Esports match organisers ESL and BLAST have introduced modifications to their Counter-Strike 2 map swimming pools following Valve‘s choice to regulate the first-person shooter title’s Lively Obligation map pool.
Anubis will make its return to Tier 1 competitors throughout the BLAST Bounty closed qualifiers, happening from January thirteenth to 18th. Contemplating the quick time between the change and the beginning of the match, it is going to be attention-grabbing to see whether or not competing groups select to choose the map.
Alongside BLAST, ESL revealed that the change of map pool has ‘come into impact instantly’ for its ESL Professional Tour match circuit. The qualifiers for IEM Rio 2026 will embrace Anubis, alongside IEM Kraków 2026, the organiser’s first LAN occasion of the 12 months.
The map returns to Lively Obligation following a six-month absence, because it was dropped out of the map pool in favour of Overpass as a part of Premier Season Three’s launch in July 2025.
What’s Subsequent for Counter-Strike Esports?
Following a break after the StarLadder Budapest Main, the eye of the Counter-Strike esports scene turns in the direction of the beginning of BLAST Bounty Season 1, the primary Tier 1 occasion of the 2026 season.
32 groups from internationally will compete in on-line qualifiers for high-value bounties and an opportunity to earn a spot on the eight-team LAN finals in Malta. A complete of $500,000 (~£371,262) in prize cash can be obtainable by means of the bounty format, together with Valve Regional Standings (VRS) factors.
