The new BLAST Slam qualifier format is (almost) for everyone – two major regions missing

In the world of Dota 2, the previously speedy tournament has lost its pace due to the addition of qualifiers, online stages, more competing teams, and numerous innovative features by BLAST!

In the upcoming Season 4 of BLAST Slam, the tournament structure has been altered and includes a qualifier round for the first time. Many were taken aback by the news of a LAN event in Singapore, but what’s more, each future event will now have a live audience present.

In a recent announcement, BLAST revealed plans to blend the LAN format with an online stage for their Dota 2 tournaments. Essentially, this adjustment means that competition will span over two weeks instead of one. Although they were previously known for offering a rapid tournament style, they are now opting for a more conventional approach. However, they’re not just sticking to tradition; improvements like regional qualifiers, an exclusive invitation for popular teams, and additional enhancements are being incorporated as well.

BLAST Slam’s new format includes qualifiers and a region hero invitation

Initially, everyone is welcome at this stage, but there’s a significant gap, as two key regions – North and South America – that have frequently produced compelling underdog narratives in international competitions are conspicuously absent from the scene.

According to the tournament organizer, six out of twelve competing teams have been given direct invitations. These teams hail from various geographical areas, although specific locations were not disclosed in the initial announcement. Historically, BLAST Slam formats before Season 4 focused on Europe (East and West), China, and Southeast Asia as regions of priority.

So, the qualifier format will be:

• Open Qualifiers: No limit on team registration.
  • 2 Open Qualifiers for China, 4 teams qualify for the Closed stage.
  • 2 Open Qualifiers for Europe, 4 teams qualify for the Closed stage.
  • 2 Open Qualifiers for SEA, 4 teams qualify for the Closed stage.
  • Closed Qualifiers: 8 teams per region
• 4 teams directly invited, 4 teams from Opens.
  • 1 Closed Qualifier for China, 1 team qualifies for the Main Event’s online stage.
  • 1 Closed Qualifier for Europe, 2 teams qualify for the Main Event’s online stage.
  • 1 Closed Qualifier for SEA, 1 team qualifies for the Main Event’s online stage.

It’s not surprising that BLAST Slam opted to exclude the Americas from their qualifier format, given that these regions have been underperforming despite being backed by major organizations such as OG, HEROIC, Shopify Rebellion, and Wildcard. This trend is particularly noticeable in North America, where many teams competing during The International qualifiers were temporary alliances of players who returned to the scene only for TI.

Additionally, it often happens that when South American teams make it to international tournaments, they get knocked out in the initial rounds. While they do put up some thrilling matches, their performance has yet to produce positive outcomes.

The region hero: A new way to qualify for the BLAST Slam

Conversely, the inclusion of a “regional hero” team is an exciting enhancement. This team is selected by fans from the region where the BLAST Slam takes place, adding a new flavor to this competition format. For instance, if the event occurs in Singapore, Southeast Asian (SEA) supporters can directly put their favorite team into the Main Event.

In simpler terms, BLAST has revealed that a single squad from America – whether it’s from the northern or southern part – is going to receive an invitation for the Main Event. Interestingly, the organizer of this tournament hasn’t yet disclosed which region exactly. Furthermore, they mentioned that the team will be chosen based on their outstanding performance in “Tier 1 competitions”.

Online vs. LAN stage

So far, the BLAST Slam has been a 6-day tournament held at their studio in Copenhagen, without an audience. However, this time, it will be a 6-day online event. The top two teams from each group will progress directly to the LAN semi-finals.

In simpler terms, if a team finishes from the 3rd to the 8th position, they must qualify for the Quarter Finals by going through the Play-In round. This phase is also known as LAN. Teams ranked 9th to 12th will need to participate in the Last Chance tournament before moving on to the Play-In stage.

BLAST Slam qualifier dates for the new format

As a gamer, I’m pumped about the upcoming Season 4 of BLAST Slam! This time around, it’s going down in Singapore, which means the regional powerhouse for this tournament is going to be a Southeast Asian team. If you’re keen on competing and trying to make it, you’ll need to follow this schedule:

1. First up, register your team to get started.
2. Keep an eye out for qualifier dates, as they approach, jump in and showcase your skills.
3. If you manage to secure a spot, prepare yourself for the grind as the tournament progresses.
4. Remember, only the best of the best will make it to Singapore to represent their region on the global stage! Good luck, gamers!

• Open Qualifier 1: Sep. 29 – 30
• Open Qualifier 2: Oct. 1 – 2
• Closed Qualifier: Oct. 3 – 5

In this tournament, all the matches are single-elimination best-of-one format until we reach the quarterfinals and semifinals. At that point, the matches become best-of-three. Since both finalists make it to the closed stage, there won’t be any best-of-five finals needed.

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2025-06-13 20:11