There’s plenty of change coming to Counter-Strike in 2025, but there will be some familiar events too.
BLAST Rivals, the culmination of the BLAST tournament season, will be a familiar setting for the World’s best Counter-Strike teams.
Resembling the current BLAST Premier Finals structure, top 1-4 in the Valve Ranking System will be invited plus 4 invited teams by BLAST - one from EU, NA, SA and Asia.
Andrew Haworth, VP of Valve & Riot ecosystems at BLAST, explains:
"2025 will see us work closely with more teams throughout the year, and that’s really exciting. We’ll have wider-reaching tournaments and will get to build relationships with more teams and players."
BLAST Rivals will bring fans closer than ever before to the best teams in the world as the top 1-4 in the Valve Ranking System alongside 4 invited elite teams from around the word will battle to be Rivals champions.
The eight teams will face off in a BO3 GSL format, which will lead into a six-team playoff with Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, and a BO5 Grand Final.
This structure ensures that every match is critical, and only the most consistent and high-performing teams will reach the final showdown.
Haworth notes:
"We want to be different to the rest, stand out event and makes every tournament has a winner and a crowning moment.”
BLAST Rivals promises to be a thrilling climax to each season, where the best teams compete not only for glory but also for substantial financial rewards. With innovative formats, dynamic prize pools, and a commitment to showcasing the best of Counter-Strike, BLAST 2025 is set to be a groundbreaking year for both players and fans.
Before each BLAST Rivals, there are some important dates to be aware of: the team invitation date and the desired Valve Ranking System date invites are based off. Those dates for the 2025 season can be found below:
BLAST will pay teams through 2 mechanisms into 2025;
Teams earn an increasing proportion of this as they play more BLAST events and removed from the program if they decline an event.
In BLAST Rivals, the total participation fees amounts to $1,300,000 annually ($650,000 per event).
Each team participating in BLAST Rivals will receive $81,250.
The total prize pool across BLAST Rivals is $700,000 ($350,000 per event). It is distributed as follows:
By participating in BLAST Rivals, a team will be one step closer to gaining a Frequent Flyers Programme token. Once a team has played 4 tournaments (excluding Rising) an organisation will earn tokens as outlined below:
By winning BLAST Rivals, a team will receive 2 additional tokens.
BLAST ApS., Hauser Plads 1, 3., 1127 Copenhagen