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Blast Austin Major 2025

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Blast.tv Austin Major 2025
2025
Tournament information
GameCounter-Strike 2
LocationAustin, Texas, United States
DatesJune 2–22, 2025
AdministratorValve
BLAST
FormatThree 16-team Swiss-system group stages
8-team single-elimination playoff
Host(s)BLAST[a]
VenueMoody Center
Teams32
PurseUS$1,250,000
← Shanghai 2024
Budapest 2025 →

The Blast.tv Austin Major 2025 will be the third Counter-Strike 2 Major Championship and twenty-second Counter-Strike Major overall. It will be held in Austin, Texas, United States from June 2 to June 22, 2025, and it will be the second Major hosted by BLAST, after Paris 2023.[1] The tournament will be held at the Moody Center, on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin, and will be the first Major to feature 32 teams, involving directly-invited teams and teams from regional qualifiers. It will feature a prize pool of US$1,250,000.[2]

Background

[edit]

Counter-Strike 2 is a multiplayer first-person shooter video game developed by Valve Corporation. It is the fifth game in the Counter-Strike series. In professional Counter-Strike, the Valve-sponsored Majors are considered the most prestigious tournaments.[3]

Austin was announced as the host for the first Major of 2025 during the BLAST Premier Spring Final on June 14, 2024.[1] This will be the fourth Major held in the United States and the first since Boston 2018. This will also be BLAST's second Major after Paris 2023, the last held on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

The defending Major champions are Team Spirit, following a 2–1 victory over FaZe Clan at Shanghai 2024.[4]

Format

[edit]

Like previous Majors, the tournament will involve Swiss-system group stages before an eight-team single-elimination playoffs. The Major will involve an additional Swiss-system group stage to accommodate the expansion from 24 to 32 teams. 16 teams overall will be invited directly to the Major, including 10 from Europe, five from the Americas and one from Asia, with the remaining 16 teams qualifying from a series of Major Regional Qualifiers. The stage that teams are invited to is determined by their Valve Regional Standing.[5] Eight teams are eliminated from each Swiss-system stage before the final eight teams compete in a single-elimination playoff bracket to determine a champion. Matches in each group stage and the initial matchups of the Playoffs Stage will be seeded according to teams' Buchholz score.

In the first three stages, all matches except for progression or elimination matches, which are played as bests-of-three, are played in a best-of-one format. All matches in the Playoff Stage are played in a best-of-three format.

Map pool

[edit]

Teams

[edit]

Europe

[edit]

Americas

[edit]

Asia

[edit]
  • The MongolZ
  • Lynn Vision
  • FlyQuest
  • Chinggis Warriors
  • TYLOO

Qualification

[edit]

The Major will be the first to feature direct invites to the tournament itself since Berlin 2019, with additional teams qualifying from Major Regional Qualifiers (MRQs), replacing the previous Regional Major Ranking (RMR) tournaments. MRQs were held for Europe, the Americas and Asia, with the Americas and Asia being further divided into sub-regions. Six teams qualified from the Europe MRQ, three teams qualified from the North and South American MRQs each and a single team qualified from each Asian sub-region MRQ.[c][5]

All sixteen teams who qualified from the MRQs entered Stage 1, with Stages 2 and 3 featuring eight directly invited teams based on their Valve Regional Standings (VRS) as they stood on April 7, 2025.[5]

On May 21, 2025, BLAST announced that BESTIA, who had qualified through the South American MRQ, had been replaced by runner-up Legacy due to the organization failing to obtain enough visas for their complete roster.[6] The decision was met with backlash from BESTIA, as well as from organizations and players attending the event. In a statement, BLAST reaffirmed the decision, stating that BESTIA had failed to meet the deadline set by the Major organizer and that the replacement had been approved by Valve.[7]

MRQs were held online on the following dates:[5]

  • Europe: April 14–17 (co-organized with Relog Media)
  • Americas: April 15–17 (co-organized with Liga ACE Esports for both North and South America)
  • Asia: April 15–17 (co-organized with GG Media for China and ESN for Mongolia & Western Asia and Oceania & South East Asia)

Qualified teams

[edit]
Region Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3
Europe
Americas Overall —
North America — —
South America
Asia Overall —
  • The MongolZ
Mongolia & Western Asia
  • Chinggis Warriors
 —
Oceania & South East Asia
China[c]
  • Lynn Vision
  • TYLOO

Source:[8]

Team invitations

[edit]

