Counter-Strike 2 Returns to Brazilian Aircraft Carrier
For the second year in a row, a Counter-Strike 2 tournament will be played on an aircraft carrier. The Brazilian TO Federação do Estado do Rio de Janeiro de Esporte Eletrônico (FERJEE) have announced a collegiate CS tournament set to be played on the Brazilian Navy's flagship, the NAM Atlântico. The event is part of the larger Rio Innovation Week tech festival and is set to conclude next week.
The tournament features a prize pool of approximately $488, which will be battled over by a number of collegiate teams. Last year, the NAM Atlântico played host to two tournaments: the Lótus Challenge 2025 women's tournament won by MIBR Female, and the $44,000 Circuito FERJEE 2025, which was topped by Imperial over ODDIK.
If you want to know more about what it takes to host an event on an aircraft carrier, we covered an interview our friends at Dust2 Brasil did last year with the then-President of FERJEE, Cadu Albuquerque, about the logistics of playing a CS2 tournament on the Brazilian flagship.
History of Tournaments on the Aircraft Carrier
The aircraft carrier NAM Atlântico has already hosted two major Counter-Strike 2 tournaments. Last year, it hosted the women's tournament Lótus Challenge 2025, won by MIBR Female, and the $44,000 Circuito FERJEE 2025. In the latter event, Imperial emerged victorious over ODDIK.
Hosting tournaments on such a unique object requires meticulous preparation. We previously published an interview with Cadu Albuquerque, the then-President of FERJEE, where he discussed the logistics of hosting cyber sports events on the Brazilian Navy's flagship.
Event Context
The tournament will be part of a larger technology festival, Rio Innovation Week. This highlights the growing interest in integrating esports into technological and cultural events in the region. The prize pool of approximately $488, while small compared to major leagues, is significant for the collegiate scene, where many teams consist of students.