The opening day of BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 delivered an immediate shock. EYEBALLERS pulled off a massive upset by defeating FaZe Clan 2–1 in the Stage 1 Round of 32, using their lower-seed challenge advantage to eliminate one of the tournament’s main favorites right at the start. The series turned into a cold shower for the European powerhouse.
Road to the matchup — different expectations, different realities
- EYEBALLERS — aggression, belief in firepower, and a bold challenge
The Swedish lineup entered the tournament with little pressure but a clear understanding of their strengths. As the 24th seed, EYEBALLERS took full advantage of the BLAST Bounty format by choosing FaZe as their opening opponent — a move that looked reckless on paper but proved inspired in practice. The team leaned into high tempo, constant pressure, and giving maximum freedom to their fraggers — and the plan worked to perfection.
- FaZe — favorite status without a safety net
FaZe arrived at the event as one of the most stable teams of late 2025. Recent wins against top-tier opposition only reinforced expectations of a smooth opening run. However, from the very first series it became clear: FaZe were unprepared for the chaotic, high-pressure style EYEBALLERS brought to the server.
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Ancient — 13:6. FaZe start the series in control
On their own map pick, FaZe looked composed and structured. They quickly established map control, read EYEBALLERS’ movements well, and rarely allowed the Swedes to dictate chaos. frozen and jks consistently won their duels, and FaZe closed the map cleanly without unnecessary risks.
At that point, the series appeared to be unfolding exactly as expected.
Mirage — 13:4. EYEBALLERS break the favorite’s game
The second map marked a complete turning point. EYEBALLERS set an explosive pace from the opening rounds, forcing FaZe into constant reactive play. The Swedes dominated opening duels, punished slow rotations, and ruthlessly destroyed FaZe’s economy.
FaZe looked disoriented: the defense couldn’t keep up with timings, and the attack collapsed before plants could even be established. Mirage turned into a one-sided demolition.
Inferno — 13:7. EYEBALLERS close out the series
On the decider, FaZe attempted to regain control, but EYEBALLERS already had a firm grip on the series. The Swedish side calmly read FaZe’s comeback attempts, won key clutches, and never allowed their opponents to build momentum.
In the decisive moments, EYEBALLERS were simply sharper, calmer, and more confident — Inferno became the final statement in a stunning upset.
Match MVP — Jonathan “bobeksde” Persson
The Swede was the face of the upset and the series’ standout performer:
- 1.56 rating
- 97.9 ADR
- +6.69% swing
- consistent multikills on Mirage and Inferno
- decisive impact in crucial rounds
bobeksde didn’t just outfrag his opponents — he dictated the pace of the entire series.
Teamplay breakdown — chaos beats a structure that couldn’t adapt
EYEBALLERS played fearless, aggressive Counter-Strike with full confidence. They applied relentless pressure, embraced risk, and forced FaZe into mistake after mistake. FaZe, on the other hand, struggled to adapt. Despite isolated strong moments from frozen and jks, the team’s structure cracked under pressure: lost micro-duels, slow reactions, and a complete lack of tempo control proved fatal.
VRS impact
- EYEBALLERS: +31 points — a crucial ranking boost
- FaZe: –27 points — a painful hit to both ranking and confidence
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More than just an upset
BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 sends an immediate message to the entire scene: the format is ruthless, and favorite status guarantees nothing. EYEBALLERS earn a historic win and move on, while FaZe exit the tournament with serious questions about their readiness. The season has only just begun — and chaos has already arrived.