On April 7, 2025, Valve released an update to their Regional Standings (VRS), determining the invites for the Stages 2 and 3 of the Major as well as the Major Regional Qualifiers (MRQs). Below are tables of each region's VRS standings as of April 7, 2025.[8]

Regional VRS standings for teams invited to Major and MRQs (as of April 7, 2025)
Europe regional standings for invited teams (as of April 7, 2025)[9]
Standing Team Name Roster[d] Invite
1 Team Vitality apEX, flameZ, mezii, ropz, ZywOo Blast Austin Major Stage 3
2 MOUZ Brollan, Jimpphat, Spinx, torzsi, xertioN
3 Team Spirit chopper, donk, magixx, sh1ro, zont1x
4 Eternal Fire[e] jottAAA, MAJ3R, Wicadia, woxic, XANTARES
5 Natus Vincere Aleksib, b1t, iM, jL, w0nderful
6 G2 Esports HeavyGod, huNter-, m0NESY, malbsMd, Snax
7 Team Falcons degster, kyxsan, Magisk, NiKo, TeSeS Blast Austin Major Stage 2
8 FaZe Clan broky, EliGE, frozen, karrigan, rain
9 3DMAX bodyy, Ex3rcice, Graviti, Lucky, Maka
10 Virtus.pro electroNic, fame, FL1T, FL4MUS, ICY
11 Astralis cadiaN, device, jabbi, Staehr, stavn Blast Austin Major Europe MRQ
12 GamerLegion PR, REZ, sl3nd, Tauson, ztr
13 SAW Ag1l, AZUWU, cej0t, MUTiRiS, story
14 BC.Game CYPHER, jkaem, nawwk, nexa, pr1metapz
15 HEROIC LNZ, SunPayus, tN1R, xfl0ud, yxngstxr
16 BIG Clan hyped, JDC, Krimbo, kyuubii, tabseN
17 500 CeRq, oxygeN, Rainwaker, SHiPZ, SPELLAN
18 B8 alex666, esenthial, headtr1ck, kensizor, npl
19 OG Esports Buzz, Chr1zN, F1KU, nicoodoz, spooke
20 Nemiga 1eeR, khaN, riskyb0b, Xant3r, zweih
21 BetBoom Team Ax1Le, Boombl4, Magnojez, S1ren, zorte
22 fnatic blameF, fear, jambo, KRIMZ, MATYS
23 PARIVISION BELCHONOKK, Jame, nota, Qikert, TRAVIS
24 9 Pandas anarkez, d1Ledez, Krad, r3salt, shalfey
25 ENCE gla1ve, Neityu, podi, sdy, xKacpersky
27 Metizport adamb, hampus, isak, L00m1, Plopski
Americas regional standings for invited teams (as of April 7, 2025)[11]
Standing Team Name Roster[d] Invite
Overall
1 Team Liquid[f] jks, NAF, NertZ, Twistzz, ultimate Blast Austin Major Stage 3
2 paiN Gaming biguzera, dav1deuS, kauez, nqz, snow Blast Austin Major Stage 2
3 FURIA Esports chelo, FalleN, KSCERATO, skullz, yuurih
4 MIBR brnz4n, exit, insani, Lucaozy, saffee
5 M80 Lake, reck, s1n, slaxz-, Swisher
North America
6 Complexity Gaming Cxzi, Grim, hallzerk, JT, nicx Blast Austin Major North America MRQ
7 Wildcard JBa, Sonic, stanislaw, Stewie2K, susp
9 NRG Esports br0, HexT, Jeorge, nitr0, oSee
10 BLUEJAYS freshie, Fruitcupx, SLIGHT, snav, Wolffe
14 Getting Info dea, FaNg, MarKE, nosraC, shane
17 Marsborne chop, Grizz, Minus, motm, WolfY
19 Nouns Esports CLASIA, Cryptic, junior, Peeping, RUSH
24 MIGHT djay, jared, Louie, Snakes, Voltage
South America
8 Imperial Esports cheyJESUS, decenty, noway, try, VINI Blast Austin Major South America MRQ
11 Fluxo arT, kye, mlhzin, piriajr, zevy
12 Legacy dumau, latto, lux, n1ssim, saadzin
13 Sharks Esports doc, gafolo, koaal, n1cks, rdnzao
15 ODDIK ksloks, matios, naitte, pancc, WOOD7
16 BESTIA cass1n, luchov, Noktse, timo, tomaszin
18 RED Canids coldzera, drop, felps, HEN1, venomzera
20 Team Solid destiny, drg, gbb, nython, tomate
Asia regional standings for invited teams (as of April 7, 2025)[12]
Standing Team Name Roster[d] Invite
Overall
1 The MongolZ 910, bLitz, mzinho, Senzu, Techno Blast Austin Major Stage 3
China[c]
3 Rare Atom ChildKing, kaze, L1haNg, somebody, Summer Blast Austin Major China MRQ
8 TYLOO Attacker, JamYoung, Jee, k4Mi, Mercury
12 Lynn Vision C4LLM3SU3, EmiliaQAQ, Starry, Westmelon, z4kr
20 DogEvil B1NGO, BZA, lan, Roninbaby, Tiger
Oceania
6 SemperFi aliStair, keen, SaVage, shadiy, Valiance Blast Austin Major Oceania MRQ
7 FlyQuest dexter, INS, Liazz, regali, Vexite
11 ex-TALON[g] ADDICT, BRACE, hazr, sterling, vision
14 Rooster asap, chelleos, DannyG, sliimey, TjP
Mongolia
4 The Huns Bart4k, cobra, nin9, Veccil, xerolte Blast Austin Major Mongolia MRQ
9 Eruption fury5k, MagnumZ, sideffect, sk0R, xenization
10 Chinggis Warriors aricule, controlez, Efire, NEUZ, ROUX
13 Gods Reign[h] Bhavi, f1redup, Ph1NNN, R2B2, Rossi

