US titans clash in opener: Showdown schedule revealed

BLAST Premier Fall Showdown 2023 is almost here, and with every team now qualified or invited, it's time to lay down the schedule for all of the games.

With sixteen teams split equally across two qualifiers, eight of Europe's best will face it down in the European Showdown, and eight of the Americas' finest will duke it out in the Americas Showdown for the last two spots at BLAST Premier Fall Final.

So, before we get to the schedule for the two events that are set to kick off on October 4th, let's first go over the complete team lists for each event.

Photo: Stephanie Lindgren

European showdown team list

Falling down from BLAST Premier Fall Groups in Europe are OG, BIG, and IEM Cologne winners G2. Joining them as the sole invited team is the team currently sitting in sixth place on the World Leaderboard, ENCE.

Joining them are four teams that qualified through our qualifier events: 9INE, Cloud9, Movistar Riders, and Victory Zigzag.

Americas Showdown teams

The three teams from BLAST Premier Fall Groups who failed to qualify and will therefore be facing the Showdown are Liquid, Evil Geniuses, and Complexity.

There are two invited teams in the Americas Showdown, Brazilian giants FURIA, and BLAST Premier Spring Final semi-finalists, Imperial.

From the qualifiers, we will see TheMongolz, Fake Natty, and Forsaken.

Can Liquid's new team shut down their rivals? Photo: Michal Konkol

The Fall Showdown schedule

Fall Showdown is set to be four full days of exciting Counter-Strike action. A single-elimination bracket, every team in attendance will get just one chance to qualify for Fall Final.

We're set to play under a rolling schedule, meaning that the finish of one game will affect the next game's start time.

October 4th

Every day will kick off kick off with a pre-show at 14:40 CEST. The pre-show will last for 20 minutes and will feature the desk talent giving a rundown of the day and the first match to be played.

We kick off the action at 15:00 with a game between the Germans of BIG and the Poles of 9INE, two teams who faced off against each other in Spring Showdown 2023. BIG prevailed then, but 9INE are looking solid and looking for revenge.

The second quarter-final will be played at 18:00 between ENCE and Victory Zigzag. ENCE are currently in top form, while Victory Zigzag pulled off an upset to even make it to the Showdown. Can they do the same to take down one of the World's best teams, even though they have to play with their coach?

The day's final game will take us to the Americas to see Imperial take on TheMongolz. The last time TheMongolz faced Brazilian opposition was FURIA at IEM Cologne; they came out on top then. Can they do the same against Imperial?

SunPayus is a scary prospect for any team in the EU Showdown. Photo: Stephanie Lindgren

October 5th

The second day will see the remaining two EU quarter-finals be played and will again begin at 14:40 with the pre-show.

The day's first game will be played at 15:00 between Cloud9 and Movistar Riders. Cloud9 were the victors of the Spring Showdown. Can they repeat their heroics at Fall Showdown?

Moving onto our final EU quarter-final at 18:00, a match between G2 and OG. G2 were not quite ready at Fall Groups, but now with a tournament win at IEM Cologne just recently, are they the team to beat at Fall Showdown?

Finally, for the last game of the day at 20:00 we're heading back over to the Americas for Liquid vs. Forsaken. Forsaken are a new team looking to build themselves up in NA, the region Liquid just turned their backs on, will the underdog be able to bring pride to their region?

Spring Showdown winners Cloud9 will be a force to be reckoned with once more. Photo: Michal Konkol

October 6th

October 6th will see the first of the European semi-finals be played. Over in the Americas, they'll begin to round out their quarter-finals at 18:00 when Complexity face their rivals, EG.

The two teams are both vying to be the top dogs in the region.

The Americas quarter-finals will conclude at 20:00 with a Brazilian derby between FURIA and Fake Natty. It's Fallen vs. coldzera, but who will get one over on their former teammate?

FalleN went far at Spring Final, can he make it to Fall Final? Photo: Stephanie Lindgren

October 7th

October 7th will be a day of semi-finals, with the final EU semi-final set to start the CS action at 15:00. The Americas will take over with their two semi-finals at 18:00 and 20:00.

Will we see NiKo this happy in the semi finals? Photo: Stephanie Lindgren

October 8th

With just two games to play, the final day of Fall Showdown will begin slightly later at 17:30 with a 30 minute pre-show.

The EU final will then be played at 18:00, and the Americas final at 20:00.

Imperial made Spring Final through the Showdown, will they do the same for Fall Final? Photo: Stephanie Lindgren