Image: BLAST
BLAST promises a fast-paced competitive format for its BLAST Slam series of Dota 2 tournaments.
Denmark-based esports production company BLAST is set to mark its grand entrance into the Dota 2 esports scene with BLAST Slam I, which will feature 10 teams fighting for their cut of a $1 million prize pool in November. In addition, the organiser will be looking to cement its place in the scene with eight additional BLAST Slam events planned for 2025 and 2026.
Known most for its huge presence in the Counter-Strike scene, BLAST first announced its entry to Dota 2 back in May. BLAST will be looking to set itself apart from existing Dota 2 events with a fast-paced competitive format for the BLAST Slam series that will debut with BLAST Slam I, as detailed in an official post.
BLAST Slam I will take place from November 26 to December 1, and will feature 10 directly-invited teams fighting through two distinct phases: the Group Stage and the Gauntlet Stage.
The BLAST Slam Group Stage will split the 10 participating teams into two groups of five teams each, where they will compete in a round robin format with best-of-one matches.
No teams will be eliminated at this point of the tournament, but their performance in the Group Stage will determine their placement in the Gauntlet Stage. The top teams from each group will advance directly to the semifinals, the second-placed teams to the quarterfinals, the third-placed teams to round two, while the fourth and fifth-placed teams to round one.
The Gauntlet Stage will then follow a cross-group, single-elimination format that will be played in the BLAST Studio in Copenhagen, Denmark. BLAST said this format rewards teams who performed better in the Group Stage, as “the teams that finish lower will have to work their way up the ladder and the teams that do well will have an easier time moving forward until the final two teams are determined.”
The BLAST Slam champions will walk away with the lion's share of $400,000 out of the tournament's $1 million prize pool. Here's the full prize pool breakdown for the BLAST Slam series:
- 1st: $400,000
- 2nd: $200,000
- 3rd-4th: $80,000
- 5th-6th: $50,000
- 7th-8th: $40,000
- 9th-10th: $30,000
BLAST also said that the invited teams to the BLAST Slam will be determined based on “their recent performance and community interest." The organiser notably did not reveal if the invites will also take into account slot allocations for each of Dota 2's six major competitive regions, like in other Dota 2 tournament series.
Aside from revealing the format for the BLAST Slam series, BLAST also unveiled its plans to host eight more events in the series up to November 2026. There will be four BLAST Slam tournaments in 2025 and another four in 2026. Here's the full slate of BLAST Slam tournaments revealed so far:
- BLAST Slam II: February 3-9, 2025
- BLAST Slam III: May 5-11, 2025
- BLAST Slam IV: November 3-9, 2025
- BLAST Slam V: November 24-30, 2025
- BLAST Slam VI: February 9-15, 2026
- BLAST Slam VII: May 25-31, 2026
- BLAST Slam VIII: October 5-11, 2026
- BLAST Slam IX: November 23-29, 2026
“As we double down on our top-notch production and introduce a fast-paced format to our million-dollar tournaments. From the intensity of studio battles to the iconic arena shows, BLAST Slam will feature the best Dota teams in the world to compete in high-stakes clashes, creating an unforgettable experience,” BLAST said in a statement.
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