On September 25, in Copenhagen, Denmark, the BLAST Premier: Fall Final 2024 for Counter-Strike 2 will begin. Teams will compete for a prize pool of $425,000 and the last spots in the World Final. The event will feature some of the best teams in the world.
After the long ESL Pro League Season 20, which lasted almost a month, this championship is a treat for every viewer. The final match will take place on September 29 — so the wait won’t be long. There are no lower-tier teams in the tournament, meaning exciting matches right from day one. In this article, we’ll discuss the main favorite for the title, the contenders, and a dark horse.
Main Favorite
Natus Vincere's victory at ESL Pro League Season 20 was a significant milestone, confirming their status as one of the strongest teams at the moment. The team is in excellent form, and their successes can no longer be considered mere luck. NAVI has maintained an average rating of 6.3 over the last three months — a result reminiscent of FaZe Clan’s best times when they dominated in the early CS2 era.
NAVI has not only proven their individual strength but also lifted the "bo5 finals curse" for their captain. Now Aleksi "Aleksib" Virolainen can calmly prepare for the next challenges, starting with BLAST Premier: Fall Final 2024. Their first opponent in the group stage will be Team Falcons — not the strongest rival, which gives hope for an easy pass into the playoffs.
The team is at the peak of its form, and with such individual performance, it's hard to doubt their success. NAVI currently looks like the tournament's main favorite, and they may be on the verge of their own era of dominance (if it hasn’t already begun). While the IEM Katowice and IEM Cologne 2024 titles went to other teams, a victory at BLAST Premier or the upcoming major in China could mark the start of NAVI’s journey to greatness.
Trophy Contenders
Team Spirit
Team Spirit is going through a rough period. Their victory at BetBoom Dacha Belgrade 2024 #2 temporarily masked their issues, but the lack of serious competition, aside from Eternal Fire, raises doubts about the team’s real strength. Problems with closing out rounds and their dependence on the individual performance of Danil "donk" Kryshkovets create instability — when the team’s star doesn’t deliver, they face difficulties.
Nevertheless, at BLAST Premier: Fall Final 2024, the team remains a contender for the title. While there’s no talk of replacing chopper, donk, and sh1ro, questions are growing about the team’s other key players. Rumors of replacing one or two players are constantly in the air, especially considering experienced free agents like Ilya "Perfecto" Zalutskiy. Spirit is unlikely to have quickly fixed their weaknesses or developed new strategies that don’t solely depend on donk, but their chances for the trophy remain high.
Team Vitality
Team Vitality’s victory at IEM Cologne 2024 halted possible roster changes. According to rumors, Lotan "Spinx" Giladi either wanted to leave the team or have William "mezii" Merriman replaced. It was the British player’s performance that didn’t satisfy Lotan. Later, the organization confirmed they were exploring player acquisitions “just in case.” However, all that lost significance when the team won a long-awaited trophy in 2024, and it seemed things were looking up.
Vitality arrived at EPL as one of the main favorites and confidently topped Group D. But in their first playoff match, they lost to Eternal Fire, finishing in 5th-6th place. BLAST Premier: Fall Final 2024 is a great opportunity for Vitality to redeem themselves after their failure in Malta. Plus, who knows how much Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut will shine with his AWP?
Dark Horse
G2 Esports before BLAST Premier: Fall Final 2024 is something of a mystery, making them the tournament’s "dark horse." With the recent addition of Janusz "Snax" Pogorzelski, the team was hoping for fresh ideas, but his individual results have yet to meet expectations, resembling the stats of former captain HooXi. At the same time, the new player Mario "malbsMd" Samayoa has impressed with his performance and seamlessly integrated into the lineup, giving hope for positive team dynamics moving forward.
Despite these changes, G2 seems to be going through a period of subtle transition, and rumors of star player Nikola "NiKo" Kovač’s potential departure only add to fans' concerns. Losing such a player would be a heavy blow, as finding a suitable replacement for NiKo is extremely difficult. This uncertainty clouds G2’s plans for both the team’s development and the upcoming tournament.
Their first match against FaZe Clan could be a serious test for G2, but despite possible issues, the team has enough potential to reach the playoffs. While G2 may not be favorites at the moment, the individual skills of their top players could still lead to victories, making them a dangerous opponent for any team. Thus, this event could see either a disappointing failure or some stunning victories from this roster.
BLAST Premier: Fall Final 2024 will be held from September 25 to 29 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Teams will compete for a prize pool of $425,000 and 8,700 BLAST points. The champion will also secure a spot at BLAST Premier: World Final 2024. Keep up with news, schedules, and results through the tournament link.
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