Logitech G Connect $100K CS2 LAN Announced for Warsaw

A new mid-tier LAN is headed to Poland this fall. Logitech G announced Connect, a $100,000 Counter-Strike 2 tournament scheduled for September 17–23 at the EXPO XXI convention centre in Warsaw. The company is running the event with Fantasyexpo and GAM3RS_X as partners. Twelve teams will compete, with six spots up for grabs through open and closed qualifiers and the rest handed out via direct invitations. This is Logitech G’s first time organising its own standalone LAN, stepping outside its usual role as a sponsor of other tournaments.

The announcement fills a gap in the tier-two calendar. With few LANs available for teams outside the top circuit, Connect offers a rare shot at stage experience and prize money. Sebastiaan de Lange, Head of Gaming Europe at Logitech G, said the company wants to “make the next breakthrough possible for every hardworking team, not just the established names.” Warsaw has hosted major CS events before, including IEM Katowice, but EXPO XXI is a newer venue for the scene compared to the Spodek arena. The convention centre has previously held gaming conventions like the Warsaw Game Show, though this is its first dedicated CS2 LAN.

Group Stage and Playoff Structure

The 12 teams will be split into two round-robin groups of six. Every group match is a best-of-one, which keeps the schedule tight but raises the stakes for map picks and early momentum. The top three from each group move on to the playoffs. Group winners skip the first knockout round and go straight to the semi-finals. The second and third-placed teams from each group will face off in quarter-finals—second from one group versus third from the other—to decide the remaining semi-final spots. This format is common in tier-two events, similar to the group stage used at PGL Major Antwerp 2022, though that tournament had a different elimination system. The BO1 group stage has drawn criticism for increasing variance, but it keeps the event within a single week.

Organisers have not yet confirmed whether the group stage will be played online or on-site. Given the one-week schedule from September 17 to 23, it is likely the groups will also be held at EXPO XXI. The playoff stage, from quarter-finals through the grand final, will take place on the main stage at the venue. The arena capacity has not been disclosed, but EXPO XXI can accommodate several thousand spectators, making it a solid mid-tier setting. Broadcast talent and production partners have not been announced yet, though Fantasyexpo has experience running large-scale events in Poland, including the Fantasyexpo Cup series.

Qualifier Path and Registration

Six of the 12 slots are direct invites, chosen by the organisers and partners. The other six come through open and closed qualifiers. Open qualifier registration opened on July 1. The closed qualifier stage is scheduled from August 27 to September 5. Exact dates for the open qualifier matches have not been revealed yet. The full list of invited teams is also pending. Historically, events with a similar structure, such as the Elisa Invitational or the European Pro League, have used open qualifiers to give regional rosters a shot at LAN exposure, and Connect appears to follow that blueprint. The open qualifier will likely be played online, with the top finishers advancing to the closed qualifier alongside invited teams.

• Prize pool stands at $100,000, a typical figure for mid-tier LANs outside the top circuit. For context, the BLAST Premier Spring Final offers $425,000, while the CCT series often runs $50,000 events.
• Open qualifier registration opened July 1; closed qualifiers run August 27 to September 5. Teams can register via the official Logitech G Connect website or through partner platforms.
• Twelve teams split into two groups of six, all group matches are best-of-one. This means up to 30 group stage matches before the playoffs begin.
• Group winners advance directly to semis; second and third-place teams play quarter-finals. The playoff format beyond the quarter-finals has not been revealed, but single-elimination is the most likely structure.

Stakes for the Tier-Two Scene and Beyond

This event arrives at a time when the CS2 calendar is crowded with top-tier tournaments, but smaller LANs have become rarer. Logitech G’s entry as a direct organiser adds another option for rosters chasing VRS points and stage experience. The partnership with Fantasyexpo and GAM3RS_X suggests the event could become an annual fixture if the first edition attracts enough interest. GAM3RS_X is a Polish esports organisation that has hosted smaller tournaments and bootcamps, while Fantasyexpo is known for its large consumer gaming expos in Poland and the Czech Republic. The combination brings both logistical expertise and local community reach.

The best-of-one group stage raises the variance risk. Teams that grind through the qualifiers might find themselves eliminated early after one bad map. On the other hand, the direct invites give established rosters a chance to test themselves against rising talent in a live environment. For organisations outside the top 20, Connect offers one of the few LAN paydays this year outside the major qualification cycle. The last major LAN for tier-two teams was the IEM Chengdu qualifiers, and before that, the RMRs. With the next CS2 major not until late 2026 or early 2027, events like Connect become critical for teams looking to build momentum. The Polish scene, in particular, could benefit, as local teams like 9INE, Permitta, and others have struggled to find consistent LAN invitations.

As of publication, no invited teams have been confirmed, and the qualifier brackets remain unannounced. The open qualifier registration window, which opened on July 1, remains the only concrete date on the road to Warsaw. The organisers have promised more details in the coming weeks, including the broadcast team and the full schedule of group stage matches.