From August 14 to 17, the BLAST Studio in Malta will host the LAN Finals of BLAST Bounty Season 2 — the first-ever offline stage for this new format. Eight teams have survived the online portion and now face a single-elimination gauntlet for the trophy. The pressure is at its peak: one loss means packing your bags, one upset can rewrite the story.
Format
The BLAST Bounty system isn’t just about winning — it’s about who you beat. Lower-seeded teams in the online stage were able to choose their opening opponents, while higher seeds carried “bounties” on their backs. Defeating a top seed meant taking 50% of their bounty prize, with the other half rolling over to the next round — making every match worth more than just progression.
The LAN stage will be played in a single-elimination bracket. The quarterfinals and semifinals are best-of-three series, while the grand final will be a best-of-five to decide the champion. With no lower bracket, the margin for error is zero.
Prize Pool
The total prize pool for BLAST Bounty Season 2 is $500,000 USD. The exact distribution will depend on final placements and the bounty mechanic — teams can increase their earnings by taking down opponents with large bounties and can choose whether to bank or risk those winnings in the next match.
First Matches
The opening matchups will be decided via a live draft on Wednesday, August 13, at 20:00 CEST on BLAST’s official Twitch channel. In this live format, teams will pick their first opponents directly — setting the stage for possible grudge matches, risky challenges, and early upsets.
Favorites
Vitality reached Malta without facing particularly tough opponents thanks to their high ranking, but they still looked solid and composed throughout the qualifier. They didn’t show many weaknesses, and if they carry this level into the LAN, it will be hard to stop them.
MOUZ also had a smooth qualification run, showing remarkable resilience by pulling off two comebacks in decisive matches. Right now, they look sharp and well-prepared for a deep run.
Spirit made it through as expected, but donk’s presence wasn’t really felt online. If he disappears in the same way on LAN, the team could fall short much earlier than anticipated.
Mid-Tier Threats
Aurora arrives in better shape than in recent months, largely due to XANTARES returning to the lineup. His presence has clearly boosted their level of play, but it remains to be seen whether they can translate that into LAN success.
The MongolZ, meanwhile, entered the qualifier without much recent practice but have now completed a proper bootcamp. With that preparation, expectations are that they should perform far better in Malta than they did online.
Surprise Qualifiers
Virtus.pro caused a stir by eliminating FaZe in the qualifier, but that was against a far from full-strength FaZe lineup. They’ve surprised once, yet the reality is they could easily be on a flight home after their first LAN match.
Astralis, on the other hand, have been trending upward — HooXi’s leadership has clearly taken effect, and the team’s recent performances have been their best in a long time. They are one of the most intriguing rosters to follow in Malta.
As for Liquid, they somehow managed to qualify despite being a roster in desperate need of changes. If they can scrape together even one series win on LAN, it will be cause for celebration among their fans, but otherwise, they remain one of the tournament’s most likely early exits.
Where to Watch
The tournament began online, but the finals will be played in BLAST’s closed studio environment in Malta — the first event of its kind for this format. Matches will be streamed on BLAST’s official Twitch channel, with additional co-streams and regional broadcasts available under BLAST’s streaming rules.
Final Thoughts
BLAST Bounty Season 2 – Malta Finals isn’t just another LAN. The bounty system means every game carries both competitive and financial stakes, rewarding risk-takers and punishing hesitation. Vitality, MOUZ, and Spirit are the clear favorites, but with teams like Astralis, Virtus.pro, and Liquid already proving they can defy the odds, this bracket could turn into a highlight reel of upsets. In a format where one match can change everything, Malta might deliver one of the most unpredictable events of the CS2 season.
