Fall Final: Schedule, prizes, talent, favourites & underdogs
BLAST Premier Fall Final 2023 is finally here and we've got eight of the best teams in the world descending on Copenhagen for a week of Counter-Strike action.
It's our very first CS2 event, and we couldn't be more excited to begin our new era in the Royal Arena.
Counter-Strike 2 has been dominated by FaZe thus far, can they keep their hot streak going at Fall Final? We've asked Pimp and Maniac to help us decipher what might be about to go down.
BLAST Fall Final in Royal Arena. Photo: Michal KonkolCloud9 & Astralis
Favourites and underdogs
If we're talking about the favourites for the event, then who else other than FaZe Clan?
Despite all the rumours surrounding their future, they have been the team to beat with three straight tournament victories at IEM Sydney, Thunderpick World Championships, and CS Asia Championships.
Both Maniac and Pimp highlighted FaZe as their favourites for the event, with Pimp especially putting the spotlight on the international team's fifteen-game winning streak.
Photo: Michal KonkolInterestingly, both of them also said that Vitality should be considered favourites, with Manic adding that he believes "Vitality might be the team to challenge them in the Grand Final at the end of the week-end."
It will be the debut of a new-look Vitality at Fall Final.
They have replaced Danish legend Magisk with the king of UKCS, mezii.
The final favourite proposed by Pimp was Cloud9. The Russian team have struggled in recent months, but it seems he believes they will be able to solve their issues following the arrival of Boombl4.
Photo: Michal KonkolManiac isn't so sure but does see a world where a Cloud9 win might happen:
"In the short term, it is possible to win without a pure dedicated AWPer. The game is still in a transition phase, the META isn’t solidified. I do not think this will be a viable path to follow for the months to come but in Copenhagen, we should be ready for everything." - Maniac
When asked about the biggest underdog for the event, both Pimp and Maniac were quick to say Astralis.
"Astralis could play the trouble maker in Copenhagen. Compared to the rest of the playing field they have a roster that has tenure, habits and a defined playstyle. They’re also on home soil and the crowd will be eager to see them succeed." - Maniac
The other teams at the event are Heroic, NIP, Complexity, and NAVI.
Complexity are one of the only unchanged teams at the events, which AWPer hallzerk believes can be a huge advantage for them.
As for NIP, they've gone a more international route with the signing of Spanish IGL, alex.
NAVI have also changed. Ukrainian prodigy w0nderful stepping in for s1mple, who is taking a break. In Heroic's case, there have been quite a few changes following weeks of drama.
dupreeh, Zyphon, and cadiaN will all be standing in for the Danes at the event as they look to defend their Fall Final trophy.
Talent, prizes, and 4K streams
This is who will guide you through the show from Wednesday to Sunday:
- Desk Host: Freya
- Interviews / Show host: Banks
- Casters: Launders & Scrawny
- Casters: Anders & HenryG
- Arena Show Host: Darfmike
- Analysts: Pimp, Maniac, Mauisnake
The event, which will kick off on Wednesday and come to an end on Sunday, will be played in Copenhagen's Royal Arena for a $425,000 prize pool.
The prize pool distribution is as follows:
- 1st. $200,000 + BLAST World Final spot
- 2nd. $85,000
- 3rd-4th. $40,000
- 5th-6th. $20,000
- 7th-8th. $10,000
If the event is won by a team that has already qualified for BLAST Premier World Final, the final World Final spot will be decided by the BLAST World Leaderboard.
There is no better place to watch Fall Final than right here on BLAST.tv where you can watch exclusively in 4K.