Blast Premier

Not to be confused with Blast TV.
Blast Premier
Official logo
FormerlyBLAST Pro Series
GameCounter-Strike 2
FoundedJanuary 2020
Owner(s)Blast ApS
No. of teams32 (Bounty)
16 (Open)
8 (Rivals)
HeadquartersCopenhagen, Denmark
ContinentsWorldwide
Most recent
champion(s)		G2 Esports (World Final)
TV partner(s)
Official websiteblastpremier.com

Blast Premier (stylized as BLAST Premier) is a Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) (previously Counter-Strike: Global Offensive) professional esports league launched in 2020. It is primarily based in two regions: North America and Europe.

The Danish esports organisation, RFRSH Entertainment, announced the series as a successor to the BLAST Pro Series in 2019.[1] The 2020 Blast Premier Series experienced disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the transition of all events except the Spring regular season online and reduced prize pools for many of the events. This disruption continued into the 2021 season, with both the Spring Groups and Spring Showdown occurring online.[2]

Format

The Blast Premier series is divided into two seasons per year: Spring and Fall. Each season lasts around four months with 16 regular season partnered teams participating in the Group stage, ending with a season finals for the 6 top teams from the group stage.[3] The season finals are also open to two teams from each season's Showdown events, which are open to a much broader array of organizations, including those that did not advance in the regular season. Non-partnered teams usually qualify for the Showdown events via invites or via regional tournaments (One such example being the ACE North American Masters for teams from North America). The winner of each season's finals goes on to participate the Global Finals at the end of the year, as well as winners of other prestigious non-BLAST Premier events and those that rank highest in the BLAST Premier Global Leaderboard, a standings of the top events of the year from multiple leagues and tournaments.[4]

In August 2023, Counter-Strike developer Valve announced that the partnership system that Blast Premier used would be abolished in 2025, forcing all tournament organizers to pivot to an open circuit or an invitational system using Valve's rankings.[5] In order to prepare for the change to an open circuit, Blast announced that the 2024 Blast Premier season would feature 16 partnered teams: the previous 12 partnered teams that, with the exceptions of 100 Thieves, MIBR and Evil Geniuses (who had their spots sold to BIG Clan, Heroic and Cloud9 in 2021, 2022 and 2023 respectively),[6][7][8] had been partnered since Blast Premier's inception, and four one-year affiliate teams, those being GamerLegion, Team Falcons, Team Spirit and Virtus.pro.[9]

BLAST announced their plans for 2025 and beyond during the 2024 Spring Final in London. To align with Valve's new rules forcing their partnership system to cease, BLAST will use three formats - Bounty (a 32-team invitational tournament where teams receive bounties for winning matches against their opponents), Open (a 16-team tournament mimicking the Intel Extreme Masters), and Rivals (where the top 4 teams in the Valve rankings, plus the next-best teams in Europe, the Americas and Asia) will play each other in the old Final format). With this, 2024's World Final was the last BLAST Premier World Final.[10]

Partnered teams

Team Year joined Year ended
100 Thieves 2020 2021
MIBR 2022
Evil Geniuses 2023
Astralis 2025[5]
Complexity Gaming
FaZe Clan
G2 Esports
Team Liquid
Natus Vincere
Ninjas in Pyjamas
OG Esports
Team Vitality
BIG Clan 2021
Heroic 2022
Cloud9 2023
Team Falcons 2024[a]
GamerLegion
Team Spirit
Virtus.pro
  1. ^ Joined as affiliate partner.

