Austin, Texas, Will Host the Next CS2 Major
The next CS2 Major, titled the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, marks the return of a Major to the United States for the first time since the ELEAGUE Boston Major 2018.
Key event details:
📅 Dates: June 9–22, 2025
📍Location: Moody Center in Austin (capacity: 15,000)
💰Prize pool: $1,250,000
Prize Pool Breakdown
The $1.25 million USD prize pool will be distributed as follows:
🥇 1st place: $500,000
🥈 2nd place: $170,000
🥉 3rd–4th place: $80,000
5th–8th: $45,000
9th–11th: $20,000
12th–16th: $15,000
Tickets & Venue Info
Tickets for the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 are now on sale via Ticketmaster. There are multiple options depending on how many days you want to attend:
2-Day Package (Thursday & Friday) – June 19–20
2-Day Package (Saturday & Sunday) – June 21–22
4-Day Package (All Playoff Days) – June 19–22
Each ticket gives access to Moody Center during the selected dates for the live playoff matches.
⚠️ Ticket Info
Ticket purchases are limited to 4 per customer, and resale is only permitted via Ticketmaster at face value to help prevent scalping. During high-demand periods, a queue system may still activate automatically, so it’s a good idea to log in early when tickets go live or when new batches are released.
📍 Venue Address
Moody Center
2001 Robert Dedman Dr.
Austin, TX 78712
Big Changes to the Major Format
The Austin Major format introduces two significant changes: an increase from 24 to 32 teams and the removal of the Regional Major Rankings (RMR) system. Expanding to 32 teams allows more regions and players to participate, giving underdog teams a chance to compete with the best on the international stage while showcasing a broader spectrum of talent.
How Teams Qualify for the Austin Major
With the RMR system retired, teams now qualify for the Major through Valve’s Regional Standings (VRS). This system evaluates team performance across the season and assigns Major slots to each region based on how well its teams performed at the previous Major — stronger regions get more slots.
However, being ranked in the global top 32 doesn’t guarantee a place at the Major. Teams must either finish high enough within their own region’s VRS or fight their way through open qualifiers to claim one of the limited regional spots.
Tournament Format & Schedule
The tournament will use a four-phase structure, with three Swiss stages followed by single-elimination playoffs:
Stage 1 (Contenders Stage): June 2–5
Stage 2 (Challengers Stage): June 7–10
Stage 3 (Legends Stage): June 12–15
Playoffs (Moody Center): June 19–22
Teams Qualified for the Austin Major
As of April 18, 2025, the full lineup of 32 teams for the BLAST.tv Austin Major has been confirmed. The teams are distributed across three entry stages, based on Valve’s Regional Standings and performance in the lead-up to the event.
Stage 1 – Contenders
Complexity, OG, B8, Heroic, Nemiga, Wildcard, BetBoom, Metizport, Imperial, FlyQuest, Chinggis Warriors, Fluxo, TYLOO, Lynn Vision, BESTIA (the first Argentinian core at a Major), and NRG (returning to Major competition for the first time since 2019).
Stage 2 – Challengers
Falcons, FaZe, 3DMAX, Virtus.pro, paiN, FURIA, MIBR, and M80.
Stage 3 – Legends
Vitality, MOUZ, Spirit, Aurora, Natus Vincere, G2, The MongolZ, and Liquid.