The results are in for the 2025 Mapcore CS2 Mapping Contest, and the innovative mini-golf-inspired map de_grail has officially taken first place. Created by the talented trio of Lizard, Radu, and flowlee, the map stood out among dozens of high-quality entries submitted from across the Counter-Strike mapping community. In recognition of their outstanding work, the team was awarded the contest’s $7,500 grand prize.
Mapcore, a long-standing hub for Counter-Strike level designers and enthusiasts, revealed the winner through a detailed YouTube showcase that highlighted the best submissions. With de_grail coming out on top, the video explored what made the map special and showcased the creative vision that helped it secure victory. This announcement marked the conclusion of a contest that began back in February 2024 and had since attracted widespread interest from fans and developers alike.
Pushing the Boundaries of Source 2
What sets de_grail apart is its striking theme. While most CS2 maps stick to realistic or militaristic settings, de_grail embraces a whimsical mini-golf motif without compromising on gameplay. Vibrant colors, dynamic environmental elements, and a clever layout combine to create a competitive map that feels entirely fresh—something that’s hard to pull off in such a mature and established franchise. More importantly, it showcases just how much can be done with Valve’s Source 2 engine, pushing its visual and mechanical capabilities further than many expected.
The winning map doesn’t just look good, it plays well too. Designed with flow, visibility, and balance in mind, de_grail earned praise not just for its theme, but for how it translates into tactical gameplay scenarios. The judges noted that it manages to retain CS2’s core competitive identity while offering a playful and unexpected setting.
Full Finalist Rankings – Mapcore CS2 Mapping Contest 2025
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de_grail – Lizard, Radu, and flowlee
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de_alpine – Lukyvald, zavaro, Twinnie, and g3om
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de_palacio – Slimek, KlixX, and Coachi
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de_stronghold – T-Rexer, Squidski, Haaselh0ff, and Kale
These maps represent the best of what the CS2 mapping community has to offer. Each finalist brought something unique to the table, whether it was de_alpine’s snow-covered verticality, de_palacio’s Mediterranean elegance, or de_stronghold’s fortified, layered design.
A Proven Launchpad: The Anubis Legacy
Mapcore’s previous mapping contests have proven to be more than just community showcases, they’ve also served as gateways to the official CS2 map pool. In fact, the 2019 contest winner Anubis eventually made its way into Valve’s matchmaking rotation, and today it stands as one of the most popular Active Duty maps. Its success serves as a blueprint for what’s possible when the right community-created map gets the exposure and recognition it deserves.
This naturally raises the question: Could de_grail be next?
Will de_grail Make It to Official CS2?
While winning the Mapcore contest doesn’t guarantee a spot in Valve’s official map lineup, de_grail is now in a position where it could be seriously considered. Historically, Valve has chosen to observe how community maps perform in Competitive mode before making decisions about broader integration. Should de_grail be added to the CS2 client in some form, it would likely enter as a Competitive or Workshop map to gauge player response.
From there, revisions may follow based on community feedback. Only after this testing phase, and if Valve sees enough potential—would the map be considered for Active Duty inclusion. However, there’s one more step: Valve must purchase the rights to the map from its creators, a process it has consistently followed for every map added since Anubis.
A Bright Future for Fan-Made CS2 Content
Whether or not de_grail reaches the heights of Anubis, its win is already a major achievement for Lizard, Radu, and flowlee. It cements their place in the community and showcases the limitless potential of fan-made content in modern CS2. Moreover, it reinforces the value of contests like Mapcore’s, which continue to serve as a vital incubator for innovation in Counter-Strike map design.
For now, de_grail stands as a shining example of what’s possible when creativity meets competition. As fans eagerly await news of its potential addition to CS2, one thing is clear, the bar for community-created maps has just been raised.
