BLAST Major 2025 promises to be the largest event of the first half of the year in CS2, and the organizers are already unveiling the first details of the tournament qualifications. According to HLTV journalist Danish Nohte Alla, the major qualifiers will span six regions.

This format will allow more teams from around the world to have a chance to qualify for the championship and will open up a new stage for talents from underrated regions.

Qualifier Format and Selection Regions

According to Nohte, the qualifying tournaments will take place in six regions:

• Europe
• North America
• South America
• Western Asia
• China
• Oceania

An important feature will be the format of the event—all qualifications will be held online. This may affect the level of competitive play, as teams will encounter technical limitations related to internet connectivity and differences in gaming conditions.

BLAST continues to develop its approach to holding majors, and the inclusion of Western Asia in the list of qualifying regions is an intriguing step that could expand CS2's influence in new markets.

Dates and Location of BLAST Austin Major

The BLAST Major 2025 itself will take place from June 6 to 22 in Austin, USA. The tournament will be the first major of the year and will feature a prize pool of $1.25 million. Additionally, Nohte has published the first concept images of the arena where the final stage of the championship will take place. The choice of Austin as the venue underscores an attempt to grow the popularity of CS2 in North America.

The expansion of qualifying regions might lead to unexpected results and the emergence of new teams on the top scene. The Western Asia region is particularly interesting, as it rarely gets chances in major tournaments.