Check out the full schedule and see what's waiting for us ⚡

Casters are the unsung heroes of our favorite esports. They bring the action to LIFE! Tell us below:

• Who is your favorite caster?
• What came are they from?
• Why are you a fan?

Once completed, let us know you completed the challenge in "Community Challenge Submissions" then open up a support ticket in our Discord with proof you completed the challenge, with your Thunderpick Email.

NOTE: to qualify for Weekly #2, you will need to complete 5 out of 6 Daily Challenges this week.

The inaugural World Star Challengers Invitational (WSCI) kicks off on Sept. 20, bringing together 16 representatives from League of Legends’ Tier 2 circuit on the global stage. While it isn’t officially branded as such, WSCI is effectively a “Worlds for Tier 2,” and it gives developing teams a rare opportunity to compete internationally.

With limited cross-regional benchmarks and volatile rosters making the field especially difficult to call, we’ve shared our WSCI 2026 betting predictions to help you back your picks.

Read more HERE

We have launched Thunder Chicken, a new exclusive Thunderpick original game that drops you onto an iconic Counter-Strike map. One chicken, two bomb sites, one mission: get from Site B to Site A alive. We finally answer the question, why did the chicken cross the map?

Every coin your chicken steps on pushes the multiplier higher, but danger is hiding in every corner of the path. A stray bullet or well-timed grenade ends the round instantly. The question is do you keep pushing the point? You can cash out while you’re ahead, or commit all the way to the site and go for glory?

Read more HERE

We're proud to announce that Thunderpick is the Presenting Partner of the 2026 Esports Awards!

The Esports Awards is a celebration of the people, creators and moments that shape our community, and we're excited to continue our investment in the industry through a 12-month partnership. Thunderpick will be presenting two prestigious awards at this year's ceremony: Esports Play of the Year Streamer of the Year Voting is now open! Have your say at http://esportsawards.com/vote before November 10th.

1win entered the Thunderpick World Championship Closed Qualifier as one of the teams expected to make a serious run.

With a roster featuring Ax1Le, ArtFr0st, fame, nafany and BELCHONOKK, the firepower is obvious.

But TWC qualification doesn't care about reputations.

And FOKUS just proved it.

💥 THE UPSET

In the Group D Winners' Match, 1win faced FOKUS with a direct path toward the playoffs on the line.

Instead, they were handed a 2-0 defeat.

FOKUS edged them 19-17 on Cache before closing the series 13-11 on Anubis.

Two maps.

Two extremely close finishes.

And suddenly, 1win's road to the TWC main event became much harder.

🔥 BUT THIS TEAM ISN'T DONE

The biggest mistake would be assuming 1win are finished.

They aren't.

The loss sends them into a crucial matchup against Ninjas in Pyjamas, with their TWC hopes still alive.

And on paper, 1win still have an enormous amount of firepower.

Ax1Le, fame and nafany bring years of top-level Counter-Strike experience, while ArtFr0st and BELCHONOKK round out a roster capable of producing explosive performances.

🧨 PRESSURE TIME

This is exactly where experienced teams are supposed to shine.

1win don't have room for another slow start.

They don't have room for another 19-17 heartbreak.

They need to reset, regroup and remind everyone why they entered the qualifier as one of the teams expected to go deep.

🏆 ONE LAST SHOT

The path to the TWC main event just became significantly more difficult.

But 1win have been here before.

Now comes the question:

Can this star-studded roster survive the lower bracket and fight its way back into contention?

Their tournament isn't over.

But from here on out, every map could be their last.

FOKUS entered the Thunderpick World Championship Closed Qualifier as one of Europe's most interesting contenders.

They may not have the same name recognition as some of the tournament favorites, but FOKUS have quickly shown that they can hang with anyone.

⚡ STARTING WITH A STATEMENT

Their Group D campaign put them directly against 1win in the Winners' Match.

And FOKUS delivered.

The European squad defeated 1win 2-0, winning an incredibly close Cache 19-17 before taking Anubis 13-11.

No overtime collapse.

No third map.

Just two incredibly tight maps and a clean 2-0.

That victory sent FOKUS straight through to the quarter-finals.

