BLAST’s first attempt in the world of Dota 2 looks like one of the most interesting events of the year. With only a week remaining all the details are clear.
BLAST is a global esports media network that provides some of the highest quality tournaments. Until now fans knew about BLAST mainly from their CS:GO events, which tend to stand out from the rest. The company is now exploring new possibilities with its first entry into the Dota 2 scene – Bounty Hunt.
Bounty Hunt
A total of six teams will compete for the total prize pool of $145, 000 in a double-elimination bracket. All of the participants will be from Europe, so we already know that this will be some intense high-level Dota 2:
- Nigma
- Ninjas in Pyjamas
- OG
- Team Secret
- Team Liquid
- Alliance
Each of the teams was seeded and that determined their starting cash. The top two get $20,00 each while everyone else is at $15,000. Every time the teams play, 40% of their total money will be up for grabs by their opponents. That'll make for more intense games as every match will be a struggle to keep their riches.
Here are your team seedings for BLAST Dota Bounty Hunt! Any surprises? #BLASTDota pic.twitter.com/PhP2mrQeYs
— BLAST Dota (@BLASTDota) May 28, 2020
We’ve already mentioned the $145,000 prize pool. At the start of the event, the total amount of money teams possess equals $100,000, so where are the remaining $45,000? The latter will be earned through various bounties.
The bounties
Bounties are challenges that the participating teams will try to complete in order to earn some extra.
The bounties were chosen by with an online vote in BLAST’s social media, so it’s all fair and square. It sure looks like we’re going to get some interesting games with the teams trying to complete these challenges. Bounties can only be claimed once and the money earned through them can’t be lost.
BLAST CEO Robbie Douek commented:
With new bespoke tournament mechanics and the same world-class production quality and competitive integrity you’d expect from the team behind BLAST Premier. BLAST Bounty Hunt promises to shake things up and set a new bar in DoTa 2.
OG Esports Co-Owner Xavier Oswald added:
BLAST Bounty Hunt’s format makes every game, map and individual performance matter in a way they have never before. For the pros battling it out as well as the fans sitting at home, the format provides excitement, competition, and engagement with brand new prize distribution. We are excited to be partnering with BLAST to make this a great new entrance into the DoTa 2 world.
Bounty Hunt brings something new, something we haven’t seen since Midas Mode. It’ll make the games more interesting not only for the viewers but also for the players. Speaking of viewers there’ll also be a Fan Prediction Game.
Fans will be able to predict the winners of each match, the number of bounties collected and a couple of exciting other twists and turns throughout the tournament. This new innovation brings the fans even closer to the action, highs and lows and gives the winner cold hard cash.
Betway, one of the most famous online betting platforms has joined forces with BLAST.
We're thrilled to announce our partnership with @BLASTDota Bounty Hunt Watch six of EU's best teams battling it out for their share of $145,000 - where every match has money on the line! June 9 - 13i https://t.co/FClBr96f0g pic.twitter.com/Y0zUYmzV7j
— betway DOTA 2 (@betwaydota2) May 29, 2020
Behind the desk
When it comes to casters and analysts, BLAST provides the best the scene has to offer. Names we’ve seen over and over. Jorien "Sheever" van der Heijden will be the gracious host, while Owen "ODPixel" Davies and Ioannis "Fogged" Loucas will be behind the casting table. On the analyst desk, it’s Troels "syndereN" Nielsen and the weatherman himself Kevin "Purge" Godec. Last but not least is Kyle "Kyle" Freedman who’ll fill the role of interviewer, but we all know he’ll do much more than that.
When and where
Bounty Hunt begins exactly a week from today on June 9 and will conclude on June 13. The schedule for the event is already out.
Bounty Hunt will come right after the conclusion of ESL One Birmingham Online, so there will be no overlaps in terms of schedule. BLAST’s event looks more than promising and we’re all eager to see the teams in action.
Stay tuned for more updates from the tournament and make sure to check out EarlyGame for more Dota 2 content.
