02.05.20259 min read

Blast.tv Austin Major 2025: What to Expect and Who’s On Stage

It looks like it will be hot in Austin, Texas, this summer (and not just because of the weather)! The new CS Major 2025, this time from Blast.tv, will be held here. Fans’ expectations are high — the majors in the US have always been distinguished by their increased spectacle and scale — the last one was held in Boston in 2018, and was remembered for a long time. This year, the tournament will be held at the famous Moody Center arena, which has hosted many world-class sporting events.

Valve personally is also stirring up interest, having chosen this year to change the tournament format. This year, not 24 but 32 teams will be fighting for a place in the quarterfinals—according to the same familiar Swiss system. It’s very easy to fly out of the tournament in this format, which means the stakes are very high.

The new regional qualification is already behind us, and we know the names of those who advanced to the next stage. Which of them will end up on the podium this July? The entire fan community is currently arguing about this — interest in the Major pickem this time exceeds the results of all previous tournaments.

Breaking Down the Format: 3 Stages, 1 Goal

2025 prompted Valve not only to change the MRQ qualification, which took place this April, but also to change the structure of the entire tournament. In order to add eight new teams, now, instead of the usual Opening and Elimination stages, three tournament groups will be held at once.

Each group will have 16 teams. At the same time, this year, world legends will receive a direct ticket from Valve — some to the second, and some to the third stage of the tournament:

Stage 1 (June 2-5): MRQ winners from Europe, America, and Asia;
Stage 2 (June 7-10): Stage 1 champions will compete with directly invited teams (Falcons, FaZe, Virtus.pr,o, and others);
Stage 3: Stage 2 winners against VRS leaders (Vitality, Mouz, Spirit, NaVi, etc.).

Changes in the event’s structure also mean changes in the mechanics of the pick em. However, it will be just as easy to figure it out – on Melbet Pickem, you will find a convenient grid of tournament tables, and you will quickly figure out who has almost made it to the playoffs, and who still has more than one battle ahead. Of course, decent prizes for the right choice are also included.

Meet the 32 Contenders

In 2025, the number of participants will simultaneously range from 24 to 32 teams. However, the rules for getting into the playoffs have also changed. For the first time since 2019, Valve allowed so many teams to “skip” the qualification at once.

Of the 32 teams participating in the Blast.tv Austin Major:

16 teams — advanced to Stage 1 in MRQ Europe, Asia, and America and are fighting for the right to get to Stage 2;
16 teams — leaders of regional VRS ratings: 8 teams automatically get straight to Stage 3, another 8, occupying positions below, to Stage 2.

Fun fact — for more than 30% of the esports athletes participating in the tournament in Austin will be the first Major in their career.

MRQ Survivors (Stage 1)

Among those who passed the new qualification, there are teams that are very familiar to the viewers: OG and Heroic, who broke through in the most intense European tournament, as well as FlyQuest, who made it through from Asia. In 2025, the Complexity team together with NRG finally managed to get into the world tournament — this will be their first Major.

In total, 6 teams from Europe, 6 from America, and 4 from Asia made it to the first stage. According to the new system, “Asia” is divided into three subregions: “China”, “Oceania + South East”, and “Mongolia + West”.

The only representative from the last zone in Stage 1 will be Chinggis Warriors (since The MongolZ received a direct invitation to the top echelon) — a young team, de facto assembled 3 months ago, currently occupying the 58th position in HLTV. Their appearance at the Blast.tv Austin Major came as a surprise to many, but the excellent play of the last few months brought the team to Austin 2025, which is now actively creating its own global fan base.

Mid-Tier Invites (Stage 2)

Those who survived Stage 2 will face those who received automatic qualification via VRS. These are 4 teams from Europe:

FaZe Clan — finalists of both 2024 tournaments, in Shanghai and Copenhagen;
3DMAX — which passed through the rating despite expectations;
Virtus.pro;
Team Falcons — first-timers at the CS 2 major.

