BLAST.tv Paris Major Betting | Schedule, Format, Teams

The BLAST.tv Paris Major is just around the corner! Find everything you need to know here, including our expert betting tips.

Valve's classic shooter Counter-Strike: Global Offensive will see a major revamp this summer, becoming the highly-anticipated CS2. Before that happens, though, there is one final CS:GO Major to dive into.

The BLAST.tv Paris Major is the first CS:GO Major of 2023, marking the first Major organized by BLAST.tv. 24 teams from across the globe will come together in Paris on May 8 to fight in a series of elimination matches to take home the crown at the Grand Final on May 21.

The winner of BLAST.tv Paris Major wins the lion's share of the $1,250,000 prize pool and an automatic invitation to IEM Cologne 2023 and BLAST Premier World Final, so there's everything to play for!

With the tension ramping up, fans are already scouring for information about the competing teams, match results, and everything else they need to make informed bets before BLAST.tv Paris Major officially starts. With Rivalry at the helm, betting on CS:GO Majors has never been easier or more fun!

What are CS:GO majors?

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) holds many competitive tournaments designed for pro players to put the pedal to the mettle. These events range from the ESL Pro League to BLAST Premier events.

CS:GO Majors are another large-scale esports event that brings together the best teams worldwide to compete for a multi-million dollar prize pool. Since 2013, CS:GO developers Valve have sponsored the Majors with an extravagant prize pool, giving the top teams worldwide a chance to compete at the highest level.

The first CS:GO Major was held at DreamHack Winter 2013 in Sweden. Home heroes Fnatic took the trophy and the largest slice of the $250,000 prize pool.

Since this first tournament, 17 of these Majors have been held, with more every year. 12 different professional esports organizations have claimed the trophy. To date, the most successful team is Astralis, with four titles in total, and they are the only team to win three consecutively from 2018 to 2019.

BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023: Format

The BLAST.tv Paris Major follows the exact format Valve set out in 2018, with three key stages as listed below.

• Challengers Stage - May 8 - 11

The Paris Major will begin with the Challengers Stage and a 16-team Swiss System format between the Challengers and Contenders teams.

Elimination and advancement matches will be best-of-three elimination, while all other matches are best-of-one.

The top eight Challengers Stage teams advance to the next stage, eliminating the bottom eight teams.

• Legends Stage - May 13 - 16

Every game will follow the same format as the Challengers Stage. Elimination and advancement matches will be best-of-three elimination, while all other matches are best-of-one.

Sixteen teams compete in a Swiss format, as the top eight from the Challengers Stage join the eight Legends teams to face off head-to-head.

The top eight teams then proceed to the Champions Stage.

• Champions Stage - May 18 - 21

All matches are played as best-of-three in a single-elimination bracket, as eight teams battle for the win in the race to the Grand Final.

BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023: Prize Pool

The Paris Major certainly is a high-stakes event, with an overall prize pool of a jaw-dropping $1,250,000 on offer. Here is how the money will be divided among all the participating teams.

• 1st) $500,000, IEM Cologne 2023, BLAST Premier World Final Seed invitations, and 3,500 BLAST Premier points.
• 2nd) $170,000 and 2,750 BLAST Premier points.
• 3rd-4th) $80,000 and 1,775 BLAST Premier points
• 5-8th) $45,000 and 1,050 BLAST Premier points
• 9-16th) $20,000
• 17-24th) $10,000

BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023: Teams

There is a total of 24 teams attending the BLAST.tv Paris Major, all determined by Regional Major Ranking (RMR) from various tournaments in Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Americas.

Here is a list of all the teams competing in the 2023 BLAST.tv Paris Major.

Legends Teams

• 9INE
• Bad News Eagles
• Fnatic
• FURIA Esports
• Heroic
• Into The Breach
• Natus Vincere
• Team Vitality

Contenders Teams

• Complexity Gaming
• ENCE
• FaZe Clan
• Fluxo
• Grayhound Gaming
• MOUZ
• Team Liquid
• The MongolZ

Challenger Teams

• Apeks
• FORZE Esports
• G2 Esports
• Gamer Legion
• Monte
• Ninjas In Pyjamas
• OG
• paIN Gaming

BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023: How to watch

The venue for this year's Paris Major is the Accor Arena in Paris, France, for any fans in the area. Tickets are still available but grab them quick - tickets start from 35€. This arena can hold up to 20,000 people at full capacity, meaning the atmosphere will be electric and befitting for the first CS Major of the year!

All BLAST.tv Paris Major matches will be available on the special service, BLAST.tv, created especially for these CS:GO games. This includes live stats, viewer polls, instant replays, and other interactive features to allow audiences to get fully involved.

Audiences can also tune into the official BLAST Premier Twitch channel to watch matches live, and catch the highlights from every match of every stage on the BLAST Premier YouTube channel.

What better way to feel included with the CS:GO BLAST.tv Paris Major than betting? Don't worry; at Rivalry, esports betting is what we do best, with everything from Dota 2 to League of Legends.

