Valve has officially confirmed the expansion of Counter-Strike 2 Majors to 32 teams, starting with the BLAST.tv Austin Major. This update comes with significant changes, including the introduction of a third Swiss stage to accommodate the larger pool of teams.
Longer Tournament Duration
With the addition of this new stage, CS Majors will now run approximately four days longer than before. The expanded format ensures a more competitive platform, providing ample opportunities for teams to advance.
New Regional Qualifiers (MRQ)
Replacing the previous RMR system, Valve introduced Major Regional Qualifiers (MRQ) to determine team eligibility. Key details include:
- Americas and Europe will have 16 teams each in their MRQs.
- Asia will have 8 teams in its MRQ.
- MRQs may be conducted online, with regions split into sub-regions to minimize ping differences.
Qualification Process and Slots
From the MRQs:
- 6 teams each from Americas and Europe, and 4 teams from Asia will qualify for Stage 1.
- Stage 2 will feature 8 directly invited teams, joined by 8 teams advancing from Stage 1.
Further, regions earn direct invites based on past performance. For example, Europe secured 6 Stage 3 slots due to strong performances in previous tournaments, while Americas and Asia earned 1 slot each.
VRS Rankings-Based Slot Distribution
For the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, slot allocation will follow the VRS rankings:
- Europe: Top 6 teams to Stage 3, 4 teams to Stage 2, and 16 teams to MRQ.
- Americas: Top 1 team to Stage 3, 4 teams to Stage 2, and 16 teams to MRQ.
- Asia: Top 1 team to Stage 3, none to Stage 2, and 8 teams to MRQ.
This format overhaul aims to enhance competitiveness, fairness, and global representation in CS Majors. The BLAST.tv Austin Major will mark the debut of this expanded format, promising intense action and thrilling matches for Counter-Strike fans worldwide.