Stage 1

[edit]

Stage 1 will feature sixteen teams qualified from the Major Regional Qualifiers competing in a Swiss-system bracket. Teams will initially be seeded according to their Valve Regional Standing, with further matches being seeded according to a team's Buchholz score. Sixteen teams will compete for eight Stage 2 spots, with all matches besides elimination and progression matches, which are bests-of-three, being bests-of-one.

Stage 1 will be played starting from June 2 to June 5, 2025.

Pos Team W L RW RL RD BS Qualification
1 Complexity 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification
to Stage 2
2 HEROIC 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 B8 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 BetBoom 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 TYLOO 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 Lynn Vision 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 Wildcard 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 FlyQuest 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 OG 0 0 0 0 0 0 Eliminated
10 Chinggis Warriors 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 Imperial 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 Nemiga 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 NRG 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 Legacy 0 0 0 0 0 0
15 Metizport 0 0 0 0 0 0
16 Fluxo 0 0 0 0 0 0
Updated to match(es) played on June 1, 2025. Source: [1]

Stage 2

[edit]

Stage 2 will feature eight teams qualified from Stage 1 and eight teams directly invited based on their Valve Regional Standing competing in a Swiss-system bracket. Directly invited teams will be seeded according to their Valve Regional Standing, while teams from Stage 1 will be seeded according to their final placement from that stage. Further matches are seeded according to a team's Buchholz score. Sixteen teams will compete for eight Stage 3 spots, with all matches besides elimination and progression matches, which are bests-of-three, being bests-of-one.

Stage 2 will be played starting from June 7 to June 10, 2025.

Pos Team W L RW RL RD BS Qualification
1 Falcons 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification
to Stage 3
2 FaZe 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 3DMAX 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Virtus.pro 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 paiN 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 FURIA 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 MIBR 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 M80 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 Eliminated
10 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0
15 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0
16 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0
Updated to match(es) played on June 6, 2025. Source: [2]

Stage 3

[edit]

Stage 3 will feature eight teams qualified from Stage 2 and eight teams directly invited based on their Valve Regional Standing competing in a Swiss-system bracket. Directly invited teams will be seeded according to their Valve Regional Standing, while teams from Stage 2 will be seeded according to their final placement in that stage. Further matches are seeded according to a team's Buchholz score. Sixteen teams will compete for the eight Playoffs spots, with all matches besides elimination and progression matches, which are bests-of-three, being bests-of-one.

Stage 3 will be played starting from June 12 to June 15, 2025.

Pos Team W L RW RL RD BS Qualification
1 Vitality 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification
to Playoffs Stage
2 MOUZ 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Spirit 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Aurora 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Natus Vincere 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 G2 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 Liquid 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 The MongolZ 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 Eliminated
10 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0
15 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0
16 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0
Updated to match(es) played on June 11, 2025. Source: [3]

Playoffs stage

[edit]

The top eight teams from Stage 3 will advance to a single-elimination bracket. Teams will be seeded according to their final Buchholz score earned in Stage 3. Each match in the Playoffs Stage is played in a best-of-three format.

