BLAST has revealed the initial matchups for the group stage of BLAST Open Porto. The competition will take place at BLAST's Copenhagen studios from August 26-31, narrowing the field from 16 teams to six before transitioning to Portugal's Super Bock Arena for the playoff rounds.
Ten teams from the Esports World Cup playoffs will travel to Copenhagen immediately after competing in Paris. They'll be joined by M80, Lynn Vision, 9z, and paiN, all of whom were eliminated during the EWC group stage. DENDELE and Inner Circle, who didn't make it through the open qualifier, complete the lineup.
Group A showcases Natus Vincere, Spirit, and FURIA as the main favorites for the three available playoff positions. The group kicks off with an exciting clash between Aurora and G2.
In Group B, Vitality will feature Justinas "jL" Lekavicius as a substitute for William "mezii" Merriman, who is taking paternity leave. The Lithuanian player will make his first appearance against Inner Circle.
Additional Group B opening matches include MOUZ versus 9z, Falcons against Lynn Vision, and FUT battling Legacy.
The tournament format awards each group winner direct passage to the semi-finals. Meanwhile, second-place finishers and third-place teams advancing from the lower bracket will claim quarter-final berths.