🎯 A WELL-ROUNDED LINEUP

FOKUS currently field a lineup featuring Banjo, Matheos, ztr, jocab and podi.

And their strength comes from the fact that they don't appear to rely on a single player to carry the entire team.

When FOKUS are clicking, their structured approach and ability to win close rounds make them extremely difficult to put away.

🔥 REVENGE ON THE MIND?

There is also some history with Nemesis.

Earlier this year, Nemesis defeated FOKUS 2-1 in the BC Masters Europe Season 2 Series 2 Grand Final.

Now, with FOKUS already through to the TWC Closed Qualifier quarter-finals, another meeting could potentially give them the chance to settle the score.

🏆 QUARTER-FINAL BOUND

FOKUS have already done what they needed to do.

They're through.

Now the pressure changes.

Instead of fighting to survive, they're fighting for a spot in the TWC 2026 main event.

Is FOKUS the dark horse that nobody saw coming?

The quarter-finals will tell us.

Nemesis arrived at the Thunderpick World Championship Closed Qualifier with something to prove.

And they wasted absolutely no time making their presence known.

💥 A Statement Opening

Nemesis opened their TWC campaign against EYEBALLERS and made it look convincing.

The Russian squad swept the series 2-0, dominating Dust2 13-4 before closing out Cache 13-9.

That victory immediately put Nemesis in the Group B Winners' Match, where a single win would put them within touching distance of the playoffs.

🧨 A Tough Battle Against HOTU

Their next challenge was HOTU.

Nemesis came out firing on Cache, absolutely demolishing HOTU 13-2.

But HOTU responded on Nuke and Ancient, eventually taking the series 2-1 and sending Nemesis into the elimination match against Wildcard.

Now the pressure is at its highest.

One more loss and their TWC journey is over.

One win, however, keeps the dream alive.

🔥 Don't Forget Their Form

Nemesis aren't a team that should be underestimated.

Earlier this year, they defeated FOKUS 2-1 in the BC Masters Europe Season 2 Series 2 Grand Final, taking the title after wins on Mirage and Dust2.

They've already shown that they can beat strong opposition in a high-pressure environment.

Now they need to do it again.

🏆 ONE SERIES FROM THE BRINK

The equation is simple:

Win, and survive.

Lose, and go home.

Nemesis have already proven they can put up huge numbers when they're firing.

Can they find that form when it matters most?

The TWC Closed Qualifier isn't over for Nemesis yet.

K27 entered the Thunderpick World Championship 2026 Closed Qualifier with plenty to prove and they've already shown they aren't afraid of the biggest names in the bracket.

The Russian squad came into the event as one of the more dangerous teams outside the traditional elite, and their recent results have backed that reputation up.

⚡ A Team That Won't Go Quietly

K27's run through the qualifier has already included a huge statement win over HEROIC, taking the opening map on Ancient 13-9 before HEROIC fought back on Cache and Nuke.

That loss dropped K27 into a do-or-die matchup against Virtus.pro.

And if recent form is anything to go by, counting K27 out would be a mistake.

The team has also been making noise elsewhere in the competitive scene. Just days ago, K27 knocked GamerLegion out of the IEM Beijing 2026 Closed Qualifier after a 2-1 comeback, winning Nuke and Mirage after dropping Cache.

🔥 Players to Watch

K27's lineup features names such as clax, xeedo and kashl1d, with xeedo putting together a particularly impressive performance in their recent win over SAW.

The team's ability to turn close maps into wins could be crucial as the pressure increases.

🏆 The Road Ahead

K27 aren't the favorites on paper.

That's exactly what makes them dangerous.

They've already demonstrated that they can take maps off established teams, and with their backs against the wall, every series becomes another opportunity to prove that K27 belong on the biggest stage.

Can the dark horses survive the qualifier and punch their ticket to the Thunderpick World Championship?

We'll find out.

Two generations of Swedish Counter-Strike collide.

EYEBALLERS might have one of the most recognizable veteran cores in the qualifier.

The team features JW, KRIMZ, maxster, Ro1f and dex.

Having legends such as JW and KRIMZ on the same lineup immediately gives EYEBALLERS an enormous amount of experience.

But the younger members of the roster will be just as important.

🔥 WHY THEY CAN WIN

EYEBALLERS know how to play under pressure.

