Austin, Texas, will host the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 from June 3 to June 22, 2025, making it the esports epicenter in a matter of days. With Valve extending the format to a whopping 32 teams, this year’s first Counter-Strike 2 Major is sure to be a historic occasion! To enhance the viewing experience, we’ll explore the tournament’s structure, competing teams, prize fund, forecasts, and even where you can place your bets in this post. Prepare yourself for a thrilling CS2 show!
Format of the Competition: Swiss System and Playoffs
There will be four distinct stages to the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, each with unique features. Except for the playoffs, every game will follow the Swiss system, in which teams with comparable records play one another. This is a summary:
Stage 1: June 3–6
- Format: 16 teams, Swiss System.
- Matches: All matches, except for advancement and elimination games, are best-of-1 (Bo1). Decisive matches are best-of-3 (Bo3).
- Advancement: The top 8 teams move on to Stage 2, while the bottom 8 are eliminated.
Stage 2: June 7–10
- Format: Another 16 teams, Swiss System.
- Matches: Similar to Stage 1 – Bo1 for most games, Bo3 for crucial matchups.
- Advancement: The top 8 teams progress to Stage 3, with the rest being eliminated.
Stage 3: June 12–15
- Format: 16 teams, Swiss System.
- Matches: Bo1 for standard matches, Bo3 for advancement and elimination matches.
- Advancement: The top 8 teams secure their spots in the playoffs.
Playoffs: June 19–22
- Format: 8 teams, Single-elimination bracket.
- Matches: All matches are Bo3.
Map Pool: Ancient, Anubis, Dust II, Inferno, Mirage, Nuke, Train.
Also read:
- Austin Major 2025 Stage 1 Pick’Em Predictions from players and talents
- BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025: Where and How to Watch the First CS2 Major of the Year
- BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025: Schedule and results
Source: BLASTtv
Where and When to Watch
The tournament kicks off on June 3 in Austin, USA. The first three stages will be held without a live audience, but the playoffs, from June 19 to June 22, will ignite the Moody Center with an electric atmosphere. Broadcasts will be available on BLAST.tv, Twitch, and YouTube – keep an eye on official BLAST announcements to ensure you don’t miss a single match!
Participants: Who’s Battling for the Title?
Stage 1 (June 3–6)
This stage brings together 16 teams who have fought their way through regional qualifiers (MRQ) in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Here’s the roster:
- USA: Complexity, NRG, Wildcard
- Denmark: OG
- Ukraine: B8
- Europe: HEROIC, Metizport
- Russia: Nemiga, BetBoom
- Brazil: Imperial, Fluxo, Legacy
- Australia: FlyQuest
- China: TYLOO, Lynn Vision
- Mongolia: Chinggis Warriors
Notably, the Brazilian team BESTIA was replaced by Legacy due to visa issues. BESTIA even threatened legal action, claiming they hadn’t received official notification about the deadline for resolving their visa problems.
Opening Matches of Stage 1:
- Complexity vs. OG
- HEROIC vs. Chinggis Warriors
- B8 vs. Imperial
- BetBoom vs. Nemiga
- TYLOO vs. NRG
- Lynn Vision vs. Legacy
- Wildcard vs. Metizport
- FlyQuest vs. Fluxo
Stage 2 (June 7–10)
This stage sees the entry of teams with direct invitations:
- Europe: Falcons, FaZe, 3DMAX
- Russia: Virtus.pro
- Brazil: paiN, FURIA, MIBR
- USA: M80
Stage 3 (June 12–15)
The true titans, who received direct invitations based on their Valve ranking, will compete here:
- Europe: Vitality, MOUZ, Natus Vincere, G2
- Russia: Spirit
- Turkey: Aurora
- Mongolia: The MongolZ
- USA/Other: Liquid
Playoffs (June 19–22)
The top eight teams from Stage 3 will clash in the ultimate battle for the title. Who will they be? That remains to be seen, but the favorites are already emerging.
Also read: The 10 Best CS2 Players in the World – 2025 Rank
Source: BLASTtv
Favorites and Predictions
According to current betting odds, the main favorites for the tournament are:
- Team Vitality – 1.72
- Team Falcons – 4.00
- Team Spirit – 5.50
- MOUZ – 6.50
- Natus Vincere – 11.00
- The MongolZ – 13.00
- FaZe Clan – 13.00
- Aurora Gaming – 17.00
- Team Liquid – 19.00
- Virtus.pro – 41.00
HEROIC looks like a strong contender in Stage 1. Despite losing their sniper and coach, the team showed stability at IEM Dallas 2025 and won a LAN tournament in Mongolia. B8, a young Ukrainian team, could be a dark horse thanks to their aggressive playstyle and ambition. Metizport and BetBoom are debutants who have a chance to make a name for themselves if they can handle the pressure.
Among the possible dark horses, Wildcard has shown steady play in the North American scene, and Nemiga unexpectedly qualified for the Major with a 3-1 record. Because of their surprising nature, Fluxo and Chinggis Warriors may potentially surprise opponents in Bo1 matches.
Austin Major 2025 Pick’Em: Amp Up Your Viewing Experience!
The BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 isn’t just about high-stakes Counter-Strike 2 matches—it’s also a chance for fans to dive into the action with CS2 Pick’Em! This fantasy game lets you predict match outcomes and compete for awesome rewards. If you’re a CS2 enthusiast eager to test your game knowledge, Pick’Em is the perfect way to spice up your tournament experience.
What is Pick’Em? It’s an interactive game where you forecast the winners of matches across all stages of the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025—from the opening clashes of Stage 1 to the grand final at the Moody Center. You pick which teams you think will advance through the Swiss system, dominate in Bo1 or Bo3 matchups, and ultimately claim the title. Every correct prediction earns you points, boosting your rank on the leaderboard. The more accurate your calls, the higher you climb!
If you want to enhance your BLAST Austin Major 2025 viewing experience, we suggest you try CS2 Pick’Em from our friends at xplay.gg. You will be able to make predictions on the outcome of Major matches and get skins for correct predictions. The more accurate your predictions are, the higher your place in the leaderboard will be. Players from the top-100 of the leaderboard will receive the coolest rewards: skins and xcoins – the site’s currency, which can be exchanged for skins in their store.
Pick’Em isn’t just about predicting outcomes—it’s a full-on fan showdown. You can analyze team form, like HEROIC or Vitality, or take a gamble on underdogs such as B8 or Metizport. It’s your chance to play analyst and compete with other fans for bragging rights.
Prize Pool: What Are Teams Fighting For?
The BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 boasts a prize pool of $1,025,000, distributed as follows:
- 1st Place: $500,000
- 2nd Place: $170,000
- 3rd–4th Places: $80,000
- 5th–8th Places: $45,000
- 9th–16th Places: $20,000
- 17th–24th Places: $10,000
Source: FaZeEsports
Where to Place Your Bets?
Looking to add some adrenaline to your viewing? Consider placing bets on your favorite teams through reliable betting platforms:
These sites offer user-friendly interfaces and a variety of markets for betting on the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025. Be sure to familiarize yourself with their terms and conditions and remember to gamble responsibly!
Why You Should Follow BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025?
The new 32-team format, dramatic Bo1 matches, intense Bo3 playoffs, and an incredible atmosphere at the Moody Center all combine to make this an unforgettable event. Will Vitality solidify their status as favorites? Can debutants like Metizport or BetBoom surprise everyone? Or will B8 emerge as the next sensation?