Everything you need to know about BLAST Premier 2022

The BLAST Premier tournament series is returning for its third year. The 2022 BLAST circuit will feature seven different events, including three in an arena with a live audience. Tier 1 Counter-Strike will be bookended by BLAST events and everything leads towards the BLAST Premier: World Final at the end of the year.

Outside of events run by ESL and the Valve-sponsored majors, the BLAST circuit is the highest forum for competitive Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. A highly selective groups event and a more open showdown will each feed teams into the Spring Final and Fall Final. The top teams over the course of 2022 will then duke it out at the World Final.

“With our expanded qualifier series and split regional Spring and Fall Showdowns, we’ll be able to offer more teams than ever before an opportunity to compete in BLAST Premier events and the chance to feature in one of our three arena events — the BLAST Premier Fall and Spring Finals and World Final,” Andrew Haworth, Commissioner for BLAST Premier, said in a press release. “We’ve also listened to teams on scheduling and limited their gameplay to only one best-of-three per day.”

BLAST 2022 event format

Most of the BLAST format is the same as 2021, with only a few changes. The BLAST Showdowns are now split into two regions: Europe/North America and Rest of the World. They will be played online, as will the Spring Groups. BLAST Premier’s Qualifier Series will also return in 2022. Teams from around the globe can vie for a spot at the showdown through regional events. In contrast, the Spring and Fall Groups will consist of BLAST partner teams only.

The groups themselves have some minor changes. The event will split teams into three groups of four, where teams will play through a double elimination best-of-one bracket. The results of the group will determine seeding for the best-of-three lower bracket gauntlet, where the top six teams will advance to the Spring or Fall Final.”

The 2022 schedule

Spring Groups: Jan. 28-Feb. 6 (online)
Spring Showdown: April 20-24 (online)
Spring Final: June 14-19 (arena)
Fall Groups: Aug. 19-28 (studio)
Fall Showdown: Oct. 19-23 (online)
Fall Final: Nov. 22-27 (arena)
World Final: Dec. 14-18 (arena)

The locations of the three arena tournaments will be determined at a later date.

Over the course of the seven events, there will be a grand total of $2,475 in prize money up for grabs. Teams will also be competing for points on the “Race to the World Final Leaderboard.” At least two teams will qualify for the World Final based on points. The other six places will be the winners from: Spring and Fall Final, ESL Pro League Season 15 and 16, IEM Cologne and the major.

BLAST 2022 partner teams

As in previous seasons, BLAST’s partner teams will be guaranteed their spot at the spring/fall finals. These teams are:

• Astralis
• Ninjas in Pyjamas
• G2 Esports
• OG Esports
• Team Vitality
• Natus Vincere
• FaZe Clan
• Complexity Gaming
• MIBR
• Evil Geniuses
• Team Liquid
• BIG Esports

Many of these teams have undergone major roster changes. BLAST Spring groups, running from Jan. 28-Feb. 6, will be the first chance for fans to see the new teams in action. Expect everyone to be looking to dethrone Na’Vi, the winners of the 2021 World Final.