Stage 3 of the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, running from June 12 to June 15, is the most critical phase yet. With only the top 8 advancing to the playoffs from June 19 to 22, the pressure is on. This stage pits eight elite teams invited directly against eight Stage 2 qualifiers. Will Vitality continue the streak? Will NAVI get better after the bootcamp? Will we see any more upsets like Falcons in the Stage 2? Here’s a look at the format, opening matches, and teams to watch.

Format

Stage 3 of the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 runs from June 12th to June 15th. This phase uses a 16-team Swiss format. Matches in rounds 2 to 5 are seeded using the Buchholz system and teams' original seedings. All elimination and advancement games are best-of-three. The rest are best-of-one. The top 8 teams will move on to the playoffs. The bottom 8 will be eliminated.

Opening matches

• Vitality (1.13) vs Legacy (6.00)
• MOUZ (1.40) vs Virtus.pro (3.00)
• Spirit (1.22) vs paiN (4.40)
• G2 (1.98) vs 3DMAX (1.82)
• The MongolZ (1.55) vs FURIA (2.50)
• Aurora (1.75) vs FaZe (2.10)
• NAVI (1.30) vs Nemiga (3.60)
• Liquid (1.42) vs Lynn Vision (2.90)

Odds are provided by Stake and are up to date at the time of publication.      

Top favorites

Two teams stand out as favorites to go 3-0: Vitality and MOUZ. Vitality have won six tournaments this year without losing a single match. If they don’t win the Major, it will be a big disappointment. MOUZ are also strong and consistent. They’ve reached finals and won titles this season. Both teams are in great form and are expected to reach the playoffs easily.

Contenders

Other teams to watch closely are Spirit, The MongolZ, Aurora, and NAVI. These teams had up-and-down results during the season. Spirit are the most successful, winning two titles – PGL Astana and BLAST Bounty. Aurora made a final recently, while NAVI and The MongolZ had decent runs but no big wins. These teams should be fighting for playoff spots, but with the randomness of the Major, anything can happen.

Wild cards

There’s also a group of “question mark” teams. These are squads that could go far – or crash early. FaZe, with Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev back in the lineup, have potential but struggled in Stage 2. Liquid had a weak season, but with Kamil "siuhy" Szkaradek as the new IGL, they could surprise. paiN looks strong and balanced now, showing great teamplay in earlier stages. FURIA and 3DMAX also showed promise and could make a playoff run if they stay consistent.

Unlikely playoff teams

On the other hand, some teams seem unlikely to reach the playoffs. G2 is one of them. They’re using a stand-in and are expected to make roster changes after the Major. Their current lineup hasn’t looked good. Nemiga, Lynn Vision, and Legacy – all from Stage 1 – will likely struggle to keep up. They could pull off an upset or two, but getting to playoffs would be a big surprise.

Conclusion

Stage 3 of the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 is a make-or-break moment, with Vitality and MOUZ favored for 3-0 runs and playoff spots. Spirit, The MongolZ, Aurora, and NAVI should fight for top 8, while wild cards like paiN, FURIA, and FaZe could surprise. G2, Nemiga, Lynn Vision, and Legacy face uphill battles but might spoil favorites’ plans in Bo1s.