Stake Ranked Episode 2 continues on Friday, May 29, 2026, with three Counter-Strike BO3 matches on the slate as the Barcelona bracket moves deeper into the lower bracket and upper-bracket final.
Below are our betting tips for 9z Team vs FaZe, Alliance vs Sharks Esports and Magic vs Ninjas in Pyjamas. For more CS2 markets and futures, check out our Counter-Strike betting hub, plus our guides for Dota 2, VALORANT, League of Legends, Rocket League and the best esports betting sites.
9z Team vs FaZe
| Best Odds | 9z Team +100 at BetOnline | FaZe -133.33 at SportsBetting |
| When | May 29, 2026 | 12:00 CEST |
| Watch Live | Official broadcast, Twitch |
9z Team to win at +100 is the value play, with FaZe coming into the lower bracket after being clipped by Magic in a three-map upper-bracket semi-final.
FaZe have the bigger names and the stronger ceiling, but they have not been bulletproof at this event. 9z already showed lower-bracket resilience by beating Heroic after their opening loss to Sharks, and that makes the even-money price more interesting than backing FaZe at a shorter number.
This is not a safe underdog bet, because FaZe can still take over a BO3 if their rifle core gets rolling early. Still, 9z at +100 is the better betting angle against a favourite that has already shown a few cracks in Barcelona.
9z Team to win
Alliance vs Sharks Esports
| Best Odds | Alliance -117.65 at SportsBetting | Sharks Esports -117.65 at BetOnline |
| When | May 29, 2026 | 14:30 CEST |
| Watch Live | Official broadcast, Twitch |
Alliance to win at -117.65 is the lean in a true pick’em, with their lower-bracket win over 3DMAX giving them a better lead-in than Sharks’ 2-0 loss to Ninjas in Pyjamas.
Sharks have already proved they can win tight series at this event after beating 9z in their opener, so this is not a spot to dismiss them. Alliance, however, should arrive with a bit more rhythm after surviving an elimination match, and their map pool looks playable enough across a full BO3.
With both sides listed at -117.65, the pick comes down to which team looks more likely to handle pressure late in maps. Alliance get the nod at the same price.
Alliance to win
Magic vs Ninjas in Pyjamas
| Best Odds | Magic +120 at BetOnline | Ninjas in Pyjamas -161.29 at BetOnline |
| When | May 29, 2026 | 17:00 CEST |
| Watch Live | Official broadcast, Twitch |
Magic to win at +120 is the best price on the card, with the underdog tag looking a little generous after their wins over 3DMAX and FaZe.
Ninjas in Pyjamas have been excellent so far, sweeping Heroic and Sharks to reach the upper-bracket final. The reason to take Magic is not because NiP have looked poor; it is because Magic have already beaten two strong opponents in BO3s and should not be as wide as +120 in this spot.
NiP at -161.29 is a fair favourite if their structure holds, but Magic have earned a value swing in the upper-bracket final. The bet is Magic to keep their run going at +120.
Magic to win
Ky Pitstock
Sports Betting Writer
Kynan 'Ky' Pitstock is a sports and racing writer covering thoroughbred racing and Formula 1 for EsportBet and its sister properties. Kevin Pitstock's son, Ky grew up embedded in the Australian racing industry and brings an insider's knowledge to every piece.
