Stake Ranked Episode 3 Kicks Off in Barcelona with $100,000

Stake Ranked Episode 3 opens July 15 in Barcelona with eight teams competing for a $100,000 prize pool. The event uses a double-elimination bracket with best-of-three series until a best-of-five grand final decides the champion.

The tournament takes place at a LAN venue in Barcelona. Opening-day fixtures are scheduled for July 15 at 10:00, 12:30, 15:00 and 17:30 local time, matching Ninjas in Pyjamas with K27, 3DMAX with HEROIC, Wildcard with Gentle Mates, and paiN with Phantom.

HEROIC will debut a revised lineup that includes Antonio “MartinezSa” Martinez and Ludvig “Brollan” Brolin and will face 3DMAX in its first match. Gentle Mates will use Joey “CRUC1AL” Steusel as a stand-in after losing MartinezSa to HEROIC. Organizers and Gentle Mates have indicated that a stronger VRS rank from a good result would support the French organization’s ongoing negotiations to sell its roster and exit Counter-Strike.

Reigning Stake Ranked champions Ninjas in Pyjamas return to LAN with academy player Roman “n0te” Hamze stepping in for his second offline appearance after an early elimination at the XSE Pro League in Guangzhou. The field also includes paiN, Wildcard, Phantom and K27, completing the eight-team lineup.

Tournament rules allow teams to continue through the lower bracket after a loss. The schedule features multiple best-of-three matches per day, with the final played as a best-of-five to determine prize distribution and final standings.

Teams will earn ranking points in addition to prize money as they finalize lineups ahead of the wider competitive calendar. Several organizations are using the event to evaluate new rosters and resolve ongoing roster or ownership discussions.