BLAST Rotterdam’s Last Group-Stage Contenders Set for Playoff Deciders

<p>BLAST Open Rotterdam is down to four teams still fighting for the last playoff spots.&nbsp;<a href="/teams/falcons" target="_self">Falcons</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/teams/furai" target="_self">FURIA</a>&nbsp;are alive in Group A, while&nbsp;<a href="/teams/spirit" target="_self">Spirit</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/teams/themongolz" target="_self">The MongolZ</a>&nbsp;made it through in Group B after win-or-go-home matches. Here is a quick look at the big results, top performers, and what the final deciders will decide, so keep reading.</p><h2>Group A narrows to Falcons and FURIA after TYLOO and NRG are knocked out</h2><p>Group A is now down to two teams after Falcons and FURIA stayed alive in the lower bracket. Falcons had a rough start against&nbsp;<a href="/teams/tyloo" target="_self">TYLOO</a>&nbsp;and lost Inferno 16-14 in overtime, but after that the series flipped hard. They crushed Ancient 13-1 and Mirage 13-2, with&nbsp;<a href="/players/niko" target="_self">Nikola Kovač “NiKo”</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/players/kyousuke" target="_self">Maksim Lukin “kyousuke”</a>&nbsp;leading the way. FURIA also had to recover after dropping Mirage 13-10 to&nbsp;<a href="/teams/nrg" target="_self">NRG</a>. From there, they took control with a 13-2 win on Nuke and a 13-7 finish on Dust2.&nbsp;<a href="/players/molodoy" target="_self">Danil Golubenko “Molodoy”</a>&nbsp;was the big difference-maker, while&nbsp;<a href="/players/kscerato" target="_self">Kaike Cerato “KSCERATO”</a>&nbsp;gave FURIA strong support when the match got close.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized"><colgroup><col style="width:25%;"><col style="width:25%;"><col style="width:25%;"><col style="width:25%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Match</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Winner</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Score</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Best player</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Falcons vs TYLOO</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Falcons</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-1</td><td style="border-style:solid;">NiKo, 45-31, 1.43 rating</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">FURIA vs NRG</td><td style="border-style:solid;">FURIA</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-1</td><td style="border-style:solid;">molodoy, 61-29, 1.59 rating</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>With TYLOO and NRG out, Falcons and FURIA now move on to the Group A decider.</p><h2>Group B comes down to Spirit and The MongolZ following wins over 9z and Liquid</h2><p>Group B is now set for a final showdown after Spirit and The MongolZ kept their runs alive. Spirit looked sharp against&nbsp;<a target="_self">9z</a>&nbsp;and closed the series in two maps, winning 13-6 on both Overpass and Dust2.&nbsp;<a href="/players/donk" target="_self">Danil Kryshkovets “Donk”</a>&nbsp;led the way with 44 kills and a 1.78 rating, while&nbsp;<a href="/players/sh1ro" target="_self">Dmitry Sokolov “sh1ro”</a>&nbsp;also had a big series. On the other side, The MongolZ beat&nbsp;<a href="/teams/liquid" target="_self">Liquid</a>&nbsp;2-0, but that result was much closer than it looks at first glance. Ancient went to 16-14, and Mirage ended 13-10.&nbsp;<a href="/players/mzinho" target="_self">Ayush Batbold “Mzinho”</a>&nbsp;made the biggest impact for The MongolZ, while key clutch rounds from&nbsp;<a href="/players/blitz" target="_self">Garidmagnai Byambasuren “bLitz”</a>&nbsp;helped swing the series.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized"><colgroup><col style="width:25%;"><col style="width:25%;"><col style="width:25%;"><col style="width:25%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Match</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Winner</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Score</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Best player</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Spirit vs 9z</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Spirit</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-0</td><td style="border-style:solid;">donk, 44-22, 1.78 rating</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">The MongolZ vs Liquid</td><td style="border-style:solid;">The MongolZ</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-0</td><td style="border-style:solid;">mzinho, 45-37, 1.27 rating</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>With 9z and Liquid out, Spirit and The MongolZ move on to the Group B decider.</p><h2>The standout players and turning points</h2><p>Four performances shaped the bracket and gave Monday’s deciders real edge:</p><ul><li><a href="/players/molodoy" target="_self">molodoy</a>, FURIA: 61-29, 102.3 ADR, 1.59 rating in the series against NRG, plus a career-high 2.63 rating on Nuke.</li><li><a href="/players/donk" target="_self">donk</a>, Spirit: 44-22, 109.7 ADR, 1.78 rating in a clean 2-0 over 9z.</li><li><a href="/players/niko" target="_self">NiKo</a>, Falcons: 45-31 and a 1.43 rating in the recovery from the overtime loss to TYLOO on Inferno.</li><li><a href="/players/mzinho" target="_self">mzinho</a>, The MongolZ: 45-37, 1.27 rating, and the clutch-heavy Mirage that sent Liquid home.</li></ul><p>None of the coming series looks likely to be decided by comfort. Every team left alive has already had to survive a punch in the mouth during this group stage.</p><h2>What is at stake in the two final group-stage battles for a playoff place</h2><p>Everything now comes down to two do-or-die series. In this format, only the teams that survive the final lower-bracket matches can still reach the playoffs, so there is no room for mistakes. Falcons and FURIA will fight for one spot, while Spirit and The MongolZ will battle for the other later in the day. The winners move on to the arena stage in Rotterdam and stay in the title race. The losers are out right before the playoffs begin. For players and fans, this is the stage where every round feels heavier, because one best-of-three decides who keeps going and who goes home.</p>

BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026 Day 2

<p>Day 2 in Rotterdam kept the favorites on track, but the pressure is already rising.&nbsp;<a target="_self">PARIVISION</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_self">Spirit</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_self">The MongolZ</a>, and&nbsp;<a target="_self">Vitality</a>&nbsp;all moved on, and every result made the bracket tougher. The big teams are holding strong, but the fight is getting tighter fast. Follow this article for the next round and see who keeps their run alive.</p><h2>PARIVISION outlast NIP in a three-map battle as the VRS stakes grow heavier</h2><p>PARIVISION came through a tight series against&nbsp;<a href="/teams/nip" target="_self">NIP</a>&nbsp;and showed how costly every close map can be at this stage of the event. It was not just a win, it was a match that could shape what comes next for both teams.</p><ol><li>PARIVISION won 2-1, taking Ancient 13-11, losing Mirage 6-13, and finishing the job on Dust2 13-8 after being down 6-8.</li><li>NIP had real chances to take control.&nbsp;<a href="/players/xkacpersky" target="_self">Kacper “xKacpersky” Gabara</a>&nbsp;was the best player in the series with a 53-46 K-D, 95.7 ADR, and a 1.30 rating.&nbsp;<a href="/players/r1nkle" target="_self">Artem “r1nkle” Moroz</a>&nbsp;also delivered with a 52-38 K-D.</li><li>PARIVISION stayed calmer in the key rounds.&nbsp;<a href="/players/zweih" target="_self">Ivan “zweih” Gogin</a>&nbsp;led the team in rating at 1.24, and&nbsp;<a href="/players/jame" target="_self">Dzhami “Jame” Ali</a>&nbsp;helped settle the decider when the pressure was highest.</li></ol><p>For&nbsp;<a href="/teams/nip" target="_self">Ninjas in Pyjamas</a>, this loss hurts more than the result itself. A win could have given them a big boost in the standings race, but now they drop lower and the road gets much harder.</p><h2>Spirit overpower Liquid and ruin the first test of the new-look lineup</h2><p>Spirit handled&nbsp;<a href="/teams/liquid" target="_self">Liquid</a>&nbsp;with very little trouble and won the series 2-0, taking Mirage 13-8 and Ancient 13-11. Liquid’s updated team had its first real test here, but Spirit looked sharper from the start and stayed in control when the pressure went up.&nbsp;<a href="/players/donk" target="_self">Danil “donk” Kryshkovets</a>&nbsp;was the clear star and gave Liquid problems on both maps.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized"><colgroup><col style="width:50%;"><col style="width:50%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Key point</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Details</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Series score</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Spirit 2-0 Liquid</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Map scores</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Mirage 13-8, Ancient 13-11</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Best player</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Danil “donk” Kryshkovets</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/players/donk" target="_self">donk</a>’s stats</td><td style="border-style:solid;">55-31 K-D, 115.2 ADR, 1.79 rating</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Liquid’s top player</td><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/players/elige" target="_self">Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski</a>, 30-32, 1.20 rating</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p><a href="/players/magixx" target="_self">Boris “magixx” Vorobiev</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/players/tn1r" target="_self">Andrey “tN1R” Tatarinovich</a>&nbsp;also gave Spirit good support, while Liquid never really found a steady rhythm.&nbsp;<a href="/players/naf" target="_self">Keith “NAF” Markovic</a>&nbsp;had some decent moments, but the new group still looked like a team searching for its timing. Spirit move on with confidence, and Liquid now face a much tougher road from here.</p><h2>The MongolZ deliver the day’s biggest statement with a breakthrough win against MOUZ</h2><p>The MongolZ gave the strongest performance of the day and earned a big win that had been missing from this rivalry. They beat&nbsp;<a href="/teams/mouz" target="_self">MOUZ</a>&nbsp;2-0, took Nuke 13-11, and then fully controlled Inferno 13-3. This result stood out even more because The MongolZ had lost their previous five best-of-three series against MOUZ and had never taken a map from them before this match.</p><ul><li><a href="/players/techno" target="_self">Sodbayar “Techno” Munkhbold</a>&nbsp;led the way with a 42-24 K-D, 105.9 ADR, and a 1.73 rating.</li><li><a href="/players/910" target="_self">Usukhbayar “910” Banzragch</a>&nbsp;gave strong support with a 32-12 K-D and a 1.44 rating.</li><li><a href="/players/cobrazera" target="_self">Anarbileg “cobrazera” Uuganbayar</a>&nbsp;helped swing key rounds on Nuke.</li><li>MOUZ never recovered on Inferno and looked flat from the start.</li><li><a href="/players/spinx" target="_self">Lotan “Spinx” Giladi</a>&nbsp;was the only MOUZ player to finish the series with a rating above 0.90.</li></ul><p>For The MongolZ, this was more than just a win. It felt like a real step forward against one of the teams that had blocked them every time before.</p><h2>Vitality return in ruthless form and leave 9z with no room to respond</h2><p>Vitality came into Rotterdam looking fresh and fully prepared, and&nbsp;<a href="/teams/9z" target="_self">9z</a>&nbsp;never got a real chance to settle into the match.</p><ol><li>Vitality won the series 2-0 with a 13-3 result on Overpass and a 13-5 win on Nuke.</li><li><a href="/players/zywoo" target="_self">Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut</a>&nbsp;led the way with a 37-15 K-D, 109.4 ADR, and a 1.91 rating.</li><li><a href="/players/flamez" target="_self">Shahar “flameZ” Shushan</a>&nbsp;finished with the most kills in the server at 38-18, while&nbsp;<a href="/players/ropz" target="_self">Robin “ropz” Kool</a>&nbsp;added a strong 30-15.</li><li><a href="/players/mezii" target="_self">William “mezii” Merriman</a>&nbsp;also made a key impact with an important 1v3 on the first map.</li></ol><p>After that, the gap between the teams only became clearer. 9z could not build any momentum, and every player on the team finished the series below a 0.80 rating.&nbsp;<a href="/players/dgt" target="_self">Franco “dgt” Garcia</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/players/huasopeek" target="_self">Matias “HUASOPEEK” Ibañez Hernandez</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/players/meyern" target="_self">Ignacio “meyern” Meyer</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/players/max" target="_self">Maximiliano “max” Gonzalez</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="/players/luchov" target="_self">Luciano “luchov” Herrera</a>&nbsp;were under pressure from the start and never found a steady answer. For Vitality, it was the kind of win that sends a message early and puts the rest of the bracket on notice.</p>

BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026 Day 1

<p>To start, BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026 gave its opening day an immediate edge.&nbsp;<a href="/teams/falcons" target="_self">Falcons</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/teams/navi" target="_self">NAVI</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/teams/auroragaming" target="_self">Aurora</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="/teams/furia" target="_self">FURIA</a>&nbsp;all moved into the upper bracket, but each win came with a different shape, from a controlled sweep to a late-night grind. Read on for the full opening-day breakdown.</p><h2>Falcons overcome NRG in a confident opening sweep</h2><p>Falcons started the event with a clean 2-0 win over&nbsp;<a href="/teams/nrg" target="_self">NRG</a>, even though they had to play without&nbsp;<a href="/players/kyousuke" target="_self">kyousuke</a>&nbsp;because of visa problems. That could have made things messy, but the team looked calm from the start. Stand-in&nbsp;<a href="/players/nukleonz" target="_self">NucleonZ</a>&nbsp;did his job well, especially on defense, and gave Falcons the stability they needed early in the series.</p><p>Ancient was the more comfortable map. Falcons took control in the first half and never really let NRG settle. Dust2 was closer, mostly because Sonic gave NRG a real chance with a huge first half. Still, Falcons stayed composed, won a pair of difficult 3v5 rounds, and then grabbed a key force-buy round at 7-7. That was the moment the match shifted back in their favor.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized" style="border-color:hsl(0, 0%, 100%);border-style:solid;"><colgroup><col style="width:50%;"><col style="width:50%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Match detail</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Result</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Series score</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Falcons 2-0 NRG</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Ancient</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Falcons won 13-6</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Dust2</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Falcons won 13-8</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Falcons best player</td><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/players/monesy" target="_self">m0NESY</a>, 31-24, 1.30 rating</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">NRG best player</td><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/players/sonic" target="_self">Sonic</a>, 39-28, 1.62 rating</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><h2>NAVI fend off B8 to begin their campaign with a series victory</h2><p>NAVI got the win, but&nbsp;<a href="/teams/b8" target="_self">B8</a>&nbsp;made them work for every map. The series ended 2-1, and it never felt easy. NAVI took Mirage 13-9, lost Ancient 17-19 after a long overtime battle, then reset well and closed Dust2 13-7. B8 played with confidence from the start and kept the pressure on, turning the match into a real test instead of a simple opener.</p><ul><li>Series score: NAVI 2-1 B8;</li><li>Mirage: NAVI won 13-9;</li><li>Ancient: B8 won 19-17 in double overtime;</li><li>Dust2: NAVI won 13-7;</li><li>Best NAVI player:&nbsp;<a href="/players/im" target="_self">iM</a>&nbsp;with a 68-50 K-D and 1.41 rating;</li><li>Best overall fragger:&nbsp;<a href="/players/makazze" target="_self">makazze</a>&nbsp;with 70 kills and 101.3 ADR.</li></ul><p>Ancient was the turning point. NAVI were close to ending the series there, but B8 stayed alive with big late-round plays, including a triple kill from npl and a 1v2 clutch from&nbsp;<a href="/players/alex666" target="_self">alex666</a>. NAVI responded the right way on Dust2, built an 8-4 lead on the T side, and looked much more in control after the break.</p><h2>Aurora edge FaZe and add to their difficult 2026 start</h2><p>Aurora came through one of the closest series of the day, beating&nbsp;<a href="/teams/faze" target="_self">FaZe</a>&nbsp;2-1 after losing Nuke 11-13 and then winning Inferno 13-8 and Dust2 13-10. FaZe had their chances, but Aurora looked more settled once the match opened up. They found better timing on Inferno, took control of the early rounds on Dust2, and stayed sharp when the pressure rose late in the decider.&nbsp;<a href="/players/wicadia" target="_self">Wicadia</a>&nbsp;helped shut the door with two big double kills, while&nbsp;<a href="/players/xantares" target="_self">XANTARES</a>&nbsp;led Aurora from start to finish. On the other side,&nbsp;<a href="/players/jcobbb" target="_self">jcobbb</a>&nbsp;gave FaZe real hope, but it was not enough to turn the series around. The result left FaZe at 3-10 in best-of-three matches in 2026, which adds even more weight to a rough start to the season.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized" style="border-color:hsl(0, 0%, 100%);border-style:solid;"><colgroup><col style="width:50%;"><col style="width:50%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Match detail</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Result</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Series score</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Aurora 2-1 FaZe</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Nuke</td><td style="border-style:solid;">FaZe won 13-11</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Inferno</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Aurora won 13-8</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Dust2</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Aurora won 13-10</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Aurora best player</td><td style="border-style:solid;">XANTARES, 54-37, 1.25 rating</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">FaZe best player</td><td style="border-style:solid;">jcobbb, 52-44, 1.21 rating</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><h2>FURIA finish the day by holding off TYLOO in the late match</h2><p>FURIA closed the first day with a 2-0 win over&nbsp;<a href="/teams/tyloo" target="_self">TYLOO</a>, but the series was closer than the final score suggests. Mirage ended 13-8, and Overpass followed at 13-11 after a much tighter battle. TYLOO kept finding ways back into rounds, especially once the match got deeper and the pressure rose.</p><ol><li>Mirage: FURIA stayed in control for most of the map, and&nbsp;<a href="/players/fallen" target="_self">FalleN</a>&nbsp;helped stop TYLOO’s push with a key double kill at 10-7.</li><li>Overpass: TYLOO made things much harder.&nbsp;<a href="/players/zero" target="_self">Zero</a>&nbsp;opened the second half with a pistol-round ace, and TYLOO even moved ahead 9-8.</li><li>Difference makers:&nbsp;<a href="/players/kscerato" target="_self">KSCERATO</a>&nbsp;led FURIA with a 36-23 K-D and a 1.36 rating, while FalleN added a 34-28 score, a 1.29 rating, and 86.7% KAST.</li><li>Best TYLOO player:&nbsp;<a href="/players/moseyuh" target="_self">Moseyuh</a>&nbsp;stood out with 35-33 and a 1.21 rating.</li></ol><p>In the final rounds, FURIA looked calmer and cleaner, and that was enough to close the match and move on to the next round against Aurora.</p>

CS2 Reloading Overhaul

<p>This update makes every reload matter more because Valve changed how ammo works, so reloading at the wrong time can cost extra bullets. The patch also adds map guides inside matches and makes custom games easier to join. Overall, CS2 now puts more focus on timing, ammo control, and practice.</p><h2>How the New Reload System Works in Practice</h2><p>Before this update, players could reload early and keep any bullets left in the magazine. Now, those bullets are lost when the old magazine is thrown away.</p><p>What changed:</p><ul><li>Reloading a magazine-fed weapon now discards the rounds left in that mag;</li><li>The HUD shows how full the current magazine is under the ammo counter;</li><li>Reserve ammo is now shown as magazines, shells, or bullets, depending on the weapon.</li></ul><p>In practice, this makes players think more carefully before hitting reload. A quick reload after a short fight can now waste ammo and cause problems later in the round. That matters in both everyday matches and high-level play, because better timing and better ammo control can decide key moments. The update puts more value on calm decisions, especially when the pressure is high.</p><h2>Weapon and Ammo Changes Across Rifles, SMGs, and the AWP</h2><p>Valve has changed ammo reserves so weapons no longer feel the same across the board. Most guns now work with a fixed number of spare magazines, which makes ammo management more important in longer rounds. For rifles, the AK-47 and M4A1-S stay in the standard group, while the M4A4 gets a little more room to spray. The AWP is hit the hardest, with fewer spare magazines, so careless reloads can punish snipers much faster. SMGs also follow the new system, so the update puts more value on timing and discipline instead of constant top-off reloads.</p><p>These are some confirmed reserve count:</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized" style="border-color:hsl(0, 0%, 100%);border-style:solid;"><colgroup><col style="width:50%;"><col style="width:50%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Weapon</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Extra magazines</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">AK-47</td><td style="border-style:solid;">3</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">M4A1-S</td><td style="border-style:solid;">3</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">M4A4</td><td style="border-style:solid;">4</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">AWP</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><h2>What Map Guides and Custom Games Add to This Update</h2><p>Valve paired the ammo overhaul with tools aimed at learning and experimentation. Limited map guides are now available in Competitive and Retakes during the first five rounds of each half, with a 30 node cap. Official starter guides have been added for all Active Duty maps, and players can turn them on through the pause menu. Workshop guides are also supported for players who want something more specific than the default utility markers.</p><p>Custom games also became easier to access. Friends can now join someone playing a Practice or Workshop map through the friends menu if Open Party is enabled, whether the match is hosted locally or on a community server that allows it. That matters because this update is easier to understand by playing it than by reading patch notes. A team can load into a map, test grenade paths, scrim the first five rounds with guide support, and feel the new reload stakes almost immediately. Valve did not just change a mechanic here. It changed how players learn, prep, and survive long rounds.</p>

