BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025: CS2's Impressive Return to the US

From June 3 to 22, Austin, Texas is hosting one of the most notable esports events of the year - BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025.

This is the first CS2 Major to take place in North America in seven years. Thirty-two of the best teams in the world are competing for a huge prize pool of $1,250,000. The finals will be held at the Moody Center, a state-of-the-art venue that can accommodate over 15,000 spectators. This article has been written by experts from 1xBet to help you follow the key moments of the tournament.

The event is divided into four stages. Stage 1, which runs from June 3 to 6, features 16 regional qualifiers competing in a Swiss system. Only eight teams advance to the next round. Stage 2 (June 7 to 10) features the winners of Stage 1 and eight direct invitees. The Swiss format continues, with some matches being BO1 and others BO3. After this round, 16 teams remain.

The tournament is now in Phase 3, which will run from June 12 to 15. Sixteen teams will continue to compete in a Swiss format, with only the top eight advancing to the playoffs. The final phase, from June 19 to 22, will be a single-elimination, best-of-three format. The finals will take place on June 22 in front of thousands of spectators at the Moody Center.

The tournament saw some big surprises. Chinese team Lynn Vision made history by making it to Stage 3, beating heavyweights like Falcons and B8. Belarusian team Nemiga shocked HEROIC with a 2-0 win. Brazilian team MIBR had a nail-biting match against Falcons and won in overtime. One of the biggest shocks was when 3DMAX defeated FaZe Clan 2-0 to advance to the next round.

The American audience has been waiting for this moment for a long time. The last major held in the US was Boston 2018. This tournament marked the return of top-level esports to American soil and proved that CS2 still has a huge fan base. Tickets quickly sold out, even with additional seating added. Over 40,000 people are expected to attend the live playoffs, with hundreds of millions watching online from around the world.

The economic impact on the city of Austin is also huge. Local officials estimate the tournament will bring in $30-40 million in tourism and media attention. The event, which has received support from BLAST.tv, Valve, Live Nation and Visit Austin, shows that esports is becoming a true part of global culture.

As the playoffs approach, all eyes are on the final eight. FaZe, 3DMAX, MIBR, Lynn Vision and the other teams have proven they are up for the fight. The tournament is not just about prize money, but also about pride, history and the emergence of new stars. Let’s see who will rise to the top!

"Stone Demon" Huu Trung: "Monster" comments make opponents "terrified"! Phạm Đông16:04:04 31/12/2024Huu Trung, a name that has become familiar to the League of Legends (LoL) fan community in Vietnam, especially in professional tournaments such as VCS, LPL and CKTG.