Team Vitality emerged victorious at the BLAST.tv Austin Major, lifting the trophy in front of a full house at the Moody Center in Texas. But behind the win, this Counter Strike 2 spectacle offered far more than just a champion. It was a tournament of upsets, breakout moments, and deep disappointments, marking one of the most emotional and eventful chapters in the 2025 competitive season.

From dominant dynasties to underdog dreams, the Austin Major was a stage where reputations were both strengthened and shaken. With top tier squads, unexpected exits, and rising regional powers in the mix, the event did more than crown a winner. It gave fans a deeper glimpse into the evolving landscape of global Counter Strike.

Team Vitality’s journey was never in doubt coming into the tournament. Riding high on a thirty match win streak and six consecutive titles, the French side looked unstoppable. However, Legacy shocked everyone by halting their streak during Stage 3. It was a rare crack in Vitality’s armor, but not one deep enough to stop them. They rebounded fiercely and dispatched The MongolZ in the Grand Final to lift yet another Major trophy. Their performance only solidifies their status as the undisputed leaders of the current CS2 era.

On the flip side, North America suffered a heavy blow on home soil. Despite the energy of the crowd and the spotlight of the first Major in the region since 2018, every North American squad faltered. Complexity, NRG, Wildcard, and M80 all exited early. Even Team Liquid, the region's strongest remaining hope, could not make it to the Playoffs. By the end, only FaZe Clan’s ELiGE represented NA pride, but their run was cut short by The MongolZ in the quarterfinals. The region now faces serious questions about its ability to compete internationally heading into the second half of the year.

Legacy was never meant to be at this Major. They were called in as a last minute replacement after BESTIA missed the visa deadline. But what followed was nothing short of extraordinary. The South American squad played with heart and hunger, tearing through Stage 1 and 2, and even defeating Team Vitality at the start of Stage 3. Though they didn’t make it to the Playoffs, their run reminded everyone that greatness can come from the most unexpected corners. Their exit at the hands of MOUZ was emotional, but the impact of their performance will linger far beyond the scoreboard.

For Team Falcons, expectations could not match reality. After strong showings earlier in the season and the addition of superstar M0NESY, many expected them to challenge for the title. Instead, missteps and miscommunication haunted their matches. Losses to B8 and Lynn Vision exposed critical flaws, and even a hard fought win over OG Esports couldn’t turn their momentum around. A final defeat to MIBR sealed their fate. With the signing of kyosuke, Falcons have the tools they need, but their system needs time to gel before they can truly fly.

Perhaps the biggest story outside of Vitality’s win was the rise of Asia. The region saw a breakthrough with Lynn Vision and The MongolZ making deep runs in the tournament. Lynn Vision eliminated established teams like NRG and Team Falcons, while The MongolZ went all the way to the Grand Final, a historic moment for Asian Counter Strike. These performances not only shook up the current power structure but also signaled a new era of global competitiveness in CS2.

HEROIC entered Austin looking to close out a turbulent first half of the year on a high. Despite strong showings earlier in 2025, including wins at the CCT Season 2 Global Finals and MESA Nomadic Masters, they couldn’t recreate that form at the Major. An early loss to FaZe set the tone, and although a win over TYLOO gave them a brief lifeline, it was cut short by a clinical defeat from Nemiga Gaming. With this tournament marking the end of the road for SunPayus and sAw with the roster, HEROIC now faces the challenge of restructuring in the offseason before the PGL Budapest Major later this year.

The BLAST.tv Austin Major did more than crown a winner. It reset expectations, shifted momentum, and highlighted regions that are no longer just underdogs but genuine threats. As the world of Counter Strike moves into its next chapter, teams that thrived in Austin will look to carry that momentum forward, while those who faltered are already recalibrating for redemption.

 

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