CS2 BLAST Bounty 2025 Overview

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 Teams

Here are all 32 teams competing in the tournament:

• G2 Esports
• B8
• Natus Vincere
• Imperial Female
• Team Vitality
• Metizport
• Team Spirit
• Fnatic
• MOUZ
• BetBoom Team
• FaZe Clan
• M80
• Team Falcons
• ENCE
• Team Liquid
• 9Pandas
• FURIA Esports
• Nemiga Gaming
• Eternal Fire
• Fluxo
• SAW
• BIG
• 3DMAX
• HEROIC
• paiN Gaming
• GamerLegion
• Complexity
• Virtus.pro
• Astralis
• Wildcard
• FlyQuest
• MIBR

Round 1 Matchups

• G2 Esports vs. B8
• Natus Vincere vs. Imperial Female
• Team Vitality vs. Metizport
• Team Spirit vs. Fnatic
• MOUZ vs. BetBoom Team
• FaZe Clan vs. M80
• Team Falcons vs. ENCE
• Team Liquid vs. 9Pandas
• FURIA Esports vs. Nemiga Gaming
• Eternal Fire vs. Fluxo
• SAW vs. BIG
• 3DMAX vs. HEROIC
• paiN Gaming vs. GamerLegion
• Complexity vs. Virtus.pro
• Astralis vs. Wildcard
• FlyQuest vs. MIBR

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!

Prediction

G2 Esports faces a bold challenge from B8, whose preparation specifically targets the top seed. If B8’s confidence pays off, it could lead to one of the biggest upsets.

Imperial Female's pick of NAVI prioritizes media attention and strategic ranking considerations. While a win seems unlikely, their bold move ensures they remain in the spotlight. Other teams like Vitality, Spirit, and FaZe Clan are poised to advance, but underdogs like BIG and Nemiga could shake up the tournament with surprise victories. Expect thrilling clashes as the road to Copenhagen unfolds.