CS2 Update — new Genesis Collection and reworked grenade sounds

<p>Valve has released a fresh update for Counter-Strike 2, with the main highlights being a new collection of items and improved&nbsp;<a href="/en/skins/grenades" target="_self">CS2 grenade</a>&nbsp;sounds.</p><h2>What’s new?</h2><p>Genesis Collection — a brand-new collection of 17&nbsp;<a href="/en/skins" target="_self">CS2 skins</a>&nbsp;created by community authors. Available through the new Genesis Uplink Terminal, which appears in weekly drops and allows players to preview and purchase featured items.</p><p>Grenade sounds — all grenades now feature reworked sound effects: from drawing and pulling the pin to throwing and detonation. The audio is now richer and more precise, enhancing the tactical feel of the game.</p><p>Map scripting — support for cs_script based on JavaScript has been added. Map and mod creators now have greater freedom, with the included “script_zoo” pack for testing.</p><p>UI improvements — spectators can now inspect teammates’ loadouts and use zoom/pan functions in spectator view.</p><p>Technical fixes — subtick system and hit registration have been improved, alongside bug fixes and optimizations.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>This update is packed:&nbsp;<a href="/en/players" target="_self">CS2 players</a>&nbsp;get not only a vibrant skin collection but also more realistic grenade sounds, while creators of maps and mods receive new tools to experiment with.</p>

CS2 January 22, 2026 Update: Premier Season 4 Begins and Anubis Gets a Rework

<p>Valve’s January 22 patch kicks off Premier Season Four, brings Anubis back with meaningful layout changes, and ships a packed set of movement, weapon, audio, and content updates. Dive into the details below, then jump into a few matches and get hands-on with the new timings and angles.</p><h2>Premier Season Four changes: Active Duty map pool rotation and competitive rank adjustments</h2><p>Premier Season Four starts with the January update, and the biggest change is the Active Duty map pool swap: Anubis is back, and Train is removed.</p><p>This matters for CS2 players because the Premier pool is what most people practice for. When a map changes, the “normal” smokes, defaults, and mid-round calls also change, so the first weeks can feel different as everyone relearns what works.</p><p>Here is exactly what Valve changed for Season Four:</p><ol><li>Active Duty rotation: Anubis added, Train removed.</li><li>Competitive per-map rank values were adjusted.</li><li>Existing per-map Competitive Skill Groups expired, and they will show again only after getting the required wins on each map.</li></ol><p>Right after the update, matchmaking can feel less “set” while the game rebuilds confidence in your per-map results. Early wins can matter more than usual, because the system is using new games to judge your level on each map.</p><h2>Anubis layout updates: Mid drop/doors changes, new B-site utility opening, and A-site cover tweaks</h2><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:1920/1080;" src="/uploads/Anubis_1e7a423044.jpg" alt="Anubis.jpg" width="1920" height="1080"></figure><p>Anubis did not just return to the Active Duty pool unchanged. In the January update, Valve adjusted key paths and cover so fights in Mid happen on different timings, utility has new routes into B, and A-site takes and retakes play out with new protection.</p><p>For CS2 players, this kind of rework usually means old “safe” defaults need updates, because small angle shifts can change which peeks are strong and which rotations are risky.</p><ul><li>Bridge drop moved near Mid Doors;</li><li>Mid Doors orientation reversed;</li><li>Hole added between E-box and Back of B;</li><li>Bombsite A crates moved up steps onto Walkway;</li><li>Scaffolding added to pillar on Bombsite A.</li></ul><p>Mid should feel different immediately. With the drop moved closer to Mid Doors and the doors flipped, early-round info plays change, and teams can reach certain fights faster than before.</p><p>On B, the new hole between E-box and the back of site creates cleaner grenade and molotov paths. That can force defenders to move earlier when executes come in with layered utility.</p><p>A-site is about cover. Moving the crates up onto the walkway changes how defenders survive the first contact, and the added scaffolding on the pillar gives new edges for clears, spam, and late-round repositioning.</p><h2>Weapon balance and economy: MP7/MP5-SD damage &amp; fall-off changes plus PP-Bizon price cut</h2><p>Valve also nudged the&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/smg/" target="_self">SMG</a>&nbsp;tier in a direction that will show up in force buys and half-buys. The&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/skins/mp7/" target="_self">MP7</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/skins/mp5-sd/" target="_self">MP5-SD</a>&nbsp;received slightly increased damage, slightly reduced damage fall-off, and a $100 price reduction. In practical terms, that places both guns at $1,400 after the change.</p><p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/skins/pp-bizon/" target="_self">PP-Bizon</a>&nbsp;gets a $100 price cut as well. Even without additional damage notes in this patch, a cheaper tag matters for teams trying to stretch a thin economy while still buying something that can flood a choke point with bullets.</p><p>Here’s the balance and economy snapshot:</p><figure class="table" style="float:left;width:100%;"><table class="ck-table-resized" style=";"><colgroup><col style="width:32.83%;"><col style="width:32.83%;"><col style="width:34.34%;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Weapon</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">What changed</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Economy impact</td></tr><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;"><a href="https://csspot.org/skins/mp7/" target="_self">MP7</a></td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Slight damage increase, reduced fall-off</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Price reduced by $100</td></tr><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;"><a href="https://csspot.org/skins/mp5-sd/" target="_self">MP5-SD</a></td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Slight damage increase, reduced fall-off</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Price reduced by $100</td></tr><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;"><a href="https://csspot.org/skins/pp-bizon/" target="_self">PP-Bizon</a></td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Price reduction</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Price reduced by $100</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>In live games, this favors “take space” rounds where a team needs to crack a site without committing to full rifles. The&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/skins/mp7/" target="_self">MP7</a>’s identity as a close-range brawler gets a bit more forgiveness, while the&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/skins/mp5-sd/" target="_self">MP5-SD</a>’s quieter profile becomes easier to justify when the buy is tight. Players who love scrappy CT-side pushes through smoke will likely test these changes immediately, especially on tighter parts of the pool where fall-off used to make&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/smg/" target="_self">SMG</a>&nbsp;duels feel coin-flippy.</p><h2>Movement overhaul: subtick landing timing, stamina removal, and updated bunnyhop window</h2><p>This update changes how movement timing works in CS2, and it can affect normal matches, not just movement servers. Jumping and landing no longer change stamina. Instead, the slowdown you get after landing is based only on when you landed with subtick precision.</p><p>Key points in this movement overhaul:</p><ul><li>Landing time is calculated with subtick precision.</li><li>Stamina changes from jumping and landing were removed; landing slowdown depends on landing time.</li><li>Bunnyhop success depends on inputs within sv_bhop_time_window and not being penalized by sv_jump_spam_penalty_time.</li></ul><p>In a real match, this shows up when trying to hop away after a bad fight or during a save. Cleaner timing should feel more consistent, while repeated jump spamming can still get punished. Servers that want the old behavior can switch back using sv_legacy_jump.</p><h2>Content rotation: community maps added/removed, Weekly Care Package collection changes, and a new Armory item</h2><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:1920/1080;" src="/uploads/New_Collection_3cc33c2591.jpg" alt="NewCollection.jpg" width="1920" height="1080"></figure><p>Valve rotated a lot of “extra” content in matchmaking alongside the January update, so the map choices and weekly drops can look different right away. For CS2 players, this affects warmups and side queues, since community maps are often where people practice aim, learn new angles, or stack games with friends.</p><p>The update also changes what can appear in Weekly Care Packages, which matters if you pay attention to drops and collections over time. On top of that, the Armory received a new Limited Edition item, giving collectors something new to chase.</p><ol><li>Maps removed from all modes: Golden, Palacio, Agency, Rooftop.</li><li>Maps added to Competitive, Casual, Deathmatch: Warden, Stronghold, Alpine.</li><li>Maps added to Wingman: Sanctum, Poseidon.</li><li>Weekly drops: Harlequin and Achroma added; Safehouse, Dust 2, 2018 Nuke, and 2018 Inferno removed from weekly drops.</li><li>Armory: new Limited Edition item,&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/skins/ak-47/" target="_self">AK47 | Aphrodite</a>.</li></ol><p>If you want to stay efficient, learn the new community maps early and keep an eye on the updated drop pool, since both can shape how your weekly routine feels in-game.</p><h2>Audio, visuals, and fixes: reduced output latency, improved weapon/knife sounds, visual fidelity updates, and bug patches</h2><p>This part of the January update is about feel and clarity, not new maps or ranks. Valve tightened audio timing, upgraded some weapon visuals, and fixed several annoying bugs that could distract during real matches.</p><ul><li>Reduced audio output latency;</li><li>Higher-fidelity knife draw and inspect sounds, and less sound overlap when swapping items fast;</li><li>More detailed base-weapon materials (<a href="https://csspot.org/skins/ak-47/" target="_self">AK47</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/skins/awp/" target="_self">AWP</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/skins/desert-eagle/" target="_self">Deagle</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/skins/mp7/" target="_self">MP7</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/skins/usp-s/" target="_self">USP-S</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/skins/pp-bizon/" target="_self">Bizon</a>, and others);</li><li>Fixes to voice, deathcam, surf collisions, visibility systems, animations, and blood decals.</li></ul><p>In play, faster audio response can make shots and steps feel more connected to what you see. Knife hits also sound different depending on primary vs alt fire, and whether you strike from the front or back, matching the damage rules. Ambient sounds no longer restart when you move between sound zones, so rotations sound steadier.</p><p>On the bug side, your own open mic now always shows correctly, a deathcam intersection issue was fixed, and surf ramps should be smoother thanks to collision fixes. Valve also improved PVS resolution for some static geometry, fixed small Butterfly Knife animation clipping, and restored missing blood decals.</p>

