The Skin.Club Pick’em Challenge is back for the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, offering Counter‑Strike fans an exciting way to engage with the biggest tournament of the year. Predict the winners of each stage, earn points for every correct guess, and climb through the Tiers to unlock valuable skins and other prizes. Challenge your friends, discuss forecasts with other players, and experience the thrill of Counter‑Strike in a whole new way!
It’s bigger than ever: new rules, better rewards, and the grand prize is none other than the legendary AWP | Dragon Lore. But to reach the top and win exclusive skins, gloves, and knives, you’ll need more than just luck — you’ll need real insight.
How Pick’em Works on Skin.Club
Skin.Club’s Pick’em Challenge follows a classic format familiar to Counter-Strike fans. You’ll be predicting how teams will perform in each stage of the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025. The tournament features 24 teams competing across three stages before reaching the playoffs. Some teams begin their journey from Stage 1, while top-tier teams are invited to later stages. For example, Team Vitality, MOUZ, and Natus Vincere start from Stage 3, while OG, Heroic, and Imperial begin at the very start. Teams from across the globe — Europe, Americas, Asia, and China — will take part.
Your task is to:
- Pick one team that will go 3-0 (undefeated)
- One team that will go 0-3 (winless)
- And seven teams that will advance to the next stage
Each correct prediction gives you 2 points. The more points you earn, the higher your Tier and the better your rewards.
The reward tiers are divided into four categories:
- 10 points: Silver Tier — includes a chance to win USP-S | Kill Confirmed, AK-47 | Ice Coaled, and a profile badge.
- 22 points: Gold Tier — includes Classic Knife | Crimson Web, AK-47 | Neon Rider, and a Gold badge.
- 32 points: Diamond Tier — includes Flip Knife | Tiger Tooth, Hydra Gloves | Emerald, AK-47 | Asiimov, and a diamond badge.
- Top scorer: Platinum Tier — the grand prize: AWP | Dragon Lore and an exclusive Platinum badge.
Tournament Schedule: When Does It Start?
BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 will run for three weeks, broken into stages. Each stage is crucial, and timely predictions are key to Pick’em success. Here are the key dates:
- Stage 1 (June 2–5): The journey begins for qualified teams. Expect many BO1s and potential upsets.
- Stage 2 (June 7–10): Stronger teams join the action. Format remains Swiss-style.
- Stage 3 (June 12–15): Top-tier teams like Vitality, Spirit, and G2 enter. The battle intensifies.
- Playoffs (June 19–22): The top 8 teams face off in single-elimination matches at Moody Center.
Pick’em on Skin.Club opens on May 12 and stays active throughout the tournament, allowing you to update your predictions before each stage.
How to Make Smart Predictions?
Team Form
One of the most important indicators for accurate predictions is a team’s current form. Looking at rankings alone isn’t enough. For example, G2 may still be ranked highly, but after internal changes, they’ve shown inconsistency. Meanwhile, HEROIC has performed better post-roster changes. It’s recommended to look at the last 5–10 matches and who they played. Wins against Tier-3 teams aren’t as valuable as close games versus Top-5 teams.
Regional Strength & Qualification Path
Don’t underestimate regional strength. European teams go through extremely tough qualifiers, while South American or Chinese teams often face lower competition levels. This doesn’t mean they can’t pull off surprises, but their consistency is usually lower. For instance, B8 had to win five BO3s to qualify through Europe’s stacked RMR. Meanwhile, FlyQuest made it through an easier Oceania bracket.
Travel & Jet Lag
Logistics play a big role. Teams from Asia or Oceania like The MongolZ or TYLOO often deal with long flights, time zone changes, and jet lag. This especially affects Stage 1, where teams may play the next day after arriving. Ignoring these factors could lead to overrating such teams early on.
Roster Stability & Internal Dynamics
Teams with recent roster changes rarely perform consistently. A new player isn’t instantly integrated into the system. However, there are exceptions. FaZe, for example, initially struggled after a leadership change. Falcons, on the other hand, soared after their recent addition. Always consider how long a new roster has had to gel.
Map Pool & Playstyle
Evaluate which maps a team excels on and whether they’re flexible. If a team relies heavily on a single map and it gets banned in a BO1 — they’re likely to lose. Versatility is crucial.
Beware of Underdogs
It might be tempting to pick the weakest-looking team for a 0-3, but sometimes it’s better to choose a more prominent team that’s clearly falling apart. If a team looks demotivated or unprepared, they’re a strong candidate — no matter their name. A great example is Passion UA, who beat Spirit and Virtus.Pro early in RMR, even though they later collapsed. Pick calmly and logically.
Don’t Follow the Crowd
The most common mistake is trusting the majority. Community picks are often misleading. If everyone is picking FaZe to go 3-0, that doesn’t make it right. Always fact-check, rely on data, and avoid hype. It’s usually smarter to place a strong team in the “advance” group rather than risking a 3-0 prediction. A guaranteed 2 points is better than a potential loss.
What Do the Tiers Give You?
Once you start earning points, it’s time to see what it’s all for. Skin.Club doesn’t just offer bragging rights — you can win real, valuable prizes. The better your predictions, the higher the tier — and the rarer your loot.
Here’s what you can earn:
- Silver Tier (10 points): USP-S | Kill Confirmed, M4A1-S | Cyrex, AK-47 | Ice Coaled, and a profile medal.
- Gold Tier (22 points): Classic Knife | Crimson Web, AK-47 | Neon Rider, and a Gold medal.
- Diamond Tier (32 points): Flip Knife | Tiger Tooth, Hydra Gloves | Emerald, AK-47 | Asiimov, and a diamond medal.
- Platinum Tier (top scorer): AWP | Dragon Lore and a unique Platinum profile medal.
Pro Tips from Experts
- Watch the matches — look beyond the score to player behavior and team dynamics.
- Don’t rush to change predictions last minute.
- Keep screenshots of your picks for reference.
- Most importantly, have fun. Pick’em is not just a game — it’s a deeper way to enjoy the Major.
The Skin.Club Pick’em Challenge isn’t just entertainment. It’s your chance to prove your CS knowledge, feel the thrill, win awesome prizes, and fully immerse yourself in the Major. Start with good analysis, play smart, and maybe you’ll be the one to take the legendary Dragon Lore home.
