BIG Clan kicked off their BLAST Bounty campaign in spectacular fashion, defeating SAW 2-0 in their opening match. In a bold move, BIG banned Anubis, leaving the newly added Train as a potential decider. However, the series was wrapped up in just two maps, making fans miss out on the first official on said map.
The match marked the debut of Can "kyuubii" Ali and the return of Marcel "hyped" Köhn to BIG's main roster. Both players showed up, with hyped stealing the spotlight in a dominant performance. He spent the past year at Alternate AttaX, after being sent back down to BIG's academy squad, due to an unsuccessful first stint on the main roster.
BIG destroy SAW 2-0 to advance into round 2!
BIG's pick of Ancient set the tone for the series. The Germans overwhelmed SAW, taking a commanding 11-1 lead at halftime and cruising to a swift 13-2 victory.
Clean @hyped_cs pic.twitter.com/PIHsIaNb5F
— BIG (@BIGCLANgg) January 15, 2025
hyped led the scoreboard with 19 kills, showcasing his potential and seamless reintegration into the squad. Jon "JDC" de Castro and Karim "Krimbo" Moussa also farmed 17 and 12 kills respectively, despite having slightly twisted roles, due to the recent roster moves.
.@sawggofficial fans look away now... #BLASTPremier pic.twitter.com/RSQgSNJwSA
— BLAST Premier (@BLASTPremier) January 15, 2025
The second map, Nuke, followed a more competitive trajectory. BIG ended the first half ahead 8-4, but their T-side revealed a lack of cohesion, a challenge for the recently restructured roster. SAW capitalized on BIG's struggles, pushing the game into overtime.
.@hyped_cs is not done yet! pic.twitter.com/fXeyAbGzgR
— BIG (@BIGCLANgg) January 15, 2025
However, Johannes "tabseN" Wodarz and his team dug deep, ultimately closing out the map 16-14. hyped was instrumental again, delivering a stellar 30-kill performance to secure the win.
.@BIGCLANgg fans, how hyped are you for @hyped_cs? #BLASTPremier pic.twitter.com/kUHzOcKkLs
— BLAST Premier (@BLASTPremier) January 15, 2025
After the match, hyped reflected on his triumphant return to BIG. "It's rare to get second chances in esports, so I'm grateful for the opportunity and will continue to try my best," he said. His composure and confidence were evident throughout the series, promising a bright future for the revamped roster.
With this victory, BIG moves into the second round of the BLAST Bounty. Their next opponent will be determined after the seeding and picking process concludes, following the remaining first-round matches.
This dream debut offers a promising glimpse of what the new-look BIG can achieve. hyped's standout performance, combined with the team's strong tactical foundation, gives fans plenty to be excited about as they progress in the tournament.