The BLAST Open London tournament has officially kicked off. This Counter-Strike (CS2) championship brings a unique setup for fans to follow. It starts with online matches, then moves to a live arena for the grand finale. Three strong teams from Brazil are competing: FURIA, Legacy, and Imperial. Fans will be watching closely as these teams fight for a spot in the London finals. The online phase began this Wednesday, August 27, and will run through September 1. Brazilian teams are slated to play on Thursday, August 28, with their first match starting at 7:00 AM.
This competition features an unusual hybrid format. The initial games happen online, but the final stage shifts to a physical venue. Organizers haven’t shared why they picked this two-part structure. It certainly keeps things interesting. Only the six best teams from the online qualifiers will earn a trip to England. These top squads will clash live from September 5 to 7. The famous OVO Arena Wembley in North London will host the big finish.
Participating Teams in BLAST Open London
Group A
- Vitality
- M80
- GamerLegion
- Virtus.pro
- FaZe
- ECSTATIC
- Natus Vincere
- fnatic
Group B
- MOUZ
- Imperial
- G2
- Team Liquid
- Spirit
- FlyQuest
- FURIA
- Legacy
Tournament Format
Every match in the tournament is a best-of-three series. Winning your group means a direct pass to the LAN semifinals in London. Teams that finish second or third in their groups will start in the LAN quarterfinals. This setup ensures that only the strongest teams progress deeper into the offline event.
When to Watch the Brazilian Teams
Brazilian fans have specific times to mark for their favorite teams’ opening matches.
- MOUZ vs. Imperial – Thursday, August 27 – 7:00 AM
- FURIA vs. Legacy – Thursday, August 27 – 2:30 PM
A Roster Shuffle Story
There’s a bit of drama around how some teams got their spots in the tournament. Team paiN originally received an invitation to the BLAST Open London. However, they turned down a different event’s stage invite. Rules set by VALVE are clear: decline once, and you can’t be invited again. This opened the door for Legacy to get the direct invitation instead. Imperial, who came second in the South American qualifiers, then stepped into Legacy’s old spot. It all makes for a compelling backstory as the competition heats up.