BLAST Bounty 2026 Finals: Quarter-final Draft Locks In the Opening Bracket

<p>The live draft show in Malta has set the BLAST Bounty 2026 Finals quarter-finals, with the bottom seeds choosing opponents and locking the first two matchdays. Check the picks, the numbers, and the exact start times, then mark the matches you do not want to miss.</p><h2>Opponent Choices for Quarter-Finals</h2><p>In the quarter-final draft, the four lowest seeds got to choose who they wanted to face from the higher-seeded teams. Think of it like picking opponents in a ranked lobby, but on stage and with a full best-of-three series on the line.</p><figure class="table" style="float:left;width:100%;"><table class="ck-table-resized" style=";"><colgroup><col style="width:24.63%;"><col style="width:24.63%;"><col style="width:24.63%;"><col style="width:26.11%;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Quarter-final</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Why this opponent was chosen</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Key roster note</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Recent qualifier result (best performer)</td></tr><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Liquid vs Falcons</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Liquid had first pick and chose Falcons</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Falcons use Matej “NucleonZ” Trajkoski for Maxim “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/kyousuke/" target="_self">kyousuke</a>” Lukin, and coach Danny “zonic” Sørensen is not with them</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Liquid beat Gentle Mates 2-1 (7-13, 13-9, 13-3),&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/ultimate/" target="_self">ultimate</a>&nbsp;42-32 (1.25). Falcons beat Monte 2-0 (13-10 Nuke, 13-7 Mirage),&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/monesy/" target="_self">m0NESY</a>&nbsp;42-25 (1.75).</td></tr><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">HEROIC vs FURIA</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">HEROIC chose FURIA after weighing options</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">HEROIC are without AWPer Alimzhan “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/alkaren/" target="_self">Alkaren</a>” Bitimbay, using Simon “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/yxngstxr/" target="_self">yxngstxr</a>” Boije</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">HEROIC beat paiN 2-0 (13-6 Nuke, 16-14 Mirage),&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/nilo/" target="_self">nilo</a>&nbsp;44-28 (1.48). FURIA beat FUT 2-1 (13-10, 5-13, 13-11),&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/molodoy/" target="_self">molodoy</a>&nbsp;63-40 (1.46).</td></tr><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">PARIVISION vs Spirit</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">PARIVISION picked Spirit as the third choice</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Ivan “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/zweih/" target="_self">zweih</a>” Gogin chose his former team and hinted at anti-strats</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">PARIVISION beat Astralis 2-0 (13-1 Dust2, 13-8 Ancient),&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/zweih/" target="_self">zweih</a>&nbsp;36-15 (1.92). Spirit beat Inner Circle 2-0 (13-8 Ancient, 13-5 Dust2),&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/donk/" target="_self">donk</a>&nbsp;42-25 (1.80).</td></tr><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">GamerLegion vs Vitality</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">GamerLegion were left with Vitality</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Milan “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/hypex/" target="_self">hypex</a>” Polowiec joked nobody expected it</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">GamerLegion beat Aurora 2-1 (16-13, 10-13, 13-5),&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/hypex/" target="_self">hypex</a>&nbsp;55-37 (1.33). Vitality beat EYEBALLERS 2-0 (19-16 Anubis, 13-8 Overpass),&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/zywoo/" target="_self">ZywOo</a>&nbsp;49-30 (1.37).</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>Liquid’s pick came with a twist: Keith “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/naf/" target="_self">NAF</a>” Markovic said he wanted FURIA first, but the team vote went to Falcons. The gamble is that stand-ins can break team structure, even if Falcons still have takeover players like&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/niko/" target="_self">NiKo</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/monesy/" target="_self">m0NESY</a>.</p><p>HEROIC’s choice also reflects confidence in preparation. Coach Tobias “TOBIZ” Theo explained they discussed other paths, then settled on FURIA as a matchup where an upset felt realistic, even if online results can hide details.</p><p>PARIVISION choosing Spirit is the most personal call.&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/zweih/" target="_self">Zweih</a>&nbsp;knows Spirit’s habits, and Spirit’s Boris “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/magixx/" target="_self">magixx</a>” Vorobiev said the pick was expected based on the draft order. That kind of familiarity can feel like playing against someone who already knows your favorite mid-round moves.</p><h2>Matchday 1 and 2 (Thu, 22 Jan - Fri, 23 Jan)</h2><p>The quarter-finals are split across two days in Malta, and every match is a best-of-three. For CS2 players, that format matters because teams can adjust after map one, change their CT setups, and punish predictable mid-round calls. At the same time, there is no safety net: lose a series and the tournament ends immediately.</p><p>Thursday (22 Jan) starts with two matchups that were picked in the draft because they looked tempting or risky. Liquid open against a Falcons roster that is not at full strength, and then HEROIC play FURIA in the late match. Friday (23 Jan) finishes the round with two more series, including a tough draw for GamerLegion against Vitality and a spicy PARIVISION vs Spirit meeting with extra history behind it.</p><ol><li>Thu, 22 Jan, 16:00 CET: Liquid vs Falcons (Liquid picked Falcons first);</li><li>Thu, 22 Jan, 19:00 CET: HEROIC vs FURIA (HEROIC picked FURIA second);</li><li>Fri, 23 Jan, 16:00 CET: GamerLegion vs Vitality (GamerLegion were left with Vitality);</li><li>Fri, 23 Jan, 19:00 CET: PARIVISION vs Spirit (PARIVISION chose Spirit as third pick).</li></ol><p>Once these series begin, talk about the draft stops and the real work starts on the veto. Catching map one live helps, because early tendencies often show which team is ready to control pace and which team is still searching for answers.</p>