The Playoffs Stage will be played between June 19 and 22, 2025, at the Moody Center.

Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
                  
1 TBD
8 TBD
TBD
TBD
5 TBD
4 TBD
TBD
TBD
3 TBD
6 TBD
TBD
TBD
7 TBD
2 TBD

Final standings

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The final placings are shown below. In addition, the prize distribution, roster, and coaches are shown.

Place Prize Money Team Roster Coach
1st US$500,000 TBD — —
2nd US$170,000 TBD — —
3rd – 4th US$80,000 TBD — —
TBD — —
5th – 8th US$45,000 TBD — —
TBD — —
TBD — —
TBD — —
9th – 11th US$15,000 TBD — —
TBD — —
TBD — —
12th – 14th TBD — —
TBD — —
TBD — —
15th – 16th TBD — —
TBD — —
17th – 19th US$10,000 TBD — —
TBD — —
TBD — —
20th – 22nd TBD — —
TBD — —
TBD — —
23rd – 24th TBD — —
TBD — —
25th – 27th US$5,000 TBD — —
TBD — —
TBD — —
28th – 30th TBD — —
TBD — —
TBD — —
31st – 32nd TBD — —
TBD — —

Notes

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  1. ^ Major Regional Qualifiers hosted by Relog Media (Europe MRQ), Liga Ace (Americas MRQs), ESN (Mongolia & Oceania MRQs) and GGTV (China MRQ).
  2. ^ a b As the runner-up in the South American Major Regional Qualifier, Legacy replaced BESTIA following reported visa issues.[6]
  3. ^ a b c The China sub-region MRQ qualified two teams to Stage 1 due to Chinese roster Rare Atom being the second highest ranked Asian team as of April 7.
  4. ^ a b c Some team invites are based on outdated rosters.
  5. ^ Eternal Fire's roster was acquired by Aurora Gaming on April 5, 2025.[10]
  6. ^ Although Team Liquid are ranked as both an American and Asian team, they are invited according to their higher Americas standing.
  7. ^ Talon Esports parted ways with their Counter-Strike 2 roster on March 7, 2025.[13]
  8. ^ Gods Reign replaced ATOX (ranked fifth) due to a provisional suspension by ESIC, handed down on March 7, 2025.[14]

References

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  1. ^ a b Stubbs, Mike. "BLAST To Host $1.25 Million 'Counter-Strike 2' Major In Austin, Texas". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-02-13.
  2. ^ Nicholson, Jonno (2025-01-27). "BLAST Austin Major and MRQ dates revealed". Esports Insider. Retrieved 2025-02-13.
  3. ^ Šimić, Ivan (2023-07-06). "What are the most popular Counter-Strike esports events?". Esports Insider. Retrieved 2025-02-13.
  4. ^ "Team Spirit beats FaZe to win Perfect World CS2 Shanghai Major: Standings, recap & more". Dexerto. 2024-12-15. Retrieved 2025-02-13.
  5. ^ a b c d "Major Regional Qualifiers for the BLAST.tv Austin Major". BLAST.tv. 2025-02-13. Retrieved 2025-02-13.
  6. ^ a b Jonno, Nicholson (2025-05-22). "BESTIA replaced by Legacy for BLAST.tv Austin Major". Esports Insider. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  7. ^ Nicholson, Jonno (2025-05-22). "BLAST issues response to BESTIA Austin Major visa backlash". Esports Insider. Retrieved 2025-05-24.
  8. ^ a b "BLAST.tv Austin Major and MRQ invites confirmed". BLAST.tv. 2025-04-07. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
  9. ^ "counter-strike_regional_standings/invitation/2025/standings_europe_2025_04_07.md at main · ValveSoftware/counter-strike_regional_standings". GitHub. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
  10. ^ "Aurora signs Eternal Fire CS2 team". escorenews. 2025-04-05. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
  11. ^ "counter-strike_regional_standings/invitation/2025/standings_americas_2025_04_07.md at main · ValveSoftware/counter-strike_regional_standings". GitHub. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
  12. ^ "counter-strike_regional_standings/invitation/2025/standings_asia_2025_04_07.md at main · ValveSoftware/counter-strike_regional_standings". GitHub. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
  13. ^ "TALON on X: "Statement regarding our CS2 Roster. / Twitter". Twitter. 2025-03-07. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
  14. ^ Nicholson, Jonno (2025-03-07). "ATOX disqualified and banned from PGL events amid ESIC investigation". Esports Insider. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
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