The BLAST.tv Austin Major is coming soon, and the qualifiers are about to kick off. Valve has updated its internal rankings, and we now know which teams are invited and which will compete in the closed regional qualifiers. Today, the CS.MONEY Blog will fill you in on everything you need to know about this upcoming Major in Texas!

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Where and When is the Next CS2 Major? How big is the Prize Pool?

The BLAST.tv Austin Major will take place from June 2 to June 22, 2025, in Austin, Texas. It will be the first Major with four stages, with the final stage, the playoffs, being held at the Moody Center. The arena can hold up to 16,000 spectators.

The prize pool is set at $1,250,000. The winner will take home $500,000, and the rest of the money will be distributed among the other teams. But keep in mind, teams are in it for more than just the prize cash — they’ll make a lot more money from in-game stickers. For some players, this could be a six-figure sum. RoeJ once shared that over four Majors he participated in, he earned between $600,000 and $900,000 in sticker revenue.

BLAST.tv Austin Major Format

We mentioned earlier that the tournament will have four stages, and it might get a little confusing. The first three stages will use the Swiss system, which you’re probably familiar with: win three matches and you move on, lose three matches and you’re out.

In the Stage 1, 16 teams from the closed regional qualifiers (MRQ) will compete. In the Stage 2, they’ll be joined by eight invited teams with lower rankings. The Stage 3 will feature the top eight teams invited by Valve.

The invitations for the second and third stages depend on the results of the previous Major. Teams that finished in the top 16 secured spots for their region, meaning a strong performance by The MongolZ really helped the Asian region since they won’t need to go through the MRQ.

Teams that make it through stage three will play in the playoffs in front of the American crowd. The playoff format will be a Single Elimination bracket with best-of-three matches.

When Are the MRQs for the Austin Major?

All the qualifiers will take place next week. Matches will start on Monday or Tuesday depending on the region:

• Europe: April 14-17 (6 spots for Stage 1)
• North America: April 15-17 (3 spots)
• South America: April 15-17 (3 spots)
• Mongolia & Western Asia: April 15-17 (1 spot)
• China: April 15-17 (2 spots)
• Oceania & Southeast Asia: April 15-17 (1 spot)

MRQ Europe: Format and Invited Teams

Sixteen teams will face off in the Swiss system. Teams that finish with a 3-0 or 3-1 record will go to the Major, while teams finishing 3-2 will have to play an extra round in a single elimination play-in stage. The team with the best Buchholz rating will skip one match. The winner of the second play-in match will secure the final spot for the USA.

Some of the teams to watch out for in the European MRQ include Astralis, Heroic, GamerLegion, SAW, Fnatic, and 500, the Bulgarian team, which has been surrounded by some rumors.

MRQ North and South America: Format and Invited Teams

Both North and South American qualifiers follow the same format. Each region will have eight teams. First, they’ll play in GSL groups, and the group winners will go to the Major. Teams that finish second and third will play in a Single Elimination play-in, with the winner securing a spot in Austin.

Invited teams:

• North America: Wildcard, NRG, Complexity, Nouns
• South America: Imperial Esports, Fluxo, Legacy, RED Canids

MRQ Asia: Format and Invited Teams

The Asian qualifiers are divided into three mini-tournaments, each with four teams playing in a Double Elimination format.

Invited teams:

• Mongolia & Western Asia: The Huns Esports, Eruption, Chinggis Warriors, Gods Reign
• China: Rare Atom, TyLoo, Lynn Vision, DogEvil
• Oceania & Southeast Asia: FlyQuest, SemperFi Esports, Rooster, ex-Talon

We’re entering the peak of Counter-Strike 2, and soon, intense battles will be happening on the servers. All the most exciting moments are just ahead!