Eternal Fire finalize international roster with Sergiy “DemQQ” Demchenko

<p>Eternal Fire have locked in their fifth starter by signing Ukrainian rifler Sergiy “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/demqq/" target="_self">DemQQ</a>” Demchenko, completing the move to an international core and setting up a February debut.</p><h2>Deal details and transition plan: lugseN to stand in until February 4</h2><p>Eternal Fire moved fast. On January 4, the organization benched Ömer “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/imorr/" target="_self">imoRR</a>” Karataş, Berat “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/jresy/" target="_self">jresy</a>” Özcan, and Baha “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/lugsen/" target="_self">lugseN</a>” Emir Şengül, then added Volodymyr “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/woro2k/" target="_self">Woro2k</a>” Veletniuk and Rigon “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/rigon/" target="_self">rigoN</a>” Gashi on January 6.&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/demqq/" target="_self">DemQQ</a>&nbsp;is the final addition, completing a roster that mixes two Turks with three imports.</p><p>The switch is not immediate. Eternal Fire told reporters that&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/lugsen/" target="_self">lugseN</a>&nbsp;will stand in until February 4, with&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/demqq/" target="_self">DemQQ</a>&nbsp;set to take over after that date.&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/lugsen/" target="_self">lugseN</a>&nbsp;carries a 0.98 rating across 151 recorded maps, while&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/demqq/" target="_self">DemQQ</a>&nbsp;arrives with a 1.00 rating over 1,404 maps. At the time of the signing, Eternal Fire were listed at No. 133 on the global team ranking.</p><h2>Why DemQQ: reunion with Woro2k and the path from Monte to Passion UA</h2><p><a href="https://csspot.org/players/demqq/" target="_self">DemQQ</a>&nbsp;makes sense because he already knows&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/woro2k/" target="_self">Woro2k</a>’s habits: when he wants to fight for space, when he saves, and how he sets up late-round hits. That timing was built on Monte from 2022 through 2024.</p><p>For a team mixing languages, that familiarity can cut down on messy mid-rounds.</p><ol><li>Nov 2023: Monte win ESL Challenger Jönköping, 2-0 over Eternal Fire.</li><li>May 2023: Paris Major quarterfinals end with a 0-2 loss to GamerLegion.</li><li>Apr 7, 2025:&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/demqq/" target="_self">DemQQ</a>&nbsp;joins Passion UA and later wins Galaxy Battle Phase 1.</li></ol><p>His last recorded official match was August 13, 2025: a 0-2 loss to Betclic (Ancient 3-13, Dust2 10-13), 22-30 K-D and a 0.74 rating. A long bench spell can make the next official feel loud.</p><h2>Updated Eternal Fire lineup and roles after the early-year changes</h2><p>The new five combines tier-two grind with proven top-level reps.&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/rigon/" target="_self">rigoN</a>&nbsp;arrives after a stint with ENCE in the second half of 2025, where he averaged a 0.98 rating and won Thunderpick World Championship European Series 2, while&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/woro2k/" target="_self">Woro2k</a>’s recent teams point to a natural AWP fit. Kadir “ElPrincipe” Sivri remains as coach.</p><figure class="table" style="float:left;width:100%;"><table class="ck-table-resized"><colgroup><col style="width:24.63%;"><col style="width:24.63%;"><col style="width:24.63%;"><col style="width:26.11%;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Player</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Nationality</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Rating</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Expected focus</td></tr><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Buğra “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/calyx/" target="_self">Calyx</a>” Arkın</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Turkey</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">1.07</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Anchor spots, late-round trading</td></tr><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Emrecan “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/emstar/" target="_self">EMSTAR</a>” Çalışkan</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Turkey</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">0.93</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Space-taking rifler, secondary entry</td></tr><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Volodymyr “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/woro2k/" target="_self">Woro2k</a>” Veletniuk</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Ukraine</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">1.12</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Primary AWP</td></tr><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Rigon “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/rigon/" target="_self">rigoN</a>” Gashi</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Switzerland</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">1.01</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">First-contact rifler</td></tr><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Sergiy “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/demqq/" target="_self">DemQQ</a>” Demchenko</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Ukraine</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">1.00</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Support rifle, utility and holds</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>The immediate priority is structure: replacing&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/maj3r/" target="_self">MAJ3R</a>’s calling, tightening communication in a mixed-language setup, and getting&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/demqq/" target="_self">DemQQ</a>&nbsp;match-ready by February 4 so results stop swinging from series to series.</p>