BLAST.tv Paris 2023: Predictions

A small handful of teams competing stand out from the crowd in this year's Paris Major.

Team Vitality

Team Vitality won IEM Rio 2023, and it helps they have also qualified as Legends for the Major, making their journey to the crown much easier.

G2 Esports

G2 Esports are looking the best in the 2023 pro season, despite their failure to qualify as Legends. They will start their campaign in the Challengers Stage but are still strong.

Heroic

Currently ranked 1st in the ESL World Ranking, Heroic is looking strong in the Paris Major. It helps that they have already qualified as Legends, so they don't have to fight through the Contenders or Challengers.

FaZe Clan

As a well-known team, FaZe Clan are looking to prove themselves in the Paris Major, especially as they begin their quest for the win as one of the Contenders teams.

BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023: Schedule

You can check out our BLAST.tv Paris Major event overview for a more detailed rundown on the proceedings. Below is the schedule for Round 1 of the Challengers Stage - all times are in BST.

May 8

• 10.30AM - FaZe Clan Vs. Monte
• 10.30AM - paIN Gaming Vs. Fluxo
• 12PM - G2 Esports Vs. The MongolZ
• 12PM - GamerLegion Vs. Complexity Gaming
• 1.30 PM - FORZE Esports Vs. Grayhound Gaming
• 1.30PM - Apeks Vs. Team Liquid
• 3PM - MOUZ Vs. Ninjas In Pyjamas
• 3PM - OG Vs. ENCE

Bet on BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023 with Rivalry!

Welcome to Rivalry, the home of CS:GO online betting. Made especially for fans by fans, our site is the place to be for the hottest betting action on all things esports; from Valorant to Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, we have all the major esports titles covered.

Fully licensed and regulated: Your money is 100% safe with Rivalry. We are fully registered and licensed under the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission. All bets placed with us are 100% legal.

Easy deposits and cashouts. We offer various depositing options like Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, Skrill, and more! You can be sure that your transactions will be seamless and hassle-free. When it's time to bag your winnings, we make it quick and easy, so you can enjoy your earnings without delay!

New account bonuses. Keep an eye on our promotions page, where we have regular bonuses and other benefits for our new customers.

24/7 customer support. It goes without saying that we want everyone's experience with Rivalry to be as smooth and stress-free as possible. Therefore, we offer a 24/7 responsive customer live chat service for any betting queries you may have.

Different CS:GO betting markets. To keep things fun, fresh and exciting, we offer several different CS:GO betting markets to dip your toes into. From the standard match winner to pistol rounds and round handicaps, we have something to suit everyone.

BLAST.tv Paris Major Betting: Tricks Of The Trade

When betting on CS:GO Majors, there are several factors you need to consider. It may be tempting to just bet randomly, but here are some tips and tricks to help you get the most bang for your buck and potentially win big.

Understand the basics

It is so important to understand how a game works before placing bets. Check out our news blog's CS:GO section for more info. Knowledge is power - learn the various maps, game modes, weapons, and strategies that can be employed, as well as the rules of the Paris Major.

Listen to pundits

Who knows the CS:GO scene better than expert pundits and commentators? They may offer expert analysis and opinions you may not have considered, giving you an edge over other bettors.

Launders News Network

On that note, we're excited to announce our partnership with Canadian CS:GO commentator and influencer Mohan "Launders" Govindasamy! He will anchor his very own Launders News Network on our Rivalry Canada Twitter page, giving viewers his analysis and unique take on the Paris Major. He will even provide some helpful betting tips and predictions to help you get started - what are you waiting for?

Educate Yourself

When picking a matchup to bet on, make sure you do your research into both teams' recent match history, roster changes, and overall success rates. You can look at their Liquidpedia pages to find this out.

Sensible Betting

Our one-of-a-kind learning resource Rivalry Academy can help you with the basics of betting, from budgeting your bankroll effectively to understanding our esports decimal odds and payouts.

FAQs about BLAST.tv Paris Major Betting

Is betting on BLAST.tv Paris Major legal?

Yes! Betting on any CS:GO event like the Paris Major is completely legal with Rivalry. We are a fully regulated online sportsbook registered under the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission.

Can I bet on the BLAST.tv Paris Major from my smartphone?

Our website is completely mobile-friendly, so you can place your BLAST Paris Major bets while on the go when you choose us!

Do you have any welcome bonuses?

We provide all our new customers with their first deposit for free as a welcome offer. Join Rivalry today and win big!

How can I deposit?

Rivalry offers a wide range of depositing options, some of which are instant: MasterCard, Visa, Skrill, Alipay, and tons more. We even offer cryptocurrency options like Bitcoin!

Who are the best teams in BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023?

Astralis hold the record for the most Major titles, having won four previously. However, they are not competing in this year's BLAST.tv Paris Major. Heroic and FaZe Clan are ranked the highest on the ESL World Ranking.