- BLAST Premier returns for its fourth year of operations
- The circuit’s total prize pool is $2 475 000 with $1 million delegated for the final
- BLAST will provide more grassroots opportunities for new teams
Promising more than 345 hours of content, BLAST revealed its schedule for the 2023 BLAST Premier circuit.
BLAST Announces 2023 Calendar
One of the biggest CS:GO competitive circuits is that one run by Danish esports organizer BLAST, which has recently revealed dates and prize pools for their 2023 circuit. This year will include three large arena events as well as two LAN group stages and the two Showdowns with their respective regional qualifiers. The circuit starts with the Spring Groups in mid-January and ends with the World Final in December.
With a total prize pool of $2 475 000 spread out across the seven tournaments, the BLAST Premier circuit promises high stakes. The World Final will feature the majority of that total prize pool, with $1 million going to the top-performing teams.
The circuit will return for its fourth year of operation in 2023 and will feature a total of 345 hours of content. “Both Spring and Fall Groups will exclusively feature best of three’s as the format for matches giving more hours of Counter-Strike than ever before,” BLAST wrote in their official announcement.
What’s the Format Going to Look Like?
“We’re excited for what the BLAST Premier 2023 season has in store in its fourth year. 2023 will be the second year running where we have all of our finals in packed-out arenas in leading locations around the world,” said Managing Director of BLAST Premier Charlotte Kenny.
“We’re excited to deliver another 12 months of next-level entertainment and follow up on the success of last year’s arena events in Lisbon, Copenhagen, and Abu Dhabi.” Kenny also mentioned that this year BLAST returns with 14 regional qualifiers set to take place across the year, which will give grassroots teams the chance to play at the highest level.
Said teams will be able to qualify for the Spring and Fall Showdowns through these regional qualifiers. They will be played online and will retain the same two regional tournaments: Showdown Europe and Showdown Rest of World. The latter will be played on North American servers, and non-American teams will be transported into the region for the Rest of World Showdown.
Meanwhile, both the Spring and the Fall Groups will exclusively feature best of three’s as the format for matches giving more hours of Counter-Strike than ever before. Group winners will advance directly to the respective Spring and Fall Final arena events with the remaining three teams being placed into Gauntlet. The winners of the gauntlet will go to the Spring and Fall Final, whilst the losing six teams will be placed into the Showdown events.
It's certain that in its fourth year of operation, BLAST will provide even more top-tier competitive CS:GO content throughout 2023.
