By Sagar V. Mankar BLAST, one of the leading esports tournament organizers, prepares to make its grand entrance into the Dota 2 scene with BLAST Slam I.
This highly anticipated tournament, set for November, will feature 10 teams competing for a share of the impressive $1 million prize pool.
But BLAST isn’t stopping there – they’ve already unveiled plans for eight additional BLAST Slam events spanning 2025 and 2026, signaling their commitment to becoming a major player in the Dota 2 ecosystem.
Here’s a glimpse of the future BLAST Slam events:
- BLAST Slam I: November, 26-December 1, 2024
- 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
BLAST Slam I Format
BLAST, best known for its strong presence in Counter-Strike (CS), first announced its venture into Dota 2 in May.
In an effort to stand out, BLAST is introducing a unique, fast-paced competitive format for its Dota 2 events.
The tournament will be divided into two distinct phases:
Group Stage:
- Two groups of five
- A round-robin format featuring best-of-one matches
- No teams will be eliminated in this phase, but their performance will determine their seeding for the Gauntlet Stage.
Gauntlet Stage:
- A cross-group, single-elimination bracket played at the BLAST Studio in Copenhagen, Denmark
- The two best-performing teams will battle for the title of BLAST Slam I champion.
This format is designed to reward consistent performance while also providing opportunities for lower-ranked teams to make impressive comebacks.
Prize Pool of BLAST Slam I
The tournament’s prize pool distribution is as follows:
- 1st place: $400,000
- 2nd place: $200,000
- 3rd-4th place: $80,000 each
- 5th-6th place: $50,000 each
- 7th-8th place: $40,000 each
- 9th-10th place: $30,000 each
Teams in BLAST Slam I
BLAST has stated that the 10 participating teams will be selected based on their recent performance and community interest.
However, the organizers have not disclosed whether they will follow regional slot allocations, as seen in other Dota 2 tournaments.
According to BLAST, viewers can look forward to “top-notch production” and “high-stakes clashes” featuring the best Dota teams in the world. The company aims to create an “unforgettable experience” that combines the intensity of studio battles with the grandeur of iconic arena shows.
For more information, visit the official BLAST website. And remember to subscribe to Gaming Foodle for more news!