Blast Premier Explained

Blast Premier should not be confused with Blast TV.

Blast Premier
Formerly:BLAST Pro Series
Game:Counter-Strike 2
Founded:January 2020
Owner:Blast ApS
Teams:16
Countries:-->
Continents:Worldwide
Champion:Team Vitality (World Final)
Headquarters:Copenhagen, Denmark

Blast Premier (stylized as BLAST Premier) is a Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) (previously ) 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, 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 8 teams in the Valve rankings will play each other in the old Final format). With this, 2024's World Final will be the last BLAST Premier World Final.

Partnered teams

Current partnered teams

TeamYear joined
Astralis2020
BIG2021
Cloud92023
Complexity2020
Team Falcons2024 (Affiliate)
FaZe Clan2020
GamerLegion2024 (Affiliate)
G2 Esports2020
Heroic2022
Team Liquid2020
Natus Vincere2020
Ninjas in Pyjamas2020
OG Esports2020
Team Spirit2024 (Affiliate)
Virtus.pro2024 (Affiliate)
Team Vitality2020

Former partnered teams

TeamYear joinedYear left
100 Thieves20202021
Evil Geniuses20202023
Mibr20202022

Editions

EditionDateVenue, Host cityChampionsRunners-upPrize poolMVPscope=col class="unsortable"
Spring 2020: Regular Season–February 16, 20203 Mills Studio, LondonFaZe Clan
Natus Vincere
G2 Esports
OG Esports
Complexity Gaming
Team Liquid
[10]
Spring 2020 Europe Showdown–15, 2020Europe / OnlineVitality
ENCE
Ninjas in Pyjamas[11]
Spring 2020 Americas Showdown–7, 2020North America / OnlineMiBR
Furia Esports
Evil Geniuses[12]
Spring 2020 Europe Finals–21, 2020Europe / OnlineComplexity GamingTeam VitalityMathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut[13]
Spring 2020 Americas Finals–21, 2020North America / OnlineEvil GeniusesMiBRTsvetelin "CeRq" Dimitrov [14]
Fall Series 2020–31, 2020Europe / OnlineOG Esports
Team Vitality
G2 Esports
Natus Vincere
BIG Clan
Astralis
[15]
Fall Showdown 2020–29, 2020 Furia Esports
mousesports
Cloud9
Team Liquid
[16]
Fall 2020 Finals–13, 2020Team VitalityAstralisMathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut[17]
Global Final 2020–24, 2021Natus VincereAstralisOleksandr "s1mple" Kostyliev[18]
Spring Groups 2021–14, 2021BIG Clan
Complexity Gaming
Natus Vincere
Ninjas in Pyjamas
Evil Geniuses
FaZe Clan
[19]
Spring Showdown 2021–18, 2021G2 Esports
Gambit Esports
Team Spirit
Heroic
[20]
Spring Finals 2021–20, 2021Gambit EsportsNatus VincereAbay "Hobbit" Khassenov[21]
Fall Groups 2021–26, 2021Natus Vincere
Ninjas in Pyjamas
Team Vitality
FaZe Clan
BIG Clan
Astralis
[22]
Fall Showdown 2021–17, 2021Heroic
Team Liquid
OG Esports
MAD Lions
[23]
Fall Finals 2021–28, 2021Royal Arena, CopenhagenNatus VincereTeam VitalityOleksandr "s1mple" Kostyliev[24]
World Final 2021–19, 2021BLAST Studio, CopenhagenGambit Esports[25]
Spring Groups 2022–, 2022Europe / OnlineTeam Vitality
OG Esports
Faze Clan
G2 Esports
Natus Vincere
BIG Clan
[26]
Spring Showdown Europe 2022–, 2022Europe / OnlineENCEAstralis[27]
Spring Showdown North America 2022North America / OnlinePaiN GamingFuria Esports[28]
Spring Finals 2022–19, 2022Altice Arena, LisbonNatus VincereTeam VitalityOleksandr "s1mple" Kostyliev[29]
Fall Groups 2022–28, 2022BLAST Studio, CopenhagenOG Esports
Natus Vincere
Team Liquid
FaZe Clan
Ninjas in Pyjamas
G2 Esports
[30]
Fall Showdown Europe 2022–23, 2022Europe / OnlineHeroicAstralis[31]
Fall Showdown North America 2022North America / OnlineFluxoMiBR[32]
Fall Finals 2022–27, 2022Royal Arena, CopenhagenHeroicFaZe ClanHelvijs "broky" Saukants[33]
World Final 2022–18, 2022Etihad Arena, Abu DhabiG2 EsportsTeam LiquidIlya "m0NESY" Osipov[34]
Spring Groups 2023–29, 2023BLAST Studio, CopenhagenTeam Vitality
Faze Clan
G2 Esports
Natus Vincere
Heroic
Astralis
[35]
Spring Showdown Europe 2023March 29–April 2, 2023Europe/OnlineCloud9BIG ClanUS$67,500[36]
Spring Showdown North America 2023March 29–April 2, 2023North America/OnlineImperial EsportsPaiN GamingUS$67,500[37]
Spring Final 2023June 7–11, 2023Entertainment and Sports Arena, Washington D.C.HeroicTeam VitalityUS$425,000Casper "cadiaN" Møller[38]
Fall Groups 2023July 13–23, 2023CopenhagenFaZe Clan
Heroic
Ninjas in Pyjamas
Natus Vincere
Team Vitality
Astralis
US$177,500[39]
Fall Showdown 2023 EuropeOctober 4–8, 2023Europe/OnlineCloud9BIG ClanUS$67,500[40]
Fall Showdown 2023 AmericasOctober 4–8, 2023North America/OnlineComplexity GamingTeam LiquidUS$67,500[41]
Fall Final 2023November 22–26, 2023Royal Arena, CopenhagenTeam VitalityFaZe ClanUS$425,000Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut[42]
World Final 2023December 13–17, 2023Etihad Arena, Abu DhabiUS$1,000,000[43]
Spring Groups 2024January 22–28, 2024CopenhagenVirtus.pro
FaZe Clan
Natus Vincere
Team Vitality
Astralis
G2 Esports
US$190,000[44]
Spring Showdown 2024March 6–10, 2024OnlineSAW
Team Spirit
OG Esports
Metizport
US$135,000[45]
Spring Final 2024June 12–16, 2024Wembley Arena, LondonTeam SpiritNatus VincereUS$425,000Danil "donk" Kryshkovets[46]
Fall Groups 2024July 29–August 4, 2024CopenhagenTeam Liquid
G2 Esports
Team Vitality
Team Spirit
Astralis
Natus Vincere
US$190,000[47]

World Team Of The Year

YearRoleIDNameTeam
2021[48] IGLapEXDan MadesclaireTeam Vitality
AWPs1mpleOleksandr KostylievNatus Vincere
EntryNiKoNikola KovačG2 Esports
SupportPerfectoIlya ZalutskiyNatus Vincere
LurkerHobbitAbai HasenovGambit Esports
CoachB1ad3Andrii HorodenskyiNatus Vincere
YearRoleIDNameTeam
2022IGLkarriganFinn AndersenFaZe Clan
AWPs1mpleOleksandr KostylievNatus Vincere
EntryYEKINDARMareks GaļinskisTeam Liquid
SupportPerfectoIlya ZalutskiyNatus Vincere
LurkerropzRobin KoolFaze Clan
CoachB1ad3Andrii HorodenskyiNatus Vincere

External links

Notes and References

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