The 2025 Counter-Strike 2 season is set to kick off with a bang tomorrow as BLAST introduces its innovative Bounty Format to the competitive scene. This online-first tournament brings a fresh twist to the traditional bracket system, with lower-seeded teams taking the reins to select their opening-round opponents.
This online-first tournament brings a fresh twist to the traditional bracket system, with lower-seeded teams taking the reins to select their opening-round opponents.
This unique format puts the spotlight on strategy even before the first map is played. Teams seeded 17th to 32nd get the opportunity to handpick their initial adversaries, aiming to target perceived weaknesses or make bold statements against stronger squads. To add an extra layer of complexity, actual bounties for the higher-ranked teams were pre-assigned, forcing challengers to further weigh the potential gain, against their choice of opponent.
Enter the all new Bounty selection process
Leading the selection process as the 17th seed, German powerhouse BIG opted to challenge Portuguese squad SAW, a decision that came down to picking what they anticipate to be their easiest possible opponent. Following them, the 18th seed Virtus Pro and beyond took turns, crafting matchups that promise to deliver high-octane action and plenty of surprises.
Among the confirmed matches, notable pairings include FaZe Clan, debuting with their revamped roster featuring North American star Jonathan "EliGE" Jablonowski, taking on M80. The latter side will be without Ethan "reck" Serrano, who was unable to travel to the bootcamp. Former OG and BIG rifler Nils "k1to" Gruhne will stand in for him, making M80 technically a majority German squad. Meanwhile, fans will also witness the highly anticipated first appearance of Nikola "NiKo" Kovač as he leads the new-look Falcons squad against ENCE, adding an extra layer of intrigue to this tournament.
Full First-Round Matchups
Here is the complete slate of games for the opening stage:
- FlyQuest vs. MIBR
- 3DMAX vs. HEROIC
- Liquid vs. 9 Pandas
- Spirit vs. fnatic
- Astralis vs. Wildcard
- SAW vs. BIG
- Falcons vs. ENCE
- Vitality vs. Metizport
- Complexity vs. Virtus Pro
- Eternal Fire vs. Fluxo
- FaZe vs. M80
- Natus Vincere vs. Imperial fe
- paiN vs. GamerLegion
- FURIA vs. Nemiga
- MOUZ vs. BetBoom
- G2 vs. B8
This first stage is just the beginning of the journey. The results will determine the 16 teams, set to contest in another stage of matchups, following a similar picking format, where the bottom eight teams will again choose their opponents.
The BLAST Bounty event will culminate in a thrilling LAN finale hosted at the iconic BLAST studios in Copenhagen. The final eight teams will battle it out in a traditional bracket format, with quarterfinals, semifinals, and a grand final crowning the first big event champion of the 2025 CS2 season.
The debut of revamped rosters such as FaZe and Falcons, alongside established powerhouses like Sprit and NAVI, guarantees a fascinating mix of high-stakes drama and world-class gameplay. Additionally, the opportunity for lower-ranked teams to dictate the flow of the competition could lead to surprising upsets and breakout performances.
The BLAST Bounty event is more than just the start of the season – it’s a statement of innovation and excitement for the CS2 competitive scene. With its blend of strategic pre-game decisions and high-intensity matches, this tournament is poised to capture the imagination of fans and players alike.
Mark your calendars and prepare for a new chapter in Counter-Strike history, as the BLAST Bounty event sets the tone for what promises to be an electrifying 2025 season.