BLAST is the latest tournament organizer to step into VALORANT to host an Ignition Series event. They are hosting some of Europe’s best teams in G2, Team Liquid, Ninjas in Pyjamas and FunPlus Phoenix. It’s just the four teams, but €50,000 is on the line over Sept. 11-13.
The event is just four teams, but it’s a double-elimination best-of-three bracket. The grand final on Sunday, Sept. 13 will be a best-of-five. The event is small team-wise but big on the prize pool. G2 Esports, Team Liquid, FunPlus Phoenix and NiP are all familiar with one another, often being in the top 5/6 of the same events throughout the year.
This event also features something fun in-between matches. There will be Twitch showmatches that occur between all six matches of regular tournament play. Players’ names are unknown, but I’m sure it will be a combination of on-air talent, personalities, celebrities and esports stars.
The event kicks off with FunPlus Phoenix vs NiP. NiP’s inclusion at this event might scratch some heads, as Bonk has been playing better recently. But the Swedish org got the nod to play in this event, almost certainly to do with name value.
FunPlus Phoenix is interesting. They’ve pushed G2 to the brink at certain points, even taking maps off of them. Their last match vs Mixwell, and company saw them fall 15-13 and 13-10 on Bind and Split respectively. FunPlus Phoenix is currently 2-1 on map count vs the Ninjas, with their last match coming on Aug. 16 at the Allied Esports Odyssey event.
G2 and Liquid is the most anticipated of the two first matches for me. G2 has looked great but not as unbeatable as they were for a stretch in July. The British team plus Scream has yet to win a full match against G2, but they split a best of two in the group stage at Allied Esports Odyssey. The teams haven’t met in a knockout stage under their new banners, as Liquid was still Fish123 when they lost the WePlay! Invitational Grand Finals on Jul. 19.
The BLAST VALORANT Invitational can be streamed on Twitch.tv/BlastTV
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