From June 7 to 10, Austin, USA becomes the battleground for the second stage of the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025. 16 teams — eight direct invites and eight survivors from Stage 1 — will clash in a high-stakes Swiss system. For some, it’s a chance to cement their status as contenders; for others, the final push to keep the dream alive.
Stage 2 Format
Stage 2 will also follow a Swiss-system format. All 16 teams start with a clean 0–0 record and face opponents with the same win/loss count. Win three times — and you’re through to the playoffs. Lose three — and your Major run ends here.
Rounds 2 to 5 are seeded using the Buchholz system and teams initial seeds. As before, elimination and advancement matches are best-of-3, while all other matches are best-of-1. There’s no room for hesitation
Opening Matches
The first day promises thrilling matchups, each capable of turning predictions upside down:
- Falcons vs. B8
- FaZe vs. HEROIC
- 3DMAX vs. BetBoom
- Virtus.Pro vs. OG
- PaiN vs. Nemiga
- FURIA vs. Lynn Vision
- MIBR vs. Legacy
- M80 vs. TYLOO
After these matches, second-round games will begin immediately. Their pairings will be known only after the first matches conclude. By the end of Round 2, we’ll already know four teams either close to elimination or moving on to the next stage.
Stage 2 Favorites
Falcons and FaZe stand out as the clear favorites for Stage 2, but after the conclusion of Stage 1, it’s evident that HEROIC also look confident and fully capable of making it to Stage 3. Falcons, in particular, seem to be operating on a different level — they shouldn’t face much resistance in this stage.
FaZe and HEROIC are on similar ground. Both teams have the potential to surprise, and both are playing their final tournament with their current rosters. That removes a lot of pressure — making them reliable picks for advancement.
Confident Contenders
FURIA, B8, and BetBoom look like strong candidates to advance in their current form. While B8 and BetBoom impressed during Stage 1, FURIA showed clear progress at PGL Astana 2025 — their roster changes seem to be paying off. After the break, they held a bootcamp, and that extra preparation could make the difference. They should be able to make it through — and if they don’t, it would come as a surprise.
For B8 and BetBoom, reaching Stage 2 is already a solid achievement. But based on how they’ve played so far, it’s clear they haven’t hit their ceiling. Making it to Stage 3 would be an incredible result — but they absolutely have the potential to do it. In this field, there are plenty of teams they can beat.
Unpredictable Force
Nemiga and OG already managed to surprise during Stage 1, and their performance showed they can go toe-to-toe with just about anyone. Much of their success depends on their mental state during the match — if they start strong, beating a top-tier team won’t be seen as an upset.
paiN and M80 didn’t play in Stage 1, but both have the tools to surprise. Their recent results have been inconsistent, but like all teams, they’ve had time to prepare — especially crucial for paiN, who are coming in with a refreshed roster.
Flip or Flop: It All Depends on the Day
Virtus.pro, 3DMAX, and MIBR are true wildcards heading into Stage 2. Their results have been inconsistent, and both a deep run or an early exit wouldn’t come as a shock. Virtus.pro have struggled to settle on a coaching decision, which may affect their stability. Meanwhile, 3DMAX placed last at their two most recent LAN appearances — a trend that’s become alarmingly routine.
MIBR share similarities with 3DMAX but did manage to reach the playoffs at their last event, though they fell in the opening round. Their game often feels like a coin toss — sometimes it clicks, sometimes it doesn’t. If they crash out, no one will be surprised. But if they go far, it’ll certainly raise eyebrows.
After Stage 1 and the results of Legacy, Lynn Vision and TYLOO, it’s safe to say that they also depend on which leg they get off on. A team can lose to anyone and then win with complete superiority.
Final Thoughts
Stage 2 of the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 raises the stakes even higher. With only eight spots in Stage 3 up for grabs, every match becomes a make-or-break moment. The clear favorites — Falcons, FaZe, and HEROIC — are expected to hold their ground, but the line between contenders and underdogs is razor-thin.
Teams like B8, BetBoom, and FURIA have shown they’re ready to fight, while others — OG, Nemiga, paiN, and M80 — sit on the edge of surprise and inconsistency. And then there are the true wildcards: Virtus.pro, 3DMAX, and MIBR — teams you can’t predict, but can’t count out either. This is the stage where reputations are built — or broken. For some, it’s one step closer to playoff glory. For others, it’s the final chapter of their Major story.
Skin.Club Pick’em Challenge
As the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 heats up, Skin.Club is running its Pick’em Challenge to bring even more excitement to the action. Participants can still make predictions for upcoming matches and select the teams they believe will advance through each stage.
At stake is a legendary AWP | Dragon Lore — the grand prize — along with dozens of high-value skins including knives, gloves, and rifles. Whether you’re following your favorite team or trusting your gut, now’s your chance to test your CS2 knowledge and win big.