Falcons to Compete at BLAST Bounty Finals Without Coach zonic

<p>Team Falcons will play the BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 Finals in Malta without coach Danny “zonic” Sørensen, while a separate visa issue also forces a late player change. Keep reading for the full timeline and the key numbers behind it.</p><h2>What Falcons Announced and When the Absence Takes Effect</h2><p>Falcons confirmed on January 19 that zonic will miss BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 Finals, the team’s first LAN appearance of 2026. The event runs January 22 to 25 in Malta, has eight teams, and offers a $772,500 prize pool. The format is single elimination: best-of-three all the way until the best-of-five grand final, so one bad day can end a run fast.</p><p>The announcement landed right after Falcons qualified through the online stage with two straight wins. First came a clean 2-0 over ECSTATIC: 13-2 on Inferno, then 13-10 on Mirage. René “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/teses/" target="_self">TeSeS</a>” Madsen led the series with 32-20 for a 1.60 K/D and a 1.65 rating, plus 94.6 ADR. Ilya “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/monesy/" target="_self">m0NESY</a>” Osipov finished 31-18, and Maxim “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/kyousuke/" target="_self">kyousuke</a>” Lukin added 34 kills of his own in the sweep.</p><p>Falcons then locked their Malta spot by beating Monte 2-0, taking Nuke 13-10 and Mirage 13-7.&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/monesy/" target="_self">m0NESY</a>&nbsp;was the best performer, posting 42-25 for a 1.68 K/D, 102.5 ADR, and a 1.75 rating across the two maps.&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/teses/" target="_self">TeSeS</a>&nbsp;again showed up as the second punch at 33-22 with a 1.41 rating.</p><p>A quick snapshot of the two qualifying series is below.</p><figure class="table" style="float:left;width:100%;"><table class="ck-table-resized"><colgroup><col style="width:19.41%;"><col style="width:19.41%;"><col style="width:19.41%;"><col style="width:19.41%;"><col style="width:22.36%;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Series</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Result</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Best player</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Best player K-D (K/D)</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Rating</td></tr><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">vs ECSTATIC</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">2-0 (13-2 Inferno, 13-10 Mirage)</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;"><a href="https://csspot.org/players/teses/" target="_self">TeSeS</a></td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">32-20 (1.60)</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">1.65</td></tr><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">vs Monte</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">2-0 (13-10 Nuke, 13-7 Mirage)</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;"><a href="https://csspot.org/players/monesy/" target="_self">m0NESY</a></td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">42-25 (1.68)</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">1.75</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>Those wins secured Falcons a seat at the Malta LAN, but the team will arrive missing two pieces.</p><h2>The Reason: zonic Leaves the Team After a Family Bereavement</h2><p>Coach Danny “zonic” Sørensen left Falcons right after their opener against ECSTATIC because of a family tragedy. The change is not about strategy or results; it is about him needing to be away from the team immediately.</p><ol><li>He learned about the sudden passing of his brother after the ECSTATIC match and flew home right away to be with family.</li><li>On X (Twitter), he called it “tough times,” said he would try to return as soon as possible, and added that he was proud the team qualified for Malta.</li><li>Falcons will play the BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 Finals without him while he is away.</li></ol><p>For CS2 players, this kind of absence hits the daily work more than the public sees. A coach helps set practice routines, prepares anti-strats, and keeps communication calm when rounds start slipping. Without that steady voice, the in-game leader and remaining staff usually take on extra prep, review more demos, and focus harder on staying organized under pressure, especially at a LAN where every mistake is punished fast.</p><h2>Falcons’ Updated Lineup in Malta: kyousuke Out, Academy Stand-in Steps In</h2><p>Falcons will also be without&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/kyousuke/" target="_self">kyousuke</a>&nbsp;in Malta due to “unresolved visa complications.” The organization will use Falcons Force academy player Matej “NucleonZ” Trajkoski as a stand-in.</p><p><a href="https://csspot.org/players/kyousuke/" target="_self">Kyousuke</a>’s absence is a real on-server loss based on the qualifiers alone. Across the ECSTATIC and Monte series, he totaled 66-48, including a 34-26 performance in the opener. In the same announcement context,&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/kyousuke/" target="_self">kyousuke</a>&nbsp;was listed at a 1.19 rating with 0.85 kills per round, while NucleonZ’s early sample showed a 1.01 rating with 0.81 kills per round. It is a tiny dataset for the academy player, but it underlines the jump in expectations when stepping into a top-tier event on short notice.</p><p>Falcons are expected to field the following five players at the BLAST Bounty Finals:</p><ul><li>Nikola “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/niko/" target="_self">NiKo</a>” Kovač;</li><li>René “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/teses/" target="_self">TeSeS</a>” Madsen;</li><li>Ilya “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/monesy/" target="_self">m0NESY</a>” Osipov;</li><li>Damjan “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/kyxsan/" target="_self">kyxsan</a>” Stoilkovski;</li><li>Matej “NucleonZ” Trajkoski.</li></ul><p>With zonic at home and&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/kyousuke/" target="_self">kyousuke</a>&nbsp;out, Falcons’ margin for error narrows, especially in a single-elimination bracket. The upside is clear from the qualifiers: if&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/monesy/" target="_self">m0NESY</a>&nbsp;stays in takeover mode and&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/teses/" target="_self">TeSeS</a>&nbsp;keeps winning the rifle duels, Falcons can still make noise in Malta.</p>

BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 Online Stage: Results, Bracket Recap, and LAN Finals Qualifiers

