BLAST is officially abandoning the previous challenge system and introducing a new show element called BLAST Bonanza. The format provides random prizes for match winners, which can be received either by the teams themselves or by fans in the arena or watching online.
New format
The new format will appear specifically at the LAN stage of the tournament and will become a separate entertainment element designed to enhance interaction between the matches and the audience. According to the organizers’ idea, each match will now have additional intrigue beyond the sporting result.
After the end of a match, the winning team will receive a random prize. The final recipient of this prize can be either the team itself, the fans present in the arena, or the viewers watching the broadcast online. In this way, BLAST aims to make the show more interactive and emotionally engaging.
According to BLAST’s Program Director, this format better matches the overall style of the tournament, where great attention is paid not only to the competitive part, but also to the entertainment component of the event.
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What existed before
Previously, a challenge system was used at tournaments. If two teams agreed to this format, the match winner would take not only the opponent’s Bounty, but also the prize money from their bank. This created additional financial risk and encouraged more aggressive decisions even before the game started.
In practice, the challenge system had more impact on the strategic and economic side of the confrontation between teams than on interaction with spectators. The new format, on the contrary, places the emphasis on spectacle and fan service.
Why BLAST is changing its approach
Abandoning the challenge system looks like a logical step toward a more mass-market and entertainment-focused format. Challenges were interesting from a tournament mechanics perspective, but for spectators their value often remained abstract. BLAST Bonanza, on the other hand, directly engages the audience, since the chance to receive a prize becomes real both for those present in the arena and for online viewers.
This aligns with the general trend in esports, where major organizers increasingly mix classic competition with show elements in order to hold the attention of a wider audience.
Impact on teams
For the teams themselves, BLAST Bonanza carries no direct competitive risks, unlike the challenge system, where it was possible to lose or win additional prize money. Now matches once again focus exclusively on the result, while the bonus part moves into the realm of show.
This makes the format less stressful for players and more predictable financially, but at the same time reduces the element of tournament gambling that the old system provided.
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BLAST Bonanza
BLAST Bonanza symbolizes a transition from competitive experiments to a more show-oriented approach. Instead of financial challenges between teams, the organizers are betting on interactivity and fan engagement.
For spectators, this means more emotions and more chances to become part of the event, and for teams, a return to focusing purely on sporting results. The new format still needs to be tested in practice, but it is already clear that BLAST is consistently developing its tournaments as a full-fledged entertainment product, not just an esports competition.
