The group stage of BLAST Open Porto concluded after six days of competitive Counter-Strike 2 action at BLAST Studios in Copenhagen. Sixteen elite teams battled through a double-elimination format starting August 26, and now six survivors will compete for the championship trophy.
The playoff stage runs from September 4-6 at Super Bock Arena in Porto, Portugal. The format shifts to single-elimination, with quarterfinals and semifinals played as best-of-three series. The grand final crowns the champion through a best-of-five battle.
Group A delivered several memorable moments, including M80's surprising victory over NAVI in the opening round. NAVI's tournament ended with a 2-0 loss to G2 in the lower bracket. Team Spirit dominated with a perfect 3-0 record, defeating DENDELE CS, G2, and FURIA to secure a direct semifinal berth. G2 recovered from their upper bracket loss to Spirit by eliminating NAVI and Aurora.
Group B produced the tournament's biggest upset when Inner Circle Esports took down Team Vitality 2-0 in their first match. Vitality fought back through the lower bracket, overcoming 9z, Legacy, and FUT Esports to reach the quarterfinals. MOUZ earned their semifinal spot by defeating 9z, IC Esports, and Team Falcons. Legacy showed strength despite missing qualification, beating FUT initially before narrow defeats to Vitality and Falcons.
The playoffs open with Falcons facing G2 on September 4 at 7 am PDT/4 pm CEST. Fans can watch on BLAST's official Twitch, YouTube, and Kick channels, with broadcasts available in English, Portuguese, French, Russian, and Vietnamese.
