Veterans—both men and women—with combatant status or a war-related disability are invited to participate in an esports tournament featuring Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2, organized by the nonprofit “Cyber League of Defenders.” The Second Blood tournament kicks off on October 31, 2026—registration is currently open.
The initiative was created to bring veterans together through teamwork, shared interests, and esports, and to provide additional opportunities for socializing, meaningful leisure activities, and maintaining social connections.
The first tournament, “First Strike,” brought together 54 teams. Participants compete in team tournaments featuring CS2 and Dota 2. Each team consists of five players, and matches are streamed live on Twitch.
Registration is currently open for the next tournament—Second Blood. Applications can be submitted until October 31, 2026. The competition is scheduled to begin on that same date.
How to join the tournament?
To participate as a player, you must:
- have the status of a combat veteran or a person with a war-related disability;
- assemble a team of five players;
- register on the project’s official website.
How to register?
- Go to the website
- Log in to your account or apply for an account and wait for confirmation
- In the “My Team” section, create a team and add players
- In the “Tournaments” section, select Second Blood and register your team
The organizers are also inviting volunteers who are willing to help run the competition. In particular, they are looking for specialists in design, video editing, and social media marketing, as well as commentators and moderators. You can join the volunteer team even without prior experience.
For more details on participation requirements, registration, and tournament news, visit the website of the “Cyber League of Defenders” NGO.