The new season of BLAST Bounty kicked off with a draft of the initial matches. This approach gave lower-ranked teams (places 17 to 32) the opportunity to choose their opponents, adding extra intrigue.

The unique format highlights the tactical thinking of the teams. Participants had to not only assess their own strengths but also analyze the weaknesses of potential opponents. This opens the door for unexpected outcomes and makes the tournament particularly exciting.

How the Draft Went

The first choice was made by BIG, the holders of 17th place in the rankings. They settled on the Portuguese team SAW. Next, Virtus.pro chose Complexity, and the other teams acted predictably, selecting weaker ones from the remaining list. However, the team B8 surprised everyone by choosing G2 for the match. B8's captain, Andrii "⁠npl⁠" Kukharskyi, commented: "They have a lot of points, so a win would allow us to significantly rise in the Valve rankings. They are also a convenient opponent for us".

Another unexpected choice was Imperial fe deciding to play with Natus Vincere. The final match was a showdown between Metizport, the lowest-ranked team, and the favorite Vitality.

Schedule for the First Round

The first-round matches are spread over four days:

January 14:

• FlyQuest vs MIBR
• 3DMAX vs HEROIC
• Liquid vs 9 Pandas
• Spirit vs fnatic

January 15:

• Astralis vs Wildcard
• SAW vs BIG
• Falcons vs ENCE
• Vitality vs Metizport

January 16:

• Complexity vs Virtus.pro
• Eternal Fire vs Fluxo
• FaZe vs M80
• Natus Vincere vs Imperial fe

January 17:

• paiN vs GamerLegion
• FURIA vs Nemiga
• MOUZ vs BetBoom
• G2 vs B8

BLAST Bounty Season 1 sets a new standard for intrigue in esports tournaments. This format shows that not only a team's strength but also their strategy can determine the outcome of the tournament. To follow the tournament and match results, you can go to the link.