the bracket. With a double-elimination format and a best-of-five grand final, the tournament promises thrilling action, streamable via popular betting platforms like Stake. Despite NiP's leading odds, the expert pick leans toward HEROIC's high potential to secure the title.
Stake Ranked Episode 3 is scheduled to kick off on Wednesday, July 15
Eight Counter-Strike 2 teams battle it out for US$100,000 share in Barcelona
Ninjas in Pyjamas are billed as the main candidates to hoist the trophy
Eight Counter-Strike 2 teams battle it out for US$100,000 share in Barcelona
Ninjas in Pyjamas are billed as the main candidates to hoist the trophy
Stake Ranked Episode 3 Live StreamWatch live online at bet365 > Esports > Stake Ranked Episode 3. T&Cs apply.
Watch and bet
Geo-restrictions apply. You must have a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours. Over 18s only. T&Cs apply.
The third iteration of Stake Ranked is just around the corner, featuring eight Counter-Strike 2 teams who will clash in Barcelona, Spain.
- When Does Stake Ranked Episode 3 Start?
- Stake Ranked Episode 3 Format
- Main Event
- Stake Ranked Episode 3 Favourites & Odds
- Where to Watch Stake Ranked Episode 3?
- Where to Bet on Stake Ranked Episode 3?
Stake Ranked Episode 3 is set to kick off on Wednesday, July 15, as an A-Tier Counter-Strike 2 tournament that bridges the gap between XSE Pro League 2026 and the next big event in BLAST Bounty Season 2.
Like the previous two iterations, Stake Ranked Episode 3 will head to Barcelona, Spain, and will play out as a LAN event, with eight teams battling for the lion’s share of the US$100,000 prize pool and invites to Stake Ranked Episode 4 qualifiers.
In attendance are some returning faces, including HEROIC, 3DMAX, and the defending champions Ninas in Pyjamas, who are billed as the team to beat as they chase their second Stake Ranked title.
However, while the top-rated bookmakers have NiP listed as the top dogs, the field is stacked with dangerous challengers, who are there to spoil Ninjas in Pyjamas’ plans.
Stake Ranked Episode 3 promises to be an exciting tournament with plenty of betting opportunities to explore, and an event no CS2 punter should miss.
Here is all you need to know about Stake Ranked Episode 3, as well as our free tournament preview and guide, with betting odds, and expert outright picks.
When Does Stake Ranked Episode 3 Start?
Stake Ranked Episode 3 is scheduled to start on Wednesday, July 15, with the first games of the bracket stage. The tournament will conclude with best-of-five grand finals on Saturday, July 18.
Stake Ranked Episode 3 Format
Stake Ranked Episode 3 is a short-format tournament, which will follow mostly the same format that was used in Episodes 1 and 2, with just one minor change.
The event features eight Counter-Strike 2 teams, who are seeded into a double-elimination bracket based on their position in the global standings.
All bracket stage games are played as best-of-three (BO3), while the grand finals will be best-of-five (BO5). IN the previous two iterations of Stake Ranked, all games, including the finale were BO3.
Main Event
- Eight Counter-Strike 2 teams
- Double-elimination bracket
- BO5 grand finals
- All other games are BO3
Stake Ranked Episode 3 Favourites & Odds
Stake Ranked Episode 3 are available on all prominent betting sites, including Stake, as the official tournament sponsor. And across all platforms, esports fans can find the same order of teams in the outright markets, with the defending champions, Ninjas in Pyjamas, leading the way.
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Ninjas in Pyjamas | 3.50 |
| paiN Gaming | 4.40 |
| HEROIC | 5.80 |
| Gentle Mates | 5.80 |
| Wildcard | 7.00 |
| K27 | 7.00 |
| 3DMAX | 8.50 |
| Phantom Esports | 9.00 |
Ninjas in Pyjamas won Stake Ranked Episode 2, but have since struggled to find much success, consequently dropping down the global rankings. Currently ranked 27th and 32nd in the Valve Regional Standings (VRS), NiP sit behind paiN Gaming.
However, while NiP’s global ranking has decreased, the individual talent on this roster is undeniable, even after the departure of r1nkle.
On the other hand, losing the AWPer was a blow for Ninjas in Pyjamas, and they’ve yet to show that they can be as potent without the Ukrainian player.
PaiN Gaming are among the main candidates to win Stake Ranked Episode 3, having show good things of late. Notably, they placed second in RES Showdown South America Fall, but their performance at Intel Extreme Masters Cologne Major and CS Asia Championships has left a lot to be desired.
In paiN’s defence, in the events where they crashed out early, they had to play stronger teams than what they’ll meet at Stake Ranked Episode 3. However, that does not take away from the fact that their form is questionable.
HEROIC can’t be counted out as potential Stake Ranked Episode 3 champions. After a long period of iffy results this season, HEROIC opted to make major roster changes, adding Antonio "Martinez" Martínez and Ludvig "Brollan" Brolin to the lineup, creating what appears to be a stable roster.
The only issue with HEROIC is that they’ve yet to debut their new roster, so there are some question marks about how the new players will gel. But on paper, HEROIC have the tools to succeed at this level of play.
Gentle Mates are tied with HEROIC on the outright markets, but appear as a far less appealing choice to make a run.
While they will get to enjoy the support from the home crowd, Gentle Mates field an incomplete roster and have looked very shaky of late, suggesting that their chances of hoisting the trophy are slim to none.
Wildcard, K27, 3DMAX, and Phantom Esports are all listed as outsiders and rightly so, as they’ve not shown nearly as much as other top candidates this season.
Where to Watch Stake Ranked Episode 3?
To follow the action at Stake Ranked Episode 3, esports fans can visit any online esports streaming site and look for StarLadder channels. Alternatively, logging in or signing up with prominent bookmakers like Stake will grant you access ot both free streaming options and in-play betting markets.
- Visit Stake
- Sign up with promo code NEWBONUS or log in
- Navigate to the CS2 tab and find Stake Ranked Episode 3 markets
- Open the live streams and explore in-play betting options
Where to Bet on Stake Ranked Episode 3?
To bet on Stake Ranked Episode 3, esports fans can visit any online esports bookmaker and find the markets.
As the official sponsor of the event, however, Stake stands out as the go-to platform to bet on Stake Ranked Episode 3, offering highly competitive odds, excellent market coverage, outright markets, free streaming, and in-play betting options.
Verdict
Ninjas in Pyjamas are the defending champions and the main candidates to win Stake Ranked Episode 3. While there is no denying that NiP can make a run for the trophy, there are other, more appealing picks in the mix.
HEROIC in particular caught my attention. Despite their struggles this season, HEROIC field a solid core and the recent additions of Brollan, Martinez, and doto should help them reach new heights.
While unproven, HEROIC’s ceiling is high enough to trust them to deliver in Spain and win their second tournament title of 2026.
HEROIC in particular caught my attention. Despite their struggles this season, HEROIC field a solid core and the recent additions of Brollan, Martinez, and doto should help them reach new heights.
While unproven, HEROIC’s ceiling is high enough to trust them to deliver in Spain and win their second tournament title of 2026.
Top Betting Sites
Betting offers
Upcoming Events
10 June 2026
- Volleyball Nations League 2026 -
- Volleyball
11 June 2026
07 July 2026
- Dota 2 Esports World Cup 2026 -
- Esports
Load More
Today's Acca Tips
-
Soccer tips
-
Tennis tips
