Asian Champions League CS2 Returns in 2026 with $150K Prize Pool and New Format

Hero Esports' ACL CS2

Hero Esports has officially announced the return of the Asian Champions League (ACL) for Counter-Strike 2 (CS2), with the second edition scheduled for May 2026 and featuring a $150,000 (~£110,330) prize pool.

This year’s format introduces a familiar yet refined structure. Open qualifiers will kick off between January and March 2026, welcoming teams from China, Southeast Asia, and Oceania.

A total of 11 squads will earn their way into the closed qualifiers, set to take place in China from April 29th to May 3rd.

From there, successful teams will be joined by 16 of the top squads in the Asian Valve Regional Standings (VRS), all heading to the LAN finals from May 11th to 17th.

Compared to its debut edition, the 2026 ACL comes with a trimmed prize pool—down from $300,000 (~£222,504) in 2025 to $150,000 this time.

In the first tournament, TYLOO walked away with $100,000 (~£74,191) and a spot in the Esports World Cup, but as of now, Hero Esports hasn’t confirmed if the upcoming winner will receive a similar qualification.

As per reports by Esports Insider, the ACL might run into challenges in drawing top-tier participation due to schedule conflicts. Both PGL Astana (May 9–17) and an Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) event in the United States (May 11–17) are set to occur at the same time. This overlap could split attention, especially with teams like TYLOO, Lynn Vision Gaming, and FlyQuest often competing on the global stage.

Still, the ACL 2026 might turn into a golden opportunity for underdogs and emerging teams to gain valuable exposure in front of a larger audience.

Despite the tighter competition on the calendar, Hero Esports appears committed to strengthening CS2’s presence in Asia—bringing back ACL as a promising platform for both seasoned and up-and-coming talent.