Editions

Partner league

Edition Date Venue, Host city Champions Runners-up Prize pool MVP Ref.
Spring 2020: Regular Season January 31–February 16, 2020 3 Mills Studio, London FaZe Clan
Natus Vincere
G2 Esports 		OG Esports
Complexity Gaming
Team Liquid 		US$300,000 Not awarded [11]
Spring 2020 Europe Showdown June 1–15, 2020 Europe / Online Vitality
ENCE 		Ninjas in Pyjamas US$182,500 [12]
Spring 2020 Americas Showdown June 1–7, 2020 North America / Online MiBR
Furia Esports 		Evil Geniuses US$142,500 [13]
Spring 2020 Europe Finals June 15–21, 2020 Europe / Online Complexity Gaming Team Vitality US$500,000 Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut [14]
Spring 2020 Americas Finals June 16–21, 2020 North America / Online Evil Geniuses MiBR US$250,000 Tsvetelin "CeRq" Dimitrov [15]
Fall Series 2020 October 15–31, 2020 Europe / Online OG Esports
Team Vitality
G2 Esports 		Natus Vincere
BIG Clan
Astralis 		US$300,000 Not awarded [16]
Fall Showdown 2020 November 24–29, 2020 Furia Esports
mousesports 		Cloud9
Team Liquid 		US$150,000 [17]
Fall 2020 Finals December 8–13, 2020 Team Vitality Astralis US$425,000 Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut [18]
Global Final 2020 January 19–24, 2021 Natus Vincere Astralis US$1,000,000 Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyliev [19]
Spring Groups 2021 February 4–14, 2021 BIG Clan
Complexity Gaming
Natus Vincere 		Ninjas in Pyjamas
Evil Geniuses
FaZe Clan 		US$150,000 Not awarded [20]
Spring Showdown 2021 April 13–18, 2021 G2 Esports
Gambit Esports 		Team Spirit
Heroic 		US$162,500 [21]
Spring Finals 2021 June 15–20, 2021 Gambit Esports Natus Vincere US$425,000 Abay "Hobbit" Khassenov [22]
Fall Groups 2021 September 16–26, 2021 Natus Vincere
Ninjas in Pyjamas
Team Vitality 		FaZe Clan
BIG Clan
Astralis 		US$150,000 Not awarded [23]
Fall Showdown 2021 October 12–17, 2021 Heroic
Team Liquid 		OG Esports
MAD Lions 		US$162,500 [24]
Fall Finals 2021 November 24–28, 2021 Royal Arena, Copenhagen Natus Vincere Team Vitality US$425,000 Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyliev [25]
World Final 2021 December 14–19, 2021 BLAST Studio, Copenhagen Gambit Esports US$1,000,000 [26]
Spring Groups 2022 January 28–February 6, 2022 Europe / Online Team Vitality
OG Esports
Faze Clan 		G2 Esports
Natus Vincere
BIG Clan 		US$117,500 Not awarded [27]
Spring Showdown Europe 2022 April 27–May 1, 2022 Europe / Online ENCE Astralis US$67,500 [28]
Spring Showdown North America 2022 North America / Online PaiN Gaming Furia Esports US$67,500 [29]
Spring Finals 2022 June 15–19, 2022 Altice Arena, Lisbon Natus Vincere Team Vitality US$425,000 Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyliev [30]
Fall Groups 2022 August 19–28, 2022 BLAST Studio, Copenhagen OG Esports
Natus Vincere
Team Liquid 		FaZe Clan
Ninjas in Pyjamas
G2 Esports 		US$117,500 Not awarded [31]
Fall Showdown Europe 2022 October 19–23, 2022 Europe / Online Heroic Astralis US$67,500 [32]
Fall Showdown North America 2022 North America / Online Fluxo MiBR US$67,500 [33]
Fall Finals 2022 November 23–27, 2022 Royal Arena, Copenhagen Heroic FaZe Clan US$425,000 Helvijs "broky" Saukants [34]
World Final 2022 December 14–18, 2022 Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi G2 Esports Team Liquid US$1,000,000 Ilya "m0NESY" Osipov [35]
Spring Groups 2023 January 19–29, 2023 BLAST Studio, Copenhagen Team Vitality
Faze Clan
G2 Esports 		Natus Vincere
Heroic
Astralis 		US$117,500 Not awarded [36]
Spring Showdown Europe 2023 March 29–April 2, 2023 Europe/Online Cloud9 BIG Clan US$67,500 [37]
Spring Showdown North America 2023 March 29–April 2, 2023 North America/Online Imperial Esports PaiN Gaming US$67,500 [38]
Spring Final 2023 June 7–11, 2023 Entertainment and Sports Arena, Washington D.C. Heroic Team Vitality US$425,000 Casper "cadiaN" Møller [39]
Fall Groups 2023 July 13–23, 2023 Copenhagen FaZe Clan
Heroic
Ninjas in Pyjamas 		Natus Vincere
Team Vitality
Astralis 		US$177,500 Not awarded [40]
Fall Showdown 2023 Europe October 4–8, 2023 Europe/Online Cloud9 BIG Clan US$67,500 [41]
Fall Showdown 2023 Americas October 4–8, 2023 North America/Online Complexity Gaming Team Liquid US$67,500 [42]
Fall Final 2023 November 22–26, 2023 Royal Arena, Copenhagen Team Vitality FaZe Clan US$425,000 Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut [43]
World Final 2023 December 13–17, 2023 Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi US$1,000,000 [44]
Spring Groups 2024 January 22–28, 2024 Copenhagen Virtus.pro
FaZe Clan
Natus Vincere
Team Vitality 		Astralis
G2 Esports 		US$190,000 Not awarded [45]
Spring Showdown 2024 March 6–10, 2024 Online SAW
Team Spirit 		OG Esports
Metizport 		US$135,000 [46]
Spring Final 2024 June 12–16, 2024 Wembley Arena, London Team Spirit Natus Vincere US$425,000 Danil "donk" Kryshkovets [47]
Fall Groups 2024 July 29–August 4, 2024 Copenhagen Team Liquid
G2 Esports
Team Vitality
Team Spirit 		Astralis
Natus Vincere 		US$190,000 Not awarded [48]
Fall Showdown 2024 August 21–25, 2024 Online FaZe Clan
Team Falcons 		OG Esports
Virtus.pro 		US$135,000 [49]
Fall Final 2024 September 25–29, 2024 Forum Copenhagen G2 Esports Natus Vincere US$425,000 Ilya "m0NESY" Osipov [50]
World Final 2024 October 30–November 3, 2024 Singapore Team Spirit US$1,000,000 [51]

