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Bounties on the Line: Eight Teams Qualified for BLAST Finals

News
Feb 10
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With the online phase of BLAST Bounty Spring 2025 concluded, eight squads have punched their tickets to a high-stakes LAN Finals in Copenhagen, Denmark. Running from January 23 to 26, the event breaks new ground with its inventive “bounty” prize model, which rewards underdogs for bold challenges and upsets. Here’s a closer look at how each finalist booked its spot—and what to expect when they meet under the studio lights.

At the heart of BLAST Bounty Spring lies a one-of-a-kind approach to prize money:

  1. Initial Bounty: Teams start with a specific amount of cash based on seeding. The strongest seeds receive larger sums, making them prime targets.
  2. Match-Ups: Lower-seeded teams can pick their opponents first, meaning a daring underdog might face a top-tier favorite if it has eyes on a big bounty.
  3. Sharing the Spoils: Whoever wins a match can lock in 50% of their bounty immediately, ensuring some guaranteed earnings for each victory.
  4. Carryover Bounty: The other half rolls into the next game, setting the stage for continually rising stakes.

Complicating matters further is the BLAST Frequent Flyer Tokens program. Every team earns tokens through regular BLAST participation. By year’s end, at least $2 million will be divvied up based on each roster’s total tokens. For BLAST Bounty Spring 2025, all finalists collect one token, the champion secures a total of three.

Eight Teams Qualified for BLAST Finals

The Final Eight

Thirty-two teams started the online qualifier on January 14. By January 19, only these eight emerged victorious, ready to do battle in Copenhagen:

Team Spirit – $67,500 Bounty

Team Spirit

Arriving fresh from their Shanghai Major triumph, Team Spirit looked unstoppable throughout the closed qualifier. Showcasing impeccable aim and flawless coordination, they breezed past FlyQuest and Fnatic without dropping a single map. Their star rifler, donk, consistently set the tone with explosive first-round clutches that rattled the opposition. By maintaining their perfect run, Spirit locked in a $67,500 bounty, tying the highest figure among the qualifiers. After claiming the game’s second Major title last year, they show no signs of slowing down.

Natus Vincere – $67,500 Bounty

Natus Vincere

Alongside Spirit, NAVI also carries an imposing $67,500 bounty into the finals. Fresh off winning the Copenhagen Major, NAVI remains a perennial contender in CS2.  They dispatched Imperial Female and Astralis while refining strategies under the leadership of Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen. As the reigning Copenhagen Major victors from 2024, NAVI proved once again they’re title contenders.Despite being favorites, NAVI looked slightly vulnerable in close rounds. Fans wonder if they’ll iron out these issues in time for the LAN Finals.

Team Vitality – $63,750 Bounty

Team Vitality

Former IEM Cologne champions, Vitality brought in star rifler Robin “ropz” Kool for this new season, and the results so far have been encouraging. Though they had a few tense moments, such as dropping rounds to Metizport on Mirage and letting a big lead slip on Train against Virtus.pro, Vitality ultimately secured passage to the main event with a $63,750 bounty. Their resurgent CT-side play, boosted by ropz’s mechanical prowess, suggests they will be a tough challenge for any opponent in Denmark.

Eternal Fire – $35,000 Bounty

Eternal Fire

The Turkish crew took everyone by surprise and emerged from fierce battles against Fluxo and a star-studded Team Falcons led by Nikola “NiKo” Kovač. Eternal Fire’s talisman, Ismailcan “XANTARES” Dörtkardeş, shone with his lethal aim, out-dueling NiKo in multiple one-on-one moments. Clinching a spot with a perfect 4-0 map record, Eternal Fire has proven they are more than capable of toppling bigger names in the bracket.

G2 Esports – $65,000 Bounty

G2 Esports

G2 has also booked a main event appearance, but their path came with a few more ups and downs. Facing back-to-back three-map series against B8 and then BIG, G2 had to orchestrate reverse sweeps in each encounter. The new rifler, Nikita “HeavyGod” Martynenko, rose to the occasion in several key moments, earning G2 a $65,000 bounty. While some question marks remain over this fresh roster’s consistency, G2’s skill ceiling makes them a team to watch closely at the finals.

paiN Gaming – $30,000 Bounty

paiN Gaming

Known for challenging top teams throughout 2024, paiN Gaming showcased impressive resilience by rebounding from an opening map loss to dispatch GamerLegion and eliminate the formidable FaZe Clan—who recently signed Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski. The Brazilian team’s new addition, David “dav1deuS” Tapia Maldonado, has seamlessly integrated into the lineup, delivering crucial frags and consistent support. Their journey so far indicates a squad hungry for success. Earning $30,000 in bounty cash, paiN stands ready to seize bigger rewards in the main event.

BetBoom – $25,000 Bounty

BetBoom

Listed as the 30th seed, BetBoom stunned the scene by taking down both MOUZ and FURIA. The team’s potential soared once they added experienced players like Kirill “Boombl4” Mikhailov and Sergey “Ax1Le” Rykhtorov. Though they now face visa issues and will need to bring in stand-ins nafany and KaiR0N-, BetBoom’s ability to clinch high-stakes series remains a testament to their resilience. Their $25,000 bounty is the joint lowest among the finalists, motivating them to hunt larger bounties on bigger fish in Copenhagen.

HEROIC – $25,000 Bounty

HEROIC

HEROIC came into the season following off-season turbulence, forced to rebuild around a new core after key departures. Despite these challenges, they overcame 3DMAX and a retooled Team Liquid to secure their $25,000 bounty and a place in the finals. Notably, Andrey “tN1R” Tatarinovich performed exceptionally well, stepping in late to replace another newly signed player who encountered contract hurdles. With limited time to refine their synergy, HEROIC will rely on a strong team spirit and hunger for upset opportunities to make waves in Copenhagen.

The final seeds for the BLAST Bounty Spring 2025 main event place four “Most Wanted” teams on top and four “Bounty Hunters” eager to climb the ranks. Based on the closed qualifier performances and seeding, the teams’ bounties stand as follows:

Most Wanted:

  • G2 – $65,000 Bounty
  • Natus Vincere – $67,500 Bounty
  • Vitality – $63,750 Bounty
  • Spirit – $67,500 Bounty

Bounty Hunters:

  • BetBoom – $25,000 Bounty
  • paiN – $30,000 Bounty
  • Eternal Fire – $35,000 Bounty
  • HEROIC – $25,000 Bounty

From January 23 to 26, these eight finalists will face off at the BLAST Studios in Copenhagen. Expect best-of-three matches in a single-elimination bracket—each contest more intense than the last, as teams aim to preserve or expand their bounties. With $500,000 on the line plus valuable Frequent Flyer Tokens, every victory matters for both short-term prizes and long-term standings. With teams strategically picking opponents to maximize bounty growth, fans could witness upsets that redefine the early part of the CS2 competitive calendar. Tune in as some of the scene’s biggest names—and a few dark horses—battle not just for prize money, but for the honor of claiming the first major victory of the new season.

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