The online stage of BLAST Bounty Season 2 has its matchups confirmed following a live selection process where the tournament's sixteen lower-seeded teams chose their first-round opponents. North American representation faced challenging circumstances, as most NA squads found themselves in the bottom half of the seeding due to their current standing in the Global Valve Regional Standings.
Wildcard became the first NA team to learn their fate when Swedish contenders Alliance selected them as opponents. The matchup appears competitive, with Wildcard holding a solid track record against European teams of similar caliber. Their clash with Simon "twist" Eliasson's squad could prove winnable if they maintain their form.
M80 exercised their selection rights by targeting NIP for their tournament opener. This tactical decision made sense given NIP's recent roster adjustment with the addition of Roman "n0te" Hamze, suggesting potential team chemistry issues. M80's options were limited, making this a calculated gamble.
Liquid faced the toughest situation as the penultimate team to pick, with only elite opposition remaining: Vitality, Spirit, and Falcons. Viktor "flashie" Tamás Bea explained their choice of Vitality by emphasizing they had nothing to lose, particularly since they expected to field Roland "ultimate" Tomkowiak as a substitute.
The situation improved for Liquid when BLAST modified their rules, allowing the team to utilize Mario "malbsMd" Samayoa and effectively field their complete roster. Whether this strategic pick proves successful remains uncertain, though all three available options presented significant challenges.
The confirmed NA schedule includes M80 versus NIP on July 21st at 06:00AM, Wildcard against Alliance on July 21st at 01:30PM, and Liquid facing Vitality on July 24th at 10:00AM.
