Insider Gaming has all the info you need to enjoy BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026. The Counter-Strike tournament is the final Tier 1 event before the VRS cutoff for the IEM Cologne 2026 Major, making it a vitally important event for the 16 teams ready to duke it out in Rotterdam (and Copenhagen).
BLAST Open Rotterdam Schedule and Format
The BLAST Open Rotterdam will unfold towards the end of March, culminating in a grand final on March 29. Here’s the full schedule:
- March 18-29
- Group stage: March 18-23
- Playoffs: March 27-29
The format is as simple as you could expect:
Group Stage:
- Two groups of eight teams, double-elimination.
- The top team from each group advances directly to the semi-finals.
- Group runners-up and lower-bracket winners advance to the quarter-finals.
- All matches are best-of-three.
Playoffs:
- Six-team single-elimination bracket.
- All matches are best-of-three, except the Grand Final, which is a best-of-five.
BLAST Open Rotterdam Teams
Sixteen teams are competing at the BLAST Open Rotterdam tournament this year:
- Vitality
- MOUZ
- Falcons
- Furia
- Parivision
- Spirit
- Aurora
- Natus Vincere
- The MongolZ
- FaZe
- 9z
- B8
- NRG
- Ninjas in Pyjamaz
- Liquid
- Tyloo
Prize Pool:
There’s a hefty price pool for the BLAST Open Rotterdam. Here’s how it’s split:
- Prize Pool: $1,100,000
- Club Share: $700,000
- First place: $250,000 ($150,000 of which is Club Share)
BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026 Location
While the playoffs for the BLAST Open Rotterdam take place in the named location (as you might have guessed), the opening stages are a little different:
Group Stage:
- BLAST Studios, Copenhagen, Denmark
Playoffs:
- Ahoy Arena, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
How to Watch BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026
BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026 can be watched on BLAST Premier’s channels across platforms on Twitch, YouTube, and BLAST’s own platform:
BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026 Predictions
Vitality will, of course, be serious favourites for the trophy and will likely win. Their chasing pack seems further behind than in the second half of 2025, with FURIA’s form slumping, Falcons struggling with fundamental coordination, and Spirit still adjusting to Boris ‘magixx’ Vorobyev’s IGLing.
The chase to watch then may not be for the trophy, but for the precious VRS points, which will decide the fate of the majority of these rosters.
BLAST Open Rotterdam is the final big Tier 1 event prior to the VRS invite cutoff for the IEM Cologne 2026 Major on April 6. Therefore, it is vital to the organisations that are not in a comfortable position to qualify for the major.
FaZe, Liquid, B8, NiP, and Tyloo are in a position where, if we fast-forwarded to April 6 right now, they would be outside of the VRS threshold for invitation from their specific region.
However, wins here can be truly transformative due to the combination of the wins being on LAN, a high-quality field, and a high prize pool. For example, if FaZe win three contests at this event, they are extremely likely to qualify, but they will have to show a far better face at this event to achieve that feat.
If they are in form, they have a manageable opening matchup against Aurora and will face either Tyloo or FURIA in the following contest.
So, the teams should be highly motivated. I say should because Liquid looked so devoid of any motivation, passion, or interest that it raises grave doubts about their ability to turn it on when necessary, and it is now necessary.
While we have seen FaZe, Liquid, and others sign up for regional LANs to boost their chances, teams will want to avoid extra events and travel if possible.
Elsewhere, teams like Aurora, NAVI, and NRG will want to secure VRS points not to qualify for the Major, but to qualify for the best possible stage at the Major. The top six EU teams will take the Stage 3 spots, with NAVI currently set to start in Stage 2. For NRG, they are currently set to start in Stage 1, but good results here could mean a Stage 2 start.
Predicted winner: Vitality
Predicted biggest loser: Liquid (womp womp)
Who do you think will shine or suffer at BLAST Open Rotterdam? You can discuss that and more on our Discord server
To see how FaZe got into this mess, see what went wrong for FaZe at ESL Pro League Season 23
Darragh is an Esports Journalist for Insider Gaming specialising in Counter-Strike. He loves to explore how esports teams work, or why they very often do not.
More from Darragh Harbinson
