BLAST Bounty Season 2 Finals featured only eight teams, meaning every match carried playoff-level importance. Unlike larger tournaments, there was no room for slow starts or easy opponents—one bad series could end an entire campaign. MOUZ lifted the trophy after defeating Spirit in the grand final, while the tournament also showed which teams are improving, which continue to struggle, and who left Malta with more questions than answers.
Early Exit: Liquid and 3DMAX
Let’s start with the biggest disappointments. Liquid and 3DMAX both exited in the quarterfinals, and neither managed to truly challenge the eventual finalists.
Liquid’s campaign feels especially disappointing. During the online stage, they produced arguably the biggest upset by eliminating Vitality, proving they have the potential to beat the very best. Expectations naturally skyrocketed. Instead of building on that momentum, they were comfortably beaten by Spirit in the LAN playoffs. The team once again showed flashes of brilliance but failed to maintain that level when it mattered most.
3DMAX deserve some credit for reaching the Finals through the online stage. However, their tournament ended almost immediately after losing to MOUZ. Considering their inconsistent results throughout the season, this performance did little to convince anyone that they are ready to consistently challenge elite opposition.
paiN and The MongolZ — Good Enough to Qualify, Not Enough to Go Further
paiN and The MongolZ also finished in the quarterfinals, but their stories are quite different.
paiN once again proved they remain a dangerous opponent capable of reaching the final stages of major events. Eliminating Ninjas in Pyjamas during the online qualifier was solid work, but Astralis ultimately proved to be a step ahead. This result is neither a failure nor a success. It simply confirms that paiN are competitive but still searching for another level.
The MongolZ, on the other hand, will probably feel more disappointed. Their online campaign included an impressive victory over HEROIC before defeating Wildcard to qualify for Malta. Those results raised expectations ahead of the LAN Finals. However, FaZe stopped their run immediately. The roster looks stronger than it did a few months ago, but another early playoff exit suggests there is still work to do before becoming consistent title contenders.
FaZe and Astralis — Strong Runs, but Not Quite Enough
FaZe and Astralis both reached the semifinals, and both had reasons to be satisfied.
FaZe looked significantly more competitive than in recent events. They successfully navigated the online stage, eliminated The MongolZ, and proved they remain dangerous in playoff matches. Spirit, however, exposed the gap that still separates FaZe from the very best teams.
Astralis also deserve praise. They comfortably qualified through the online stage before beating paiN in the quarterfinals. Their semifinal against MOUZ was highly competitive, but they simply could not finish the job. Following the roster changes made earlier this season, another semifinal appearance suggests the team is moving in the right direction.
Spirit — A Strong Tournament, but MOUZ Were Better
Spirit once again confirmed why they remain one of the strongest teams in the world.
Their journey began in the online stage with victories over OG and 100 Thieves before carrying that momentum into Malta. On LAN, they comfortably defeated Liquid before overcoming FaZe in the semifinals to reach another grand final.
Meanwhile, donk delivered another outstanding individual performance, while the team’s aggressive style remained one of the most entertaining in Counter-Strike. In the grand final, however, MOUZ looked more composed across the four-map series. Spirit still finished with another runner-up trophy, and there is little reason for concern. They remain one of the most consistent elite teams on the circuit.
MOUZ — The Perfect Response After Recent Changes
The biggest winner of the tournament was undoubtedly MOUZ. After recent roster changes, many questioned whether the team would immediately return to championship level. BLAST Bounty Season 2 provided a convincing answer.
Their online campaign began with a comfortable victory over Nuclear TigeRES before defeating FOKUS to qualify for the Finals. Once in Malta, they eliminated 3DMAX, survived a difficult semifinal against Astralis, and produced an excellent performance in the grand final to defeat Spirit 3-1.
Perhaps the most impressive part of MOUZ’s tournament was not simply winning the trophy—it was the way they played. Their structured teamplay, calm decision-making, and confidence in crucial rounds closely resembled the MOUZ that dominated several events earlier this season.
The grand final also suggested that the recent roster adjustments have already started paying off. Rather than looking like a team still searching for chemistry, MOUZ played with the confidence of an established championship contender.
Final Thoughts: The Elite Race Is Getting Even Tighter
BLAST Bounty Season 2 Finals once again demonstrated how small the gap has become between the world’s best teams.
Spirit continue to reach finals. Astralis and FaZe are steadily improving, while MOUZ have already turned their recent rebuild into silverware. As the second half of 2026 unfolds, the battle for every major trophy looks more open than ever. Today’s champion could easily become tomorrow’s challenger.
