BLAST has revealed the participants of the first BLAST Bounty event, which will be a significant addition to the Counter-Strike competitive scene. Starting from January 14th, this tournament adds a new feature: lower-ranked teams can challenge higher-ranked teams to take their “bounty,” and the amount of rewards depends on the chosen opponents’ rank.
The Teams Participating in BLAST Bounty Season 1
According to the Valve Regional Standings as of December 2nd, BLAST has invited 30 teams, which include both the strongest teams and newcomers. The full list includes:
- G2 Esports
- Natus Vincere
- Team Vitality
- Team Spirit
- The MongolZ
- MOUZ
- FaZe Clan
- HEROIC
- Team Liquid
- FURIA
- Eternal Fire
- SAW
- 3DMAX
- paiN Gaming
- Complexity
- Astralis
- FlyQuest
- BIG
- Virtus.pro
- Sangal
- GamerLegion
- MIBR
- Nemiga
- Wildcard Gaming
- B8
- ENCE
- Imperial fe
- Fluxo
- 9 Pandas
- M80
Additionally, under the event guidelines set by BLAST, Team Falcons has earned a Wildcard invitation. Another Wildcard team will be named before the event starts, according to the organizers.
Imperial fe Makes History for the First Time
The most striking news from the announcement is the inclusion of Imperial fe, the first all-female team to participate in a Tier 1 Counter-Strike event. Imperial fe has been the reigning champion of the female scene, having won the last eight ESL Impact events. Now, they will have a chance to face the best teams in the world. Their presence is a historic event for Counter-Strike, diversity, and inclusion, making for a great underdog story in competitive Counter-Strike.
The Usual Suspects (and Some New Challenges)
In addition to the historic inclusion of Imperial fe, the BLAST Bounty lineup includes many familiar faces from the upper tiers of CS2. The strongest teams, such as G2, NAVI, and Vitality, will try to strengthen their positions, while teams like The MongolZ and paiN, which have recently appeared on the top list, will try to challenge the leaders.
Notably missing from the list is FURIA fe, who turned down an invite because their male team is already participating in the event – a curious decision by BLAST.
What to Expect
BLAST Bounty is a new format for Counter-Strike esports, which fits the overall shift that BLAST has made to its 2025 competitive season. This and a lineup of stars make it one of the most eagerly awaited events of the season. Audiences can expect to be entertained by great games, outstanding individual displays, and even the possibility of giant killings.
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