Open circuit

In August 2023, Counter-Strike 2 developers Valve banned tournament organizers from having "unique business relationships" with teams.[52] As a result, Blast revamped their tournament format starting in 2025.[53]

Edition Date Venue, Host city Champions Runners-up Prize pool MVP Ref.
Bounty Season 1 January 13–26, 2025 Online
Copenhagen (Finals) 		TBD TBD TBD TBD
Open Lisbon 2025 March 17–30, 2025 Copenhagen (Groups)
Lisbon (Finals) 		TBD TBD TBD TBD
Rivals Season 1 April 28–May 4, 2025 TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD
Bounty Season 2 August 4–17, 2025 Online
Copenhagen (Finals) 		TBD TBD TBD TBD
Open London 2025 August 25–September 7, 2025 Copenhagen (Groups)
London (Finals) 		TBD TBD TBD TBD
Rivals Season 2 November 10–16, 2025 TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD

World Team Of The Year

Year Role ID Name Team
2021[54] IGL apEX Dan Madesclaire Team Vitality
AWP s1mple Oleksandr Kostyliev Natus Vincere
Entry NiKo Nikola Kovač G2 Esports
Support Perfecto Ilya Zalutskiy Natus Vincere
Lurker Hobbit Abai Hasenov Gambit Esports
Coach B1ad3 Andrii Horodenskyi Natus Vincere
Year Role ID Name Team
2022 IGL karrigan Finn Andersen FaZe Clan
AWP s1mple Oleksandr Kostyliev Natus Vincere
Entry YEKINDAR Mareks Gaļinskis Team Liquid
Support Perfecto Ilya Zalutskiy Natus Vincere
Lurker ropz Robin Kool Faze Clan
Coach B1ad3 Andrii Horodenskyi Natus Vincere

