BLAST Austin Preview – CS2 Esports Betting

Parimatch UK Editorial Team |

04/06/25
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This month, a new and even more exciting BLAST Major will begin in Austin, Texas. It will mark the first Major Counter-Strike event in North America since 2018.

This tournament will be played out across four stages, with 32 of the best teams from around the world. Here, we explain the new format for BLAST Austin, reveal the prize money at stake, and consider which teams will likely go far in the tournament.

We also reveal how you can bet on Counter-Strike 2 events at Parimatch Sportsbook, with details of an exciting welcome offer for all new Esports customers.

When and Where is BLAST Austin?

BLAST Austin is scheduled from June 3rd to 22nd, 2025. The event will be held at the Moody Centre in Austin, Texas, involving 32 of the best Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) Esports teams.

Fans can purchase tickets to attend the playoffs in person, but streaming the action live on Twitch and BLAST.tv is also possible. Stages one to three will be played behind closed doors.

What is BLAST Austin?

BLAST Austin is a major Esports tournament for professional CS2 teams. It is a new and expanded version of the tournament and the first time that a BLAST major has 32 teams, up from 24 in previous years.

Sixteen teams have qualified for BLAST Austin via the Major Regional Qualifiers (MRQs), following events in Europe, Asia-Pacific, and America. The other 16 teams have been directly invited, with eight gaining a pass to stage two and eight going straight into stage three.

Numerous BLAST tournaments run throughout the year, including Spring and Fall events. G2 won the BLAST Premier World Final in Singapore in 2024, while Team Vitality won the 2023 BLAST Paris Major.

BLAST Austin Format & Schedule

This is the first iteration of a new and exciting format for BLAST Majors, with a new stage before the playoff round. While it also adds a layer of complexity to the tournament, it gives more teams the chance of getting to the business end of the major.

There are four stages in this tournament:

Stage 1

  • June 3rd to June 6th
  • 16-team Swiss System format
  • Elimination & advancement matches are best of three, while all others are best of one
  • The top eight teams progress to stage two

Stage 2

  • June 7th to June 10th
  • 16-team Swiss System format
  • Elimination & advancement matches are best of three, while all others are best of one
  • The top eight teams progress to stage three

Stage 3

  • June 12th to June 15th
  • 16-team Swiss System format
  • Elimination & advancement matches are best of three, while all others are best of one
  • The top eight teams progress to the playoffs

 Stage 4 – The playoffs

  • June 19th to June 22nd
  • Single-elimination bracket
  • Best of three matches
  • The final team standing is the winner

Seeding – The Buchholz System

This tournament is seeded, with the top eight teams via the Buchholz system making it directly to stage three. The following eight best teams get a bye to stage two, while 16 lower-ranked teams will begin at stage one. Check out which teams will start where in Austin below.

Teams & Stages at BLAST Austin

32 of the top-ranked CS2 teams will compete in Austin, making this one of the biggest Esports events in North American history. Here are the teams that will compete at each stage:

Stage One

  • Complexity
  • HEROIC
  • B8
  • BetBoom Team
  • TYLOO
  • Lynn Vision Gaming
  • Wildcard
  • FlyQuest
  • OG
  • Chinggis Warriors
  • Imperial Esports
  • Nemiga Gaming
  • NRG
  • Legacy
  • Metizport
  • Fluxo

Stage Two

  • Team Falcons
  • FaZe Clan
  • 3DMAX
  • Virtus.pro
  • paiN Gaming
  • FURIA
  • MIBR
  • M80
  • +8 teams from stage one

Stage Three

  • Team Vitality
  • MOUZ
  • Team Spirit
  • G2 Esports
  • The MongolZ
  • Aurora Gaming
  • Natus Vincere
  • Team Liquid
  • +8 teams from stage two

BLAST Austin Prize Money

BLAST Austin has a prize pool of $1,250,000. The winning team will walk away with $500,000, while the team that finishes second will pocket $170,000. The table below shows how much money is up for grabs, depending on each team’s final position:

Position   Prize Money  
1  $500,000  
2  $170,000  
3-4  $80,000  
5-8   $45,000  
9-16  $15,000  
17-24  $10,000 
25-34  $5,000  

BLAST Austin Preview: What Can We Expect?

HEROIC look the likeliest team to triumph in stage one. They have a superb line-up and are on form in 2025, following impressive displays at the CCT Global Finals and IEM Dallas.

BetBoom are another to watch in the first stage, though they will need to improve on their performances at BLAST Bounty Spring, where their new line-up struggled significantly.

As we go deeper into the tournament, top-ranked Team Vitality is the obvious one to watch, and they will be joined by other invitees like Team Spirit and MOUZ at stage three, who will be looking to win the title in Austin.

How to Bet on BLAST Austin and Esports at Parimatch

Parimatch is the number one UK online sportsbook for Esports betting. We offer the broadest markets, best odds, and promotions for Esports wagering, including a generous welcome bonus.

When you sign up, opt in, and bet £15 on Esports, you will receive £40 in free bets – terms and conditions apply.

To kick things off and to place bets on BLAST Austin and other CS2 events, create an account today by clicking the “Sign Up” button at the top of this page. Then, complete the registration form, verify your details, and make a real money deposit.

Be sure to do your research before betting on any of the teams to win BLAST Austin. You can back your outright winner, but you can also wager on each match throughout the competition. Discover our full range of BLAST Austin Major markets here, including match and map betting options.

When betting on Esports at Parimatch, please gamble within your means. You can visit our Safer Gambling Portal for tools, tips, and resources to help you bet responsibly.