Monterrey has been chosen as the host city for the first-ever BLAST Rivals, bringing a top-tier Counter-Strike tournament to Mexico. The announcement was made during the opening day of the BLAST Bounty Finals in Copenhagen, confirming that the event will take place from April 30 to May 4.
The tournament will see eight elite teams battle it out, with four teams securing direct invitations based on their rankings in Valve’s Regional Standings. The remaining four spots will be allocated to teams from Europe, North America, South America, and Asia, ensuring a diverse international lineup.
A $350,000 prize pool will be up for grabs, along with an additional $650,000 in participation fees. While the opening matches will take place behind closed doors, the final three days will be hosted in front of a live audience at Escenario GNP Seguros, a state-of-the-art venue in Monterrey’s city center.
This marks the first tier-one CS tournament in Mexico since the 2017 ECS Season 4 Finals in Cancun. Monterrey has previously welcomed Americas RMR events for both the Paris and Copenhagen Majors, held in 2023 and 2024. Liga Ace, the tournament organizer behind those events, will once again collaborate with BLAST to bring this competition to life.
Highlighting Mexico’s growing presence in the global esports industry, Nuevo León’s economy secretary, Emmanuel Loo, emphasized the significant economic impact of gaming worldwide, which now exceeds $200 billion annually. He also pointed out that Mexico is Latin America’s largest gaming market, boasting a player base of over 76 million people and generating over $7 billion in revenue last year.
With its commitment to fostering technological, cultural, and economic growth, Nuevo León is positioning itself as a hub for esports in Latin America.
Tickets for BLAST Rivals will be released in three separate waves. The first wave, which offers the lowest prices, will include weekend ticket options ranging from 795 MXN ($39) to 6,295 MXN ($310).
The tournament format will feature a double-elimination group stage, leading to a six-team playoff bracket, culminating in a best-of-five grand final to determine the champion.
