BLAST Premier is the name many fans still use for BLAST's Counter-Strike circuit. It started as a league with partner teams and later became a set of open tournaments. This guide explains how the original league worked, why it had to change, and how to read BLAST's schedule today. Facts were checked on 1 November 2026.
What is BLAST Premier?
BLAST is a Danish tournament organiser. Its first big Counter-Strike product was the BLAST Pro Series, a run of short, show-style events. In 2019 the company, then known as RFRSH Entertainment, announced a new league as the successor. The new circuit started in 2020.
The league was built around a fixed group of partner teams. Those teams had guaranteed places, and other teams could reach the finals through open qualifying events. The idea was to give teams and sponsors a stable calendar.
How did the original league format work?
Each year had two seasons, Spring and Fall. Each season lasted around four months and had three main parts:
- Groups: the partner teams played group stages to fight for finals places.
- Showdowns: open events where other teams could earn a spot in the season finals.
- Finals: the best group teams met the Showdown qualifiers in a LAN finals event.
At the end of the year, the strongest teams met at the World Final. Season winners qualified, along with other high performers. The 2024 World Final was the last one held under the old league model.
Why did the league model change?
In August 2023, Valve announced new rules for Counter-Strike tournaments. From 2025, organisers could no longer give teams permanent places through partnership deals. Instead, events had to be open or invite teams based on Valve's own rankings.
That rule hit every partner league, not just BLAST. ESL Pro League changed too. The rankings Valve uses are the Valve Regional Standings, which you can read about in our separate guide. In short, results over the season now decide who gets invited.
What replaced the partner league?
BLAST rebuilt its circuit around three event types. Exact team counts and formats can change by event, so always check the event page before you rely on them.
| Event type | Basic idea |
|---|---|
| BLAST Bounty | Teams earn a bounty by beating opponents, which rewards upsets as well as wins. |
| BLAST Open | Invites from Valve's regional standings plus teams that qualify through regional events. |
| BLAST Rivals | A smaller invitational for top-ranked teams with a high-stakes bracket. |
On its own site, BLAST still groups these events under the BLAST Premier banner. On 1 November 2026, BLAST.tv listed a Rivals event in Hong Kong for 2026 as an upcoming event. It also carried news about BLAST Open Porto.
BLAST and the Majors
BLAST has also run Valve Majors. It organised the BLAST.tv Paris Major in 2023, won by Team Vitality, and the Austin Major in 2025, also won by Vitality. These are separate from the regular circuit but use the same production team. See every CS Major winner for the full list.
How to read BLAST results and rankings
Old league titles still count in team histories. However, comparing them with newer events is tricky. A partner-league final and an open-circuit Rivals event did not have the same entry rules. When you look at a team's trophy list, note the year and the event type.
Prestige also differs by event. Our guide to CS2 tournament tiers explains how Valve and fan sites grade events. For broader context on how teams are compared, see our explainer on how CS2 team rankings work.
How to follow BLAST events
- Check BLAST.tv for the official schedule and broadcast links.
- Use Liquipedia for brackets, invited teams and results.
- Our guide on how to watch CS2 esports covers streams and demos.
Formats, venues and dates are announced event by event. Prize pools and team counts are set per event too, and they have changed between years. If a detail matters to you, confirm it on the official page close to the event.
Sources and checks
History and format details were checked on 1 November 2026 against BLAST Premier (Wikipedia), the BLAST.tv Counter-Strike hub and Counter-Strike Major Championships (Wikipedia).
Frequently asked questions
Does BLAST Premier still exist?
The partner-team league ended after 2024. BLAST still uses the BLAST Premier name for its circuit, which is now made up of open and ranking-based events such as Bounty, Open and Rivals.
Why did BLAST Premier stop using partner teams?
Valve's tournament rules, announced in 2023, banned permanent partner spots from 2025. Organisers must now run open events or invite teams using Valve's regional rankings.
Has BLAST hosted a CS Major?
Yes. BLAST organised the Paris Major in 2023 and the Austin Major in 2025. Team Vitality won both.