As well as 4 teams from the American region:

paiN Gaming;
FURIA Esports;
MIBR;
M80 — first-timers at the Major!

The Asian teams did not receive automatic tickets to the middle stage. Potentially, among the Asian players here, there may later be teams from St1: top FlyQuest, Lynn Vision, possibly TYLOO, who returned to the top arena after many years in the shadows, and maybe even Chinggis Warriors.

We should probably expect further progress to the next stage 3 from Virtus.pro, the champions of Rio 2022, as well as FaZe, who were on the throne at Antwerp 2022 and had excellent chances to win last year’s tournaments.

Heavyweights Await (Stage 3)

The battle for a place in the quarterfinals of Blast.tv Austin Major 2025 promises to be hot. Six European teams will definitely get to the tournament: the top teams, Team Vitality, MOUZ, Eternal Fire, and G2 Esports, as well as the winners of last year’s tournaments, NaVi and Team Spirit.

Team Liquid and The MongolZ received automatic qualification from the American and Asian regions.

Big bets are placed on the winners of recent years — Team Vitality (champions of Paris Major 2023), and, of course, on Spirit and Natus Vincere. However, it is too early to talk about reaching the playoffs: many battles in the new qualification can bring many surprises.

Who’s Favored in Pick’em?

The debate about the new favorites has not subsided since the closing of Shanghai Major 2024. Many predict a victory for NaVi, noting their success in improving recently, even despite their exit from the semi-finals in the last Major. Experts note greater stability in their game than that of Team Spirit. According to Melbet, one of the most popular platforms for fan Major pick em, NaVi are one of the people’s favorites.

Vitality and FaZe are also in excellent shape, having repeatedly come close to victory. They are the favorites of many experts and the choice of fans in Pick ’em. However, the games of G2 and MOUZ this year remain in question — the teams have not lived up to expectations recently. The same applies to the Falcons, who entered the tournament for the first time.

Other debutants are also at significant risk. Metizport, B8, or BESTIA, who finally made it to the tournament, although actively supported by their fans, may not show the desired results at their first tournament. The Swiss format of the tournament adds fuel to the fire, increasing the risks.

For the Blast.tv Austin Major, many fans are also waiting for updates from Valve, both in the official pick`em and in stickers (especially against the backdrop of the unsuccessful promo campaign of the last major). Perhaps, at the June tournament, the developers will offer stickers with a background or even keychains.

What’s at Stake for the Teams

The prize pool for the Austin tournament is unchanged, as in recent years. Teams will compete for the standard prize pool of 1.25 million US dollars, 40% of which—500 thousand USD—will be taken by the winner.

Those who make it to the first ¾ have a chance to win the prize — the last echelon will receive a consolation payment of 10,000 USD, and the rest will have to leave Austin with nothing but experience and glory.

Although we should not forget about stickers, which bring in huge income, especially for young teams. In addition, this year, players will be offered 4 capsules at once — teams in Stage 1 will be divided into two groups.

Of course, following the tournament, we will see changes in the teams. However, judging by everything, in recent years, the method of constant transfers has shown its effectiveness—for example, many of the new teams that got to the Major this year make frequent and very radical roster changes. Perhaps this is their secret, which many oldies should look closely at? We’ll find out this July.

Conclusion – Let the Show Begin

Like all majors in the USA, the Austin tournament promises to be bright and memorable. The new tournament grid means brighter matches, and therefore an entertaining intrigue with a lot of emotions. Considering the large number of previously little-known faces, this tournament will show the world more than one future champion. So, make your choice in Pickem — decide which of the top players will prove that they are still on top this year, and who will be forced to give way to the young.

AuthorTemujin Batbayar

Analyst from Ulaanbaatar specializing in CS2. Has competed in MESA tournaments, worked with Esports TV during the ESL Pro League, and reviewed both the PGL Major Antwerp 2022 and IEM Katowice 2024. Author of his own player evaluation metrics and known for accurate predictions. Has interviewed s1mple and ZywOo. In esports since the days of CS 1.3.