BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026 Preview

In just a few days, BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026 will begin, featuring 16 teams from different regions around the world. The teams will compete for the championship title and important ranking points, while the tournament itself will serve as another key event in the professional Counter-Strike 2 calendar.

Special attention is focused on Team Vitality, who have been in excellent form at the start of the season. The team has already secured victories at IEM Krakow 2026 and PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026. In Rotterdam, they will have a chance to continue their dominance, although other top teams will certainly try to challenge them and fight for the title.

BLAST Rotterdam 2026 Format

BLAST Rotterdam 2026 will take place in two stages — the group stage and the playoffs. The group stage will be held from March 18 to March 23, 2026, in a LAN format where teams will compete for a place in the final stage of the tournament.

During the group stage, 16 teams are divided into two groups of eight. Matches will be played in a Double-Elimination (GSL) format, which includes both upper and lower brackets. All matches in this stage will be played as Best of 3 (Bo3).

At the end of the group stage, the top three teams from each group advance to the playoffs. The group winners move directly to the semifinals, the teams finishing second advance to the quarterfinals as High Seeds, while the teams finishing third qualify for the quarterfinals as Low Seeds.

The playoff stage, scheduled for March 27–29, 2026, will be played in a Single-Elimination format, where a single loss means elimination from the tournament. The quarterfinals and semifinals will be played in Best of 3 (Bo3) format, while the grand final will be played in Best of 5 (Bo5) to determine the champion of BLAST Rotterdam 2026.

All Participants of BLAST Rotterdam 2026

A total of 16 teams will compete in BLAST Rotterdam 2026. These teams received invitations based on the Valve ranking or their performances in previous tournaments. Among the participants are both top-tier teams of the global scene and squads looking to challenge the strongest opponents.

Participants of BLAST Rotterdam 2026:

• FURIA
• Team Vitality
• PARIVISION
• Team Falcons
• Natus Vincere
• Team Spirit
• MOUZ
• FaZe Clan
• Aurora Gaming
• The MongolZ
• Team Liquid
• B8
• Ninjas in Pyjamas
• NRG
• 9z Team
• TYLOO

These 16 teams will compete for the BLAST Rotterdam 2026 championship title.

Favorites, Dark Horses, and Underdogs at BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026

Ahead of BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026, several teams stand out as the main contenders for the title. The clear favorite of the tournament is Team Vitality, who are currently in outstanding form at the start of the season. The squad has already claimed two major victories in 2026, winning IEM Krakow 2026 and PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026, and currently looks like one of the most consistent teams on the global stage.

Among the other top contenders is Natus Vincere, who recently became champions of ESL Pro League Season 23. For NAVI, the Rotterdam tournament will be a great opportunity to prove that their EPL triumph was no coincidence. Team Falcons should also be considered among the favorites, as they remain a strong team on the international stage and are capable of fighting for the title at any major event.

At the same time, several teams could emerge as dark horses. The MongolZ have shown noticeable progress and recently reached the playoffs of ESL Pro League Season 23, proving they can compete with the world’s strongest teams. Aurora Gaming also looks dangerous after a successful run at the same tournament, where the team reached the grand final, losing only in the decisive match. FURIA, despite not showing their best performance in the later stages of the tournament, remain a very dangerous opponent capable of challenging any team.

Among the underdogs of the tournament are Team Liquid, 9z Team, TYLOO, and NRG. While these teams are not considered the main contenders for the title, each of them has the potential to create an upset, especially if they manage to find strong form during the group stage. At tournaments of this level, even outsider teams can turn the competition upside down and surprise the favorites.

Where to Watch BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026

BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026 begins on Wednesday, March 18. You can watch the matches live on the official BLAST Twitch and YouTube channels.

Stay with EGamersWorld and support your favorite team together with us!