Before we get to the LAN finals at the BLAST Arena Studios in Attard, Malta, some heads must roll. That’s where the BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 Closed Qualifier comes in, offering top-tier Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) esports action as the best players in the world grace the servers.
Let’s take an in-depth look at the BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 Closed Qualifier, including the format, schedule, dynamic prize pool, and competing teams as well as our predictions for who could take the top prize.
BLAST Bounty 2026 S1 Closed Qualifier Schedule & Format
From Jan. 13-18, the BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 Closed Qualifier takes place online via European servers. The event is seen as a “Tier 1 Qualifier” by Valve, featuring 32 of the best teams in the world.
The format is a straightforward single-elimination bracket where all matches are best-of-three. Two single-elimination rounds reduce the field from 32 to 8 teams. The teams are competing for eight spots in the BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 LAN finals, which take place from Jan. 22-25.
The caveat is that the 16 lower-seeded teams select their opponents from the 16 higher-seeded teams. After the initial Round of 32, all contestants are reseeded based on the opponents they beat in the previous round, and the lower-seeded pick their opponents.
Prize Pool Distribution
The prize pool for the entire BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 event (including the Closed Qualifier and the LAN final) is $1,150,000. There are $500,000 in Player Share and $650,000 in Club Share.
Instead of a traditional, set-in-stone prize pool distribution, BLAST Bounty events feature a dynamic prize pool, with squads fighting to claim a piece of their opponents’ “bounty.”
Teams can guarantee 50% of the total bounty from a match, and the other 50% carries over to the next game, which will, in turn, get added to the winning team’s bounty. The official Bounty Simulator and Leaderboard will help you keep track of current team values.
How To Watch BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1
Watching all the BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 action is easy right here at Thunderpick. Visit our CS2 betting section to get started. When a match begins, a live stream and bet slip will appear, allowing all registered users to place in-play wagers as the match unfolds.
Alternatively, watch all the action via the tournament organizer’s official Twitch and YouTube channels.
Teams At BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 Closed Qualifier
Thirty-two teams will compete at the BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 Closed Qualifier. Invites to the tournament were based on Valve Regional Standings (VRS) rankings of Dec. 1, 2025. Here are all the teams participating in the BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 Closed Qualifier.
- Team Vitality
- FURIA
- Team Falcons
- Aurora Gaming
- Team Spirit
- Team Liquid
- NAVI
- Astralis
- HEROIC
- 3DMAX
- paiN Gaming
- FaZe Clan
- Parivision
- Gentle Mates
- GamerLegion
- FUT Esports
- BetBoom Team
- Fnatic
- M80
- Passion UA
- HOTU
- Ninjas in Pyjamas
- NRG
- Eyeballers
- Inner Circle
- OG
- 9INE
- ENCE
- Virtus.pro
- Monte
- SINNERS Esports
- ECSTATIC
Note: Imperial Esports withdrew from the tournament, and ECSTATIC was announced as the replacement.
Our BLAST Bounty 2026 S1 Closed Qualifier Predictions
Instead of our regular top four predictions, we’ve picked all eight teams that will make it through the online Closed Qualifier and into the main event.
To create these BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 predictions, we considered many crucial factors, from current HLTV World Rankings (Jan. 5 update) and the VRS (Jan. 6 update) to past performances, recent matchup histories, player form, and roster changes where applicable.
Important: These predictions reflect the perceived strength of teams based on historical trends and the latest available odds. This analysis should not be interpreted as betting advice. Past performance does not guarantee future outcomes. Always gamble responsibly.
Team Vitality
We are in the Team Vitality era, with Dan “apEX” Madesclaire’s men claiming a whopping nine top-tier trophies, including both Major Championships, in 2025. Following their win at StarLadder Budapest Major, no roster changes have been made in the offseason.
With Estonian superstar rifler Robin “ropz” Kool and the best player in the world, Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, both in form, they are ranked #1 on HLTV and #2 on VRS Global. A monumental upset is required for Team Vitality to get eliminated in the Closed Qualifier.
Team Vitality roster:
- Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut
- Robin “ropz” Kool
- Shahar “flameZ” Shushan
- William “mezii” Merriman
- Dan “apEX” Madesclaire (IGL)
- Rémy “XTQZZZ” Quoniam (Coach)
FURIA
With two-time Major Championship winner Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo leading the charge, FURIA flourished in the second half of 2025. With four top-tier LAN Trophies, including Thunderpick World Championship (TWC) 2025, FURIA became an unstoppable force on the server.
At least part of FURIA’s success has to be attributed to the acquisition of Danil “molodoy” Golubenko in April, who earned his first two MVP awards. With undeniable recent form, FURIA ranks #1 on VRS Global and #2 on HLTV.
