CS2 BLAST Bounty 2025 Overview: Dates, Rules and Prize Pool

The BLAST Bounty 2025 is here, the first CS2 tournament of the year! Kicking off online from January 14 to January 19, this event features 32 top teams battling for a spot in the LAN finals in Copenhagen. The tournament also brings exciting changes, including a fresh format and Train's return to the map pool. Let’s dive into the details.

CS2 BLAST Bounty Rules

The tournament runs as a single-elimination bracket, with all matches being best-of-three. After each round, teams are re-seeded based on who they beat. Here’s the twist: lower-seeded teams (ranked 17-32) get to pick their next opponents from the higher-seeded teams (ranked 1-16). This unique format lets lower seeds aim for upsets while top teams fight to defend their spots.

Participation fees depend on the Valve Rankings as of December 2, 2024. Teams ranked 1-8 earn $40,000, those ranked 9-16 get $26,250, and teams ranked 17-32 receive $7,500. On top of that, every team has a bounty placed on them, with top teams like G2, Vitality, and Na’Vi carrying the highest $60,000 bounties. This adds extra motivation for underdogs to topple favorites.

BLAST Bounty Tournament Compared with Poker

The BLAST Bounty system adds a unique layer of strategy and risk, much like poker. Here, a top seed is akin to a high stack of chips, it’s valuable but puts a target on your back. A good seeding doesn’t just signify strength; it becomes a bounty on your head.

If a lower-ranked team beats a higher seed, they get 50% of the higher team’s bounty as a guaranteed payout, with the other 50% added to their total. This creates opportunities for bold plays and upsets, especially for lower-seeded teams aiming to go "bounty hunting" and stack their winnings.

BLAST Bounty 2025 Participants

Low-seed teams:

• Imperial Female
• Fnatic
• Metizport
• B8
• 9Pandas
• ENCE
• M80
• BetBoom
• HEROIC
• BIG
• Fluxo
• Nemiga Gaming
• MIBR
• Wildcart
• Virtus.pro
• GamerLegion

High-Seed teams:

• NaVi
• Spirit
• Vitality
• G2
• Liquid
• Falcons
• FaZe
• mouz
• 3DMAX
• SAW
• Eternal Fire
• FURIA
• FlyQuest
• Astralis
• Complexity
• paiN

Round 1

Teams earn payouts through seeding-based bounties, with prize pools distributed as matches progress. Lower-seeded teams get the chance to pick their opponents, adding a strategic layer of "bounty hunting." The tournament uses a BO3 single-elimination format, with early rounds online and quarterfinals onward held on LAN in Copenhagen. Teams can wager their bounties to raise stakes.

CS2 BLAST Bounty Schedule Round of 32 with Bounties Rate:

B8 takes a risky yet confident approach by picking top-seeded G2, believing they have the prep to counter them. Imperial fe selects NAVI for maximum media attention and minimal ranking impact in defeat. M80 targets FaZe's known issues with online matches, betting on an early mistake to start as a strong side. Teams like Nemiga and Wildcard eye re-seeding opportunities to upset giants and claim bounties.

BLAST Bounty Stage 1 Prize

Only eight teams will advance from the Closed Qualifier to the LAN finals in Copenhagen. These teams will compete for a massive $500,000 prize pool from January 23 to January 26. The stakes are high, and the pressure is on!