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We’ve already taken a look at how the Intel Grand Slam Season 2 is starting to take shape this week, so in this article, we’ll focus on some of the big tournaments coming up over the next seven days. Let’s go!
CS:GO BLAST Pro Series – Madrid 2019
This weekend, the ninth BLAST Pro Series (BPS) event will take place at the Madrid Arena in the capital of Spain. Six teams, five invites and one qualifier from the Iberia Play-In, will battle to earn a place in the Grand Final and a shot at the top prize of $125,000 in cash, plus 10 BPS points.
Let’s take a look at the history of the Blast Pro Series.
BLAST Pro Series – Results
- Copenhagen 2017 – SK Gaming
- Istanbul 2018 – Astralis
- Copenhagen 2018 – Natus Vincere
- Lisbon 2018 – Astralis
- Sao Paulo 2018 – Astralis
- Miami 2019 – FaZe Clan
- Madrid 2019 – ?
- Los Angeles 2019 – ?
- Global Final 2019 – ?
Each event boasts a guaranteed prize pool of $250,000 apart from the Global Final, which has a prize pool of $500,000 to be shared between the four teams that qualify. Current standings are below.
- Team Liquid – 16 Points
- Astralis – 12 Points
- FaZe Clan – 12 Points
- MiBR – 6 Points
- Natus Vincere – 4 Points
- Ninjas in Pyjamas 4 Points
- Cloud9 – 0 Points
Only the top four teams in the BPS Standings at the end of the seventh and final BLAST Pro Series event later this year will qualify for the Global Finals. Thus, there is plenty riding on Madrid.
Madrid 2019 – Qualifiers
- Astralis (Circuit Invite)
- Cloud9 (Circuit Invite)
- Natus Vincere (Circuit Invite)
- Ninjas in Pyjamas (Circuit Invite)
- ENCE (Wild Card Invite)
- Movistar Riders/Giants Gaming (Iberian Playoff – to be held on May 10)
With Team Liquid not competing in this event, the chance is there for Astralis to take the 10 points and open up a commanding lead at the top of the table.
Dota 2 MDL Disneyland Paris Major
Last weekend, the first MDL event to be held outside of China began at Disneyland, Paris. One million dollars are up for grabs, plus the lion’s share of 15,000 Dota Pro Circuit points.
The 16 teams in the finals include all of the biggest names in Dota 2 esports: last year’s The International winners OG, as well as Dota Pro Circuit top teams TeamSecret, Team Liquid, Virtus.pro, and PSG.LGD.
The tournament began with a group where, once again, the big-name teams dominated.
Group Stage standings
Group A
- pro – 2-0
- Team Liquid – 2-1
- Keen Gaming – 1-2
- Beastcoast – 0-2
Group B
- Team Secret – 2-0
- Ninjas in Pyjamas – 2-1
- Chaos Esports Club – 1-2
- Team Empire – 0-2
Group C
- Vici Gaming – 2-0
- LGD – 2-1
- Mineski – 1-2
- paiN Gaming – 0-2
Group D
- Evil Geniuses – 2-0
- OG – 2-1
- compLexity Gaming – 1-2
- Fnatic – 0-2
Currently, the tournament is in its playoffs. In the upper brackets, Team Secret, OG, Evil Geniuses, and Ninjas in Pyjamas landed wins to move into the second round. The lower bracket saw compLexity Gaming, Mineski, paiN Gaming, and Keen Gaming move on from Round 1.
The big shock so far was Dota Pro Circuit leaders Virtus.pro losing their Upper Bracket Round 1 game to OG. They now face a tricky route to the Grand Final with PSG.LGD lying in wait in the next round should they get past Mineski in their Lower Bracket Round 2 contest.