References

  1. ^ "BLAST PREMIER announced with format changes and $4,250,000 prize pool for 2020". HLTV.org. Retrieved 2020-02-01.
  2. ^ Fitch, Adam (2020-09-16). "BLAST Premier revises prize pool distribution to greater benefit organisations". Esportsinsider. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  3. ^ Pete, Alex (2020-01-30). "Formats, schedule and information on Blast Premier Series". EsportsJunkie.com. Retrieved 2020-02-01.
  4. ^ Fitch, Adam (2019-09-15). "BLAST Premier announced with $4.25M prize pool for 2020". Esportsinsider. Retrieved 2020-02-01.
  5. ^ a b LucasAM (3 August 2023). "Valve to end team and tournament organizer partnerships starting in 2025". HLTV.org. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  6. ^ Professeur (27 January 2021). "BIG announced as BLAST Premier Member Team". HLTV.org. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  7. ^ Striker (21 April 2022). "Heroic acquire partner slot in BLAST Premier circuit". HLTV.org. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  8. ^ king_dempz (12 December 2023). "Cloud9 acquire EG's BLAST Premier slot". HLTV.org. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  9. ^ Sumljiv_Model (5 January 2024). "BLAST expand partner list with Virtus.pro, Falcons, Spirit, GamerLegion". HLTV.org. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  10. ^ Draik (14 June 2024). "BLAST announces 2025 circuit changes". HLTV.org. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  11. ^ "Blast Premier Spring Series 2020". HLTV. January 16 – February 16, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  12. ^ "Blast Premier Spring 2020 Europe Showdown". HLTV. June 1–15, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  13. ^ "Blast Premier Spring 2020 Americas Showdown". HLTV. June 1–7, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  14. ^ "Blast Premier Spring 2020 Europe Finals". HLTV. June 15–21, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  15. ^ "Blast Premier Spring 2020 Americas Finals". HLTV. June 16–21, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  16. ^ "Blast Premier Fall Series 2020". HLTV. October 15–31, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  17. ^ "Blast Premier Fall Showdown 2020". HLTV. November 24–29, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  18. ^ "Blast Premier Spring 2020 Europe Finals". HLTV. June 15–21, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  19. ^ "Blast Premier Global Final 2020". HLTV. January 19–24, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
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  23. ^ "Blast Premier Fall Groups 2021". HLTV. September 16–26, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
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  25. ^ "Blast Premier Fall Final 2021". HLTV. November 24–28, 2021. Retrieved November 7, 2021.
  26. ^ "Blast Premier World Final 2021". HLTV. December 15–19, 2021. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  27. ^ "Blast Premier Spring Groups 2022". HLTV. February 4–14, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  28. ^ "Blast Premier Spring Showdown 2022 Europe". HLTV. April 27 – May 1, 2022. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  29. ^ "Blast Premier Spring Showdown North America 2022". HLTV. April 27 – May 1, 2022. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  30. ^ "Blast Premier Spring Final 2022". HLTV. June 15–19, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  31. ^ "Blast Premier Fall Groups 2022". HLTV. August 19–28, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  32. ^ "BLAST Premier Fall Showdown 2022 Europe". HLTV. October 19–23, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  33. ^ "BLAST Premier Fall Showdown 2022 North America". HLTV. October 19–23, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  34. ^ "BLAST Premier Fall Final 2022". HLTV. November 23–27, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  35. ^ "BLAST Premier World Final 2022". HLTV. December 14–18, 2022. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  36. ^ "BLAST Premier Spring Groups 2023". HLTV. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  37. ^ "BLAST Premier Spring Showdown 2023 Europe". HLTV. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  38. ^ "BLAST Premier Spring Showdown 2023 Americas". HLTV. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  39. ^ "BLAST Premier Spring Final 2023". HLTV. June 7–11, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  40. ^ "BLAST Premier Fall Groups 2023". HLTV. July 13–23, 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  41. ^ "BLAST Premier Fall Showdown 2023 Europe". HLTV. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  42. ^ "BLAST Premier Fall Showdown 2023 Americas". HLTV. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  43. ^ "BLAST Premier Fall Final 2023". HLTV. November 22–26, 2023. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  44. ^ "BLAST Premier World Final 2023". HLTV. December 13–17, 2023. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  45. ^ "BLAST Premier Spring Groups 2024". HLTV. January 22–28, 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  46. ^ "BLAST Premier Spring Showdown 2024". HLTV. March 6–10, 2024. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  47. ^ "BLAST Premier Spring Final 2024". HLTV. June 12–16, 2024. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  48. ^ "BLAST Premier Fall Groups 2024". HLTV. July 29, 2024. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
  49. ^ "BLAST Premier Fall Showdown 2024". HLTV. August 21, 2024. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  50. ^ "BLAST Premier Fall Final 2024". HLTV. September 25, 2024. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  51. ^ "BLAST Premier World Final 2024". HLTV. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  52. ^ Nordland, Jake (3 August 2023). "Valve set to overhaul Counter-Strike esports ecosystem with major tournament rule changes". Esports Insider. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  53. ^ Nicholson, Jonno (17 June 2024). "BLAST Premier Counter-Strike 2 circuit revamped for 2025". Esports Insider. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  54. ^ "World Team Of The Year". BLAST Premier. 19 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.