BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 2 opens Stage 1 with a match between M80 and Ninjas in Pyjamas. In the first round of the bracket, the teams will play a Bo3 series, where the winner will continue the fight for a place at the LAN Finals, while the loser will end their run at the tournament. Both teams are close to each other in the world ranking, so one of the most even series of the opening round is expected.
BLAST BOUNTY 2026 SEASON 2 STAGE 1 — FORMAT SPECIFICS
Stage 1 is played in a Single Elimination format. All matches are played as Bo3, and the winners advance to the next stage of online qualification for the LAN Finals.
M80 independently chose Ninjas in Pyjamas as their opponent, which indicates the American team’s confidence in its own chances. At the same time, NiP have enough experience to take advantage of any mistakes from the opponent and turn the series into an even contest.
HEAD-TO-HEAD — A SMALL ADVANTAGE FOR M80
The teams have already faced each other three times in 2026 during ESL Pro League Season 23 Stage 1. Across all three maps, M80 came out on top, winning Dust2 (13:8), Ancient (11:13), and Anubis (13:3), closing the series with a 2:1 score.
Despite the positive head-to-head history, the current match will take place after changes in the form of both teams. Ninjas in Pyjamas have gradually stabilized their game, while M80 continue to demonstrate a high level of discipline in matches against teams of their level.
CURRENT FORM
M80 — organized structure and a good winning streak
M80 have won their last three matches in a row, beating Voca, LAG, and WINNERS. The team plays the opening rounds consistently, controls the economy well, and almost never gives away an advantage after a successful start to a map.
The leader of the roster remains slaxz-, who has a 1.13 rating over the last three months. His AWP often determines the pace of the match. Swisher and Lake will also be important, as they are responsible for stability in rifle duels and converting man advantages.
Ninjas in Pyjamas — experience and a strong Nuke
NiP approach the match after an inconsistent run of results. The team alternates wins with losses, but still remains a dangerous opponent thanks to an experienced roster and a wide map pool.
The best individual form is being shown by n0te, who has a 1.15 rating over the last three months. Snappi and stavn also make a significant contribution, as they are responsible for organizing the game and creating space for the team in the middle of rounds.
MAP POOL & VETO
Statistics over the last 3 months (M80 | Ninjas in Pyjamas):
- Cache: — | —
- Dust2: 67% | 0%
- Mirage: 73% | 56%
- Inferno: 58% | 67%
- Nuke: — | 85%
- Ancient: 44% | 46%
- Anubis: — | 43%
Expected veto:
- M80 will almost certainly ban Nuke — Ninjas in Pyjamas’ strongest map, where the opponent has an 85% win rate.
- NiP are very likely to remove Dust2, as this is where M80 show one of their best statistical results, while NiP themselves practically do not achieve positive results on it.
Likely picks:
- M80: Mirage — a map where the American team has a 73% win rate and regularly outplays opponents thanks to a strong structure.
- Ninjas in Pyjamas: Inferno — one of the team’s most comfortable maps, with a 67% win rate and good organization on the defensive side.
Possible decider map: Ancient looks like the most logical option for the third map. Both teams play it regularly and have almost identical statistics, which could make the deciding map as competitive as possible.
KEY DUELS
- slaxz- vs n0te — the main individual duel of the series for AWP impact and control of key rounds.
- Swisher vs stavn — a battle for entry frags and control of central areas of the map.
- Lake vs xKacpersky — a duel between two rifle players in decisive late-round situations.
PREDICTION
M80 have already proven that they are capable of outplaying Ninjas in Pyjamas in Bo3 series, and the team’s current form looks more stable. The American team plays opening rounds better, has a positive head-to-head history, and has comfortable maps that may become decisive during the veto.
However, NiP remain a dangerous opponent thanks to their experienced roster and very strong Nuke. If the Swedish-Danish team can impose its own tempo and avoid an uncomfortable veto, the series may go all three maps.
Even so, M80 look slightly more balanced and have more arguments for advancing to the next round.
Projected result: M80 2–1 Ninjas in Pyjamas
