BLAST The Draft Season 1, featuring premier Counter-Strike 2 teams from India and Pakistan, has reached its thrilling conclusion, with Marcos Gaming emerging as the victor. The intense tournament unfolded from February 8th to 11th, 2024, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, boasting a hefty prize pool of $50,000 USD and six formidable teams, evenly split between India and Pakistan. Marcos Gaming showcased exceptional prowess throughout the event, securing victories against all adversaries except True Rippers, setting the stage for an exhilarating grand final that doubled as a gripping revenge match.
BLAST The Draft Season 1: Marcos Gaming, the Indian Champion
Three teams from each of the rival nations triumphed in their respective regional qualifiers, earning the opportunity to battle it out on the main stage of BLAST The Draft Season 1, held offline in Singapore. Notably, each qualifying team was joined by a seasoned Counter-Strike veteran, not merely as a mentor or coach but as a vital part of their lineup, serving as the fifth player:
- Adam "friberg" Friberg | Pak Boyz
- Ladislav "GuardiaN" Kovacs | Gods Reign
- Richard "shox" Papillon | Marcos Gaming
- Olof "olofmeister" Gustafsson | WahWah
- Christopher "GeT_RiGhT" Alesund | Come Mid
- Kenny "kennyS" Schrub | True Rippers
The tournament commenced with a double-elimination bracket, featuring four teams starting from the Upper Bracket Quarterfinals—Gods Reign, WahWah, Pak Boyz, and Marcos Gaming—while True Rippers and Come Mid entered directly from the Upper Bracket Semifinals. Marcos Gaming showcased dominance by defeating two Pakistani teams, Pak Boyz and Come Mid, in convincing fashion, propelling them to the Upper Bracket Final against True Rippers.
In a showdown between the top Indian seeds, the Upper Bracket Final witnessed a nail-biting best-of-three series that extended to an overtime thriller on the decisive map, Inferno. Despite their utmost efforts, Marcos Gaming faltered, relegating them to the lower bracket. Undeterred, Marcos Gaming mounted a formidable comeback, decisively defeating Pak Boyz for the second time, securing their place in the grand final for a rematch against True Rippers.
The grand final, a best-of-five series, lived up to expectations, culminating in a tense showdown that extended to the fifth and final map. While True Rippers mounted a fierce challenge, Marcos Gaming showcased resilience and skill, ultimately clinching victory and claiming the championship.
With their triumph, Marcos Gaming earned a handsome prize of $20,000 USD, solidifying their status as champions of BLAST The Draft Season 1.
The inaugural season of this captivating tournament showcased the immense potential of the South Asian region in competitive CS2. While limited to teams from India and Pakistan this time, it remains to be seen if future seasons will open doors to teams from additional countries.