JW and KRIMZ have spent years competing on the biggest stages in Counter-Strike.

That experience could be invaluable during close BO3s.

👀 PLAYER TO WATCH

KRIMZ

One of the most experienced players in the entire tournament, KRIMZ knows exactly what it takes to win when the pressure is at its highest.

🎯 THE CHALLENGE

Experience alone won't be enough.

EYEBALLERS need the younger members of the lineup to produce consistently.

🇲🇹 THE GOAL

Show that the Swedish veterans still have another big run left.

Community question:
Can JW and KRIMZ take EYEBALLERS to Malta?

🦅 WILDCARD ARE READY TO CRASH THE PARTY.

Wildcard are the only North American team in the field besides 100 Thieves, giving the region another opportunity to make an impact.

Their roster features nEMANHA, mhL, Cxzi, reck and HexT.

Wildcard enter a field filled with European squads, but that's exactly where the opportunity lies.

Nobody wants to be the team that gets upset by the underdog.

Wildcard?

They'd probably love that role.

🔥 Player to watch

HexT

🎯 The goal

Turn Wildcard into the tournament's biggest upset story.

💬 Community question

Can Wildcard make a deep run?

Can BESTIA put South America on the TWC stage?

BESTIA are one of the tournament's two non-European representatives and are carrying South American hopes into the Closed Qualifier.

The lineup features cass1n, buda, timo alongside the rest of their current roster.

Their challenge is obvious.

They are facing a field dominated by European teams with extensive experience against one another.

But BESTIA have an opportunity that few other teams do.

They can surprise everyone.

🔥 WHY THEY CAN WIN

BESTIA can play with the confidence of a team that has nothing to lose.

Aggression, momentum and strong individual performances could allow them to punish teams that underestimate them.

👀 PLAYER TO WATCH

cass1n

His ability to produce impact rounds will be crucial if BESTIA want to make a comeback after their opening loss.

🎯 THE CHALLENGE

BESTIA opened their campaign with a 0–2 loss to HEROIC.

Now they need to win when the pressure is highest.

THE GOAL

Become South America's representative on the biggest stage.

Community question:
Can BESTIA pull off the impossible run to Malta?

Can HEROIC live up to the expectations?

HEROIC enter the Closed Qualifier with one of the most recognizable rosters in the tournament.

The lineup of Brollan, nilo, susp, MartinezSa and Chr1zN brings a combination of established talent and players still looking to make their mark at the highest level.

That makes HEROIC one of the teams with very little room for excuses.

When a team enters a qualifier as one of the favorites, simply reaching the playoffs isn't necessarily enough.

The expectation is to win.

🔥 WHY THEY CAN WIN

HEROIC have the firepower to take over maps, while their experience gives them an advantage when matches get close.

Their opening series also showed exactly why they're dangerous, as they defeated BESTIA 2–0 to start their campaign.

👀 PLAYER TO WATCH

Brollan

Brollan brings years of high-level experience and can completely change the pace of a match when he gets going.

🎯 THE CHALLENGE

The biggest challenge for HEROIC may be the pressure. Everyone will be looking at them as a team that should qualify.

THE GOAL

Anything less than a serious run at the qualifying spot will feel like a missed opportunity.

Community question:
Are HEROIC your pick to win the whole thing?

VIRTUS PRO THE VETERANS 🐻

The VP name carries expectations.

Virtus pro remain one of the most recognizable organizations in the field.

Their current lineup features mir, b1st, F0R3VER, AquaRS and tO0RO.

The name Virtus pro carries history.

But history doesn't win rounds.

VP found that out immediately, falling 1–2 to K27 in their opening match.

Now their tournament becomes a fight for survival.

🔥 WHY THEY CAN WIN

Experience.

VP have players who understand how to handle pressure, and that experience could become extremely valuable in elimination matches.

👀 PLAYER TO WATCH

mir

One of the most recognizable players on the lineup, mir will need to produce if VP are going to recover.

🎯 THE CHALLENGE

There is absolutely no margin for error now.

One more loss sends VP home.

🇲🇹 THE GOAL

Recover from the opening defeat and turn the VP name into a deep tournament run.

Community question:
Can VP pull off the comeback?