B8 , Astralis , and ENCE to Compete for Last Spot at BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025
At the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025: European Regional Qualifier, the decisive matches have concluded, determining the three teams that will compete in the Play-In for the final spot at the major. Astralis , ENCE , and B8 have advanced to the final stage of the qualifiers, where only one team will earn a ticket to the season's main tournament, while the other two will bid farewell to their dream of the BLAST.tv Austin Major.
Astralis vs. BIG
The first match of the decisive stage was a showdown between Astralis and BIG , where both teams showcased a high level of play. Astralis confidently started the series, taking the initiative early on, but on the first map, Mirage, despite dominating the first half, they fell short— BIG managed to regroup after the side switch and edged out their opponent with a score of 13:11. However, on the next two maps, the Danes turned up the heat: on Inferno, they not only leveled the score but also closed out the game confidently, conceding only two rounds in the second half and winning 13:9. On the decisive map, Ancient , Astralis set the pace right away, winning the first half with a commanding lead. Despite BIG 's attempt to come back, Astralis controlled the endgame and sealed the deal—13:7. The series score is 2:1, and Astralis continues their fight for a major slot.
ENCE vs. SAW
In the second match of the day, ENCE faced off against SAW , and this encounter proved to be less intense. The first map, Ancient , was closely contested—both teams were neck and neck, leading to overtime, where ENCE showed stronger nerves and took three key rounds, winning 16:14. On the next map, Train, ENCE set the tone from the start and maintained their advantage until the end, despite a slight comeback attempt by SAW . The final score of 13:10 secured ENCE 's 2:0 victory in the match.
B8 vs. 9 Pandas
The third clash between B8 and 9 Pandas ended in a convincing victory for the Ukrainian team. On the first map, Dust II, B8 took control of the game from the start and confidently carried the map to a victorious end with a score of 13:7. The second map, Mirage, began more tensely, with 9 Pandas performing well on defense, but after the side switch, B8 ramped up their focus, won eight rounds, and finished the match 13:10. The series result is 2:0 in favor of B8 , and the team continues their quest for a major berth.
Battle for the Last Slot
The Play-In will determine the last European representative at the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025. Tomorrow, ENCE and B8 will face off in the first match. The winner of this encounter will move forward and get a chance to play against Astralis in the final duel for the single major slot. The losing team will finish in 8th place and end their qualification journey. Ahead are two decisive games, with no room for error.
The BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025: European Regional Qualifier runs from April 14 to 17. The entire tournament is held online. Participants are competing for six spots at the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025. You can follow the results and progress of the tournament via this link.
