On August 5, the Closed Qualifier for the BLAST Premier Bounty Season 2 2025 began, with 32 Counter-Strike teams competing for eight coveted spots in the LAN finals. The top eight teams, who secured their tickets to the main event in Malta, emerged victorious after a week of intense online competition.
Unique Qualifier Format
The lower-ranked teams were given the opportunity to draft their opponents, which added a twist to the conventional format and kept fans and teams alert. The majority of elite teams met expectations and qualified for the LAN finals, even though the underdogs had their moments to shine.
Viewership Peaks at 373K
Peak viewership for the qualifiers was 372,531; the match between Team Spirit and G2 Esports on Day 5 had the highest attendance. The Serbian/Russian powerhouse G2 defeated Team Spirit 2:1 in an exciting Round of 16 match, securing their ticket to Malta and sending a fellow giant home.
Another highly watched match was Team Spirit’s Round of 32 matchup against Passion UA, which was made more intriguing by the growing rivalry between Russian and Ukrainian teams.
Qualified Teams for the LAN Finals
One of the main plot points is Brazil’s exclusion from the finals, even though the entire bracket is scheduled for August 14–17 at the BLAST Arena Studios in Malta. Given the fervent support that Portuguese-speaking fans usually bring to Counter-Strike events, the fact that none of the four teams advanced in the qualifiers could have a minor effect on viewership.
LAN Finals Format
- Dates: August 21–22, 2025
- Venue: BLAST Arena Studios, Malta
- Format:
- Single-Elimination Bracket
- Best-of-3 Matches until the Grand Final
- Single-Elimination Bracket
Best-of-5 Grand Final to determine the champion