FURIA roster:
- Mareks “YEKINDAR” Gaļinskis
- Yuri “yuurih” Boian
- Kaike “KSCERATO” Cerato
- Danil “molodoy” Golubenko
- Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo (IGL)
- Sidnei “sidde” Macedo (Coach)
Team Falcons
Team Falcons should have absolutely no problem making it to a podium finish in most CS2 LAN events. The star-studded roster has yet to reach its potential, though, with only one top-tier trophy in 2025.
While Team Falcons isn’t the favorite to win it all, it would be shocking if they didn’t make it to the top eight at BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1. The squad is currently ranked #3 on the VRS Global and HLTV.
Team Falcons roster:
- Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov
- Nikola “NiKo” Kovač
- René “TeSeS” Madsen
- Maksim “kyousuke” Lukin
- Damjan “kyxsan” Stoilkovski (IGL)
- Danny “zonic” Sørensen (Coach)
In December 2025, CS2 esports fans watched in shock as Legendary Danish IGL Finn “karrigan” Andersen led FaZe Clan through the entire StarLadder Budapest Major into the Grand Final.
While FaZe Clan eventually lost to Team Vitality, their run through all four stages against the odds signifies incredible strength. With no roster changes in the offseason, FaZe Clan is sitting pretty at #5 on HLTV and #7 on the VRS Global.
FaZe Clan
FaZe Clan roster:
- Helvijs “broky” Saukants
- David “frozen” Čerňanský
- Jakub “jcobbb” Pietruszewski
- Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken
- Finn “karrigan” Andersen (IGL)
- Filip “NEO” Kubski (Coach)
NAVI
Ranked #7 on HLTV and #5 on the VRS Global, NAVI is a strong contender to get past this Closed Qualifier, and possibly earn a podium finish in Malta. We witnessed NAVI on the cusp of greatness at the TWC 2025 LAN finals, narrowly losing a historic reverse-sweep to FURIA.
If Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen can continue making the fantastic calls that got NAVI to a 3rd/4th place finish at the StarLadder Budapest Major, and the players can keep up their form, NAVI should have little to no trouble making it through the Closed Qualifier.
NAVI roster:
- Valerii “b1t” Vakhovskyi
- Mihai “iM” Ivan
- Ihor “w0nderful” Zhdanov
- Drin “makazze” Shaqiri
- Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen (IGL)
- Andrii “B1ad3” Horodenskyi (Coach)
Team Spirit
With Player of the Year (2024) and one of the best in 2025, Danil “donk” Kryshkovets, as the tip of the spear, Team Spirit is another shoo-in to get past the Closed Qualifier unscathed. The squad is ranked #5 on VRS Global and #8 on HLTV.
Following the StarLadder Budapest Major, Team Spirit decided to bench previous IGL Leonid “chopper” Vishnyakov and Ivan “zweih” Gogin. In their place are Donk’s old teammates, Myroslav “zont1x” Plakhotia and Boris “magixx” Vorobyev as the IGL. It’s a huge change, and one we think could pay dividends.
Team Spirit roster:
- Danil “donk” Kryshkovets
- Dmitriy “sh1ro” Sokolov
- Myroslav “zont1x” Plakhotia
- Andrey “tN1R” Tatarinovich
- Boris “magixx” Vorobyev (IGL)
- Sergey “hally” Shavayev (Coach)
Aurora Gaming
There’s no denying that Turkish powerhouse Aurora Gaming has what it takes to survive the BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 Closed Qualifier gauntlet. Ranked #10 on HLTV and #9 on VRS Global, Aurora Gaming features an in-form İsmailcan “XANTARES” Dörtkardeş, widely regarded as one of the best riflers in the business.
Aurora Gaming picked up Caner “soulfly” Kesici on Dec. 27, 2025, after Samet “jottAAA” Köklü stepped down from the active lineup.
Aurora Gaming roster:
- İsmailсan “XANTARES” Dörtkardeş
- Ali “Wicadia” Haydar
- Özgür “woxic” Eker
- Caner “soulfly” Kesici
- Engin “MAJ3R” Küpeli (IGL)
- Sezgin “Fabre” Kalaycı (Coach)
Team Liquid
Ranked #13 on the Global VRS and #15 on HLTV, Team Liquid is our final pick to earn a spot at the BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 LAN finals. Since adding North American superstar Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski to the lineup Sept. 25, 2025, Team Liquid has made no roster changes.
If no underdog shocks the squad, and young Polish AWPer Roland “ultimate” Tomkowiak finds great form, there’s confidence that Team Liquid can make it to Malta.
Team Liquid roster:
- Keith “NAF” Markovic
- Roland “ultimate” Tomkowiak
- Guy “NertZ” Iluz
- Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski
- Kamil “siuhy” Szkaradek (IGL)
- Viktor “flashie” Tamás Bea (Coach)
Which Teams Will Qualify?
Looking ahead to the matches, we have a lot of questions on our mind. Will the highest-ranked teams make quick work of their opponents? Could Team Vitality continue their absolute dominance? Or will some underdogs shock favorites, claiming their bounties? We’re excited to see what happens!
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