The BLAST Bounty Season 2 Closed Qualifier is more than just a qualifier — it’s a proving ground. With 32 teams locked in and only 8 tickets to the LAN finals in Malta, every map, every round, every bounty counts.
From August 5 to 10, Europe’s servers will host a clash between giants, underdogs, and new hopefuls — all in a format that rewards not just victory, but who you beat along the way. This isn’t your typical Tier 1 warm-up. This is where reputations can be built — or shattered.
All or Nothing: The Cutthroat Structure Behind the Qualifier
The format is deceptively simple: win two best-of-three matches, and you qualify for the LAN finals. Lose two, and you’re out. But here’s the twist — lower-seeded teams got to choose their first opponents, and higher seeds carry “bounties” on their backs.
Beat a top team? You take 50% of their cash reward. The other 50% carries over into the next match, raising the stakes every round. It’s high risk, high reward — with a format that can turn one upset into a Cinderella run.
Opening Matches
Tuesday, August 5:
- 12:00 — FUT vs B8
- 14:30 — ECSTATIC vs Liquid
- 17:00 — Nemiga vs G2
- 19:30 — BetBoom vs FaZe
Wednesday, August 6:
- 12:00 — MIBR vs Virtus.pro
- 14:30 — TNL vs Natus Vincere
- 17:00 — Passion UA vs Spirit
- 19:30 — Rare Atom vs Astralis
Thursday, August 7:
- 12:00 — BIG vs FURIA
- 14:30 — OG vs MOUZ
- 17:00 — NiP vs paiN
- 19:30 — fnatic vs Legacy
Friday, August 8:
- 11:00 — ENCE vs The MongolZ
- 13:30 — FlyQuest vs Aurora
- 16:00 — NRG vs Vitality
- 18:30 — Complexity vs HEROIC
Teams to Watch
Vitality — After a 30+ win streak and a historic run this summer, they come in as the biggest bounty in the tournament. Can anyone stop them?
FaZe — Fresh off a roster rebuild and regaining stability. With broky back and s1mple gone, the chemistry should be restored.
Spirit — donk is unstoppable, and now he’s got zweih beside him. They’re not just here to qualify — they want to crush.
MOUZ — Quietly consistent, rarely missing a beat. A clean run is likely, but OG could pose a trap if they click.
NAVI — makazze’s arrival adds firepower, but they’ll need w0nderful and b1t to show up big against TNL — a wildcard from Ukraine with nothing to lose.
NiP — Looked sharp recently. xKacpersky might just be their breakout star. Watch their match against paiN closely — this could be a banger.
fnatic — A LAN win in Prague and a solid summer. Facing Legacy will show if that momentum is real or just noise.
Astralis — HooXi’s IGLing and dev1ce’s consistency are finally aligning. Rare Atom shouldn’t be a threat — but nothing is safe in this format.
Dark Horses and Danger Picks
Passion UA — With rising Ukrainian talent and plenty of firepower, they could surprise even Spirit if donk has an off day.
TNL — An under-the-radar squad, but NAVI can’t afford to underestimate them.
Legacy — The Brazilian dark horse with experience in chaos. If fnatic aren’t careful, they’ll pay.
FUT — ex-NAVI Junior, who can surprise everyone. This will be their first Tier 1 tournament. They need to show results against strong teams.
Cologne showed us that upsets are real — and this bounty format rewards chaos. One fluke win against a top team can flip the entire bracket. Expect fireworks.
Prediction: Who Qualifies for Malta?
With 32 teams in the bracket and only two BO3 wins separating teams from the LAN finals, predicting the final eight is anything but easy. Much will depend on the second-round matchups, which will be shaped by who wins their opening games. In this bounty format, a single loss doesn’t just delay progress — it can pit you against an even tougher opponent in the next round.
It’s also worth noting that this is an online stage, which can be a blessing or a curse. Some teams thrive in comfort — others need the pressure of LAN to perform. For that reason, it’s still too early to predict with confidence who will make it to Malta.
That said, several clear favorites stand out on paper:
Likely LAN Finalists:
- Vitality
- Spirit
- MOUZ
- The MongolZ
- Natus Vincere
- FURIA
Ultimately, the first match is everything — win it, and you’re halfway to Malta. Lose it, and you enter the chaos bracket. The second pick could make or break entire campaigns. Upsets are coming. The only question is — who’s ready for them?
Final Thoughts
The BLAST Bounty Season 2 Closed Qualifier is one of the most entertaining qualifiers CS2 has ever seen. With bounties on heads, rookie debuts, and top-tier teams just a match away from elimination, every game could be a classic. Eight teams will survive and head to Malta. For the rest, it’s back to the drawing board.There are no second chances in bounty hunting.