<p>The Online Stage is wrapped up, and the Malta tickets are stamped. Read on for a bracket recap, the series that shaped the story, and the eight teams that earned a shot at the BLAST Bounty Season 1 LAN Finals.</p><h2>Event overview: schedule, teams involved, and what was at stake</h2><p>BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 started with fast, high-pressure CS2 where teams had no time to ease in. It was played online from January 13 to 18, 2026, and every match could end a team’s run.</p><ul><li>Schedule: Online Stage ran January 13 to 18, 2026; the LAN Finals in Malta are set for January 22 to 25 at BLAST’s studio.</li><li>Teams: 32 teams entered the Online Stage.</li><li>What was at stake: A round-of-16 win meant a spot in Malta; one loss meant elimination.</li><li>Top teams that qualified: Only four top-10 teams made it through: Vitality, FURIA, Falcons, Spirit.</li><li>Big names eliminated early: Natus Vincere, MOUZ, G2, The MongolZ, FaZe, Virtus.pro, Astralis.</li></ul><p>For players watching the vetoes and early-round setups, the key point was simple: the Online Stage punished slow starts immediately.</p><h2>Format and Ranking Rules: Seeding, Best-of-3 Knockout Rounds, and How Placements Are Decided</h2><p>BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1’s Online Stage used a strict knockout setup, so every series mattered right away. Teams were seeded ahead of time, and that seeding did more than just place names on a bracket.</p><ol><li>Match format: Every Online Stage matchup was a best-of-3 series, and it was single-elimination. One loss meant the team was out.</li><li>Bracket steps: The round of 32 cut the field in half. The round of 16 was the qualifier line: win there and the team earned a Malta LAN Finals spot.</li><li>Seeding twist: Lower seeds could choose which higher seed to face, which changed the usual “safe” early rounds. EYEBALLERS (seed 24) picked Vitality (seed 3), and FUT (seed 16) picked FURIA (seed 1).</li><li>Placements: The eight round-of-16 winners placed 1st to 8th and qualified; the eight round-of-16 losers placed 9th to 16th.</li><li>What comes next: The four lower-seeded qualifiers will pick quarterfinal opponents from the top four seeds in a live draft show on Wednesday at 20:00, with Liquid picking first.</li></ol><p>That structure rewards teams that start strong and punishes slow warm-ups, which is why early-round prep and veto plans mattered so much.</p><h2>Results Recap: Biggest Storylines, Key Matches, and Notable Eliminations</h2><p>The round of 16 was the make-or-break point. Win one best-of-3 and a team locked in a Malta trip. Lose once and the run ended immediately. The final day showed two different kinds of pressure: some squads survived close maps and messy moments, while others looked calm and ran away with it.</p><h3>Vitality get pushed hard, then ZywOo closes the door</h3><p>EYEBALLERS made their series against Vitality feel dangerous, even though it ended 2-0. On Anubis, Vitality had to grind through a long finish and won 19-16. Overpass was cleaner at 13-8, but the opener already did the damage to nerves.</p><p>Mathieu “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/zywoo/" target="_self">ZywOo</a>” Herbaut was the safety net the whole time. He finished the series 49-30, which is a 1.63 K/D ratio, with a 1.37 rating. When a map goes deep like that, one star winning a few late duels can decide everything.</p><h3>FURIA wobble, FUT punish, then molodoy carries the decider</h3><p>FURIA started strong by taking Ancient 13-5, but FUT did not fold. FUT stole Dust2 13-11 to force the third map, and that is where the series became a real fight instead of a routine qualifier.</p><p>On Nuke, FURIA held on to win 13-10 and take the series 2-1. Danil “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/molodoy/" target="_self">molodoy</a>” Golubenko was the biggest reason they survived: 63-40 overall, a 1.58 K/D ratio, and a 1.46 rating across all three maps. For CS2 players, that is the kind of stat line that usually means constant impact, not just a few highlight rounds.</p><h3>Spirit and Falcons look controlled, powered by huge star numbers</h3><p>Spirit moved through Inner Circle without letting the series turn chaotic, sweeping 2-0 and finishing Dust2 13-5. Danil “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/donk/" target="_self">donk</a>” Kryshkovets led with 42-25 overall (1.68 K/D) and a 1.80 rating. Dmitry “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/sh1ro/" target="_self">sh1ro</a>” Sokolov was almost as sharp at 41-20 with a 1.73 rating. When both are landing shots, it gets hard to take space, save weapons, or build confidence.</p><p>Falcons also advanced 2-0 over Monte on Nuke and Mirage. Ilya “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/monesy/" target="_self">m0NESY</a>” Osipov took over, ending 42-25 (1.68 K/D) with a 1.75 rating. Falcons also have a roster change coming into Malta: academy player Matej “NucleonZ” Trajkoski will play the LAN Finals instead of Maxim “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/kyousuke/" target="_self">kyousuke</a>” Lukin because of visa issues.</p><h3>The harsh exits: blowouts, overtime heartbreak, and the full qualifier snapshot</h3><p>Some teams did not just lose, they got shut down. PARIVISION crushed Astralis 13-1 on Dust2 and finished Ancient 13-8 for a 2-0, led by Ivan “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/zweih/" target="_self">zweih</a>” Gogin at 36-15 (2.40 K/D) with a 1.92 rating. HEROIC beat paiN 2-0, but Mirage went to overtime and ended 16-14, with Linus “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/nilo/" target="_self">nilo</a>” Bergman posting 44-28 (1.57 K/D) and a 1.48 rating.</p><p>Here is the full round-of-16 qualifier summary, with the key scores available and the best performer from each series:</p><figure class="table" style="float:left;width:100%;"><table class="ck-table-resized"><colgroup><col style="width:24.27%;"><col style="width:24.27%;"><col style="width:24.27%;"><col style="width:27.19%;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Qualifier match (winner)</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Series</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Map results</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Best performer (K-D, K/D, rating)</td></tr><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Vitality vs EYEBALLERS</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">2-0</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Anubis 19-16, Overpass 13-8</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;"><a href="https://csspot.org/players/zywoo/" target="_self">ZywOo</a>&nbsp;(49-30, 1.63, 1.37)</td></tr><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">FURIA vs FUT</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">2-1</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Ancient 13-5, Dust2 11-13, Nuke 13-10</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;"><a href="https://csspot.org/players/molodoy/" target="_self">molodoy</a>&nbsp;(63-40, 1.58, 1.46)</td></tr><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Falcons vs Monte</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">2-0</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Nuke, Mirage</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;"><a href="https://csspot.org/players/monesy/" target="_self">m0NESY</a>&nbsp;(42-25, 1.68, 1.75)</td></tr><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Spirit vs Inner Circle</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">2-0</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Ancient, Dust2 13-5</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;"><a href="https://csspot.org/players/donk/" target="_self">donk</a>&nbsp;(42-25, 1.68, 1.80)</td></tr><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Liquid vs Gentle Mates</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">2-1</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Nuke 13-3</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;"><a href="https://csspot.org/players/ultimate/" target="_self">ultimate</a>&nbsp;(42-32, 1.31, 1.25)</td></tr><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">PARIVISION vs Astralis</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">2-0</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Dust2 13-1, Ancient 13-8</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;"><a href="https://csspot.org/players/zweih/" target="_self">zweih</a>&nbsp;(36-15, 2.40, 1.92)</td></tr><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">GamerLegion vs Aurora</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">2-1</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Mirage 13-5</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;"><a href="https://csspot.org/players/hypex/" target="_self">hypex</a>&nbsp;(55-37, 1.49, 1.33)</td></tr><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">HEROIC vs paiN</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">2-0</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Mirage 16-14 (OT)</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;"><a href="https://csspot.org/players/nilo/" target="_self">nilo</a>&nbsp;(44-28, 1.57, 1.48)</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>The eliminated teams at this final step were EYEBALLERS, FUT, Inner Circle, Monte, Gentle Mates, Astralis, Aurora, and paiN. Liquid, GamerLegion, HEROIC, and PARIVISION all found a way through, with Liquid ending their series on a one-sided 13-3 Nuke, GamerLegion winning the decider Mirage 13-5, and HEROIC surviving overtime to finish the job.</p><h2>Final placements and next steps: the eight LAN Finals teams and what happens in the Finals stage</h2><p>The confirmed LAN Finals field is: Vitality, FURIA, Falcons, Spirit, Liquid, PARIVISION, GamerLegion, and HEROIC.</p><p>Online Stage placements, grouped by the round teams reached:</p><ul><li>1st-8th (qualified): Vitality, FURIA, Falcons, Spirit, Liquid, PARIVISION, GamerLegion, HEROIC</li><li>9th-16th (round of 16 exits): EYEBALLERS, Inner Circle, Astralis, Monte, FUT, Aurora, Gentle Mates, paiN</li></ul><p>Next on the calendar is the live draft show on Wednesday at 20:00, where the four lower-seeded qualifiers pick opponents from the top four seeds, with Liquid selecting first. After that, it is all LAN in Malta, with Falcons expected to adjust their roster because of&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/kyousuke/" target="_self">kyousuke</a>’s visa situation.</p>

Roster changes in FaZe Clan as of May 5, 2025

<h2>FaZe Clan has officially announced major changes to its Counter-Strike 2 roster.</h2><p>On May 5, 2025, the organization confirmed that Oleksandr “<a href="/en/players/s1mple" target="_self">s1mple</a>” Kostyliev has joined the team on loan from Natus Vincere. He will temporarily replace Helvijs “<a href="/en/players/broky" target="_self">broky</a>” Saukants, who has been benched after nearly six years in the main lineup.</p><p>Håvard “<a href="/en/players/rain" target="_self">rain</a>” Nygaard’s participation in the upcoming IEM Dallas 2025 remains uncertain due to personal reasons. As a result, FaZe has brought in Brazilian player Felipe “<a href="/en/players/skullz" target="_self">skullz</a>” Medeiros, who will compete as a temporary substitute for the team in this tournament.</p><p>FaZe Clan's lineup for IEM Dallas 2025 will be as follows:</p><ul><li>Finn “<a href="/en/players/karrigan" target="_self">karrigan</a>” Andersen</li><li>Jonathan “<a href="/en/players/elige" target="_self">EliGE</a>” Jablonowski</li><li>David “<a href="/en/players/frozen" target="_self">frozen</a>” Čerňanský</li><li>Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev (on loan)</li><li>Felipe “skullz” Medeiros (stand-in)</li><li>Filip “NEO” Kubski (coach)</li></ul><p>FaZe aims to stay competitive despite the roster shuffle and is counting on the experience of the newcomers to fight for the trophy in Dallas.</p>