BLAST Bounty returns to Malta in 2027

Esports event organiser BLAST has introduced that its BLAST Bounty Counter-Strike 2 event will return to Malta in 2027.

Happening from January eleventh to twenty fourth, the Tier 1 event will characteristic a revamped format, changing the net part with extra LAN matches.

As an alternative of 32 groups beginning the event in a single-elimination bracket, 16 groups will compete completely on LAN. 12 groups will obtain direct invites by means of the Valve Regional Standings (VRS), whereas the remaining 4 slots will probably be decided by regional Qualifiers in Europe, the Americas, and Asia.

For BLAST Bounty 2027, the November 2026 VRS will decide the groups invited to the Most important Occasion and the Closed Qualifiers. 4 groups from the net regional Open Qualifiers will earn their place within the Closed Qualifiers.

The LAN event will start with a Play-In stage, with the 16 groups break up into 4 equal teams. The group winners will advance to the Quarter-finals and earn a $30,000 (~£22,462) bonus, whereas the second and third-place groups will transfer on to a Final-chance Qualifier.

Groups that end the Group Stage in fourth place will probably be eradicated, incomes $5,000 (~£3,742) in prize cash and a $10,000 (~£7,484) group fee.

Malta is the second location confirmed for BLAST’s 2027 Counter-Strike season. October 2027 will see the organiser host a Tier 1 event in Rio de Janeiro.

The eight groups that averted elimination within the Group Stage will face off within the LCQ to earn the ultimate 4 Playoffs spots, with every group carrying a bounty worth based mostly on the Group Stage rankings. Second-placed groups can have a $25,000 (~£18,710) bounty, whereas third-placed groups can have a $15,000 (~£11,226) bounty.

Groups that fail to advance to the Playoffs will depart with $10,000 (~£7,484) in prize cash and a $25,000 (~£18,710) group fee. In the meantime, the winners will be part of the Play-In victors within the Playoffs.

BLAST Bounty 2027 would be the first event the place BLAST will probably be providing acceptance charges to groups competing in its occasions. Throughout the occasion, $400,000 (~£299,394) will probably be distributed to groups based mostly on their VRS ranks.

The acceptance charges for the groups attending will probably be as follows:

In whole, BLAST Bounty 2027 will characteristic a $1.25m (~£933,466) prize pool throughout the bounties, acceptance charges, and group funds.