The organizers of BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 have decided to extend the final roster submission deadline by four days — until May 9. This decision came after a correction of a contradictory clause in the official rulebook that could have been misinterpreted by teams.
What happened?
Initially, BLAST set a strict deadline for roster registration, especially for MRQ (Major Ranking Qualifier) participants. However, after receiving numerous inquiries, the organizers reviewed the wording of a specific regulation and admitted that the rule had been ambiguously phrased. In response, the tournament operator decided to give teams an additional 96 hours to make possible adjustments before the start of the season’s most important event.
“BLAST admitted the previous wording wasn’t entirely accurate and decided to offer all teams a fair window to finalize their rosters.” – HLTV.org
Who benefits?
This primarily affects MRQ teams — those who earned their Major slots through regional qualifiers. They now have the chance to reconsider their rosters, potentially due to injuries, technical issues, or inconsistent individual performance. The deadline extension provides room for last-minute rotations heading into the spring’s biggest CS2 event.
We still won’t see a s1mple sticker
Despite the legendary s1mple returning to competitive play and appearing at upcoming events, his sticker won’t be featured at the Major. Although Oleksandr recently joined FaZe Clan — one of the top contenders this season — the move happened after the main roster registration deadline, and he is not listed in FaZe’s official lineup for the Major in Austin.
As a result, s1mple will be eligible to help FaZe at IEM Dallas 2025, but he won’t compete at the Major — at least not officially. This means that fans will once again be left without a new s1mple sticker, despite his return to top-tier CS2.
READ MORE:Okay, s1mple’s cooking stream was actually fun and a bit cringe (but in a good way!)
What does this change?
Extending the deadline opens up a number of potentially important scenarios:
- Activating substitute players – Some teams might now test or bring in their sixth man.
- Veteran comebacks – Situations like s1mple’s could repeat, but with more favorable timing.
- Last-minute strategy pivots – Teams can adjust to sudden meta changes or internal setbacks.
However, this also sparks renewed debate about rulebook clarity, as the need for this extension stems from vague initial wording.
Major defined by flexibility and second chances
This whole situation highlights just how complex and fast-moving the modern CS2 ecosystem has become. In an era of constant roster moves, packed schedules, and sky-high expectations, even the smallest ambiguity in the rulebook can carry major consequences. BLAST’s decision to offer more time isn’t just a fair call — it’s a display of common sense in an ever-evolving industry.
For some teams, this is a chance to regroup. For others, it’s a lifeline. And for fans, it’s one more reason to keep an eye on roster announcements before the BLAST.tv Major Austin 2025 kicks off.
