BLAST have expanded outside of CS:GO and hosted their own Valorant Ignition Series event with some of the best teams in the world taking part. Here’s everything you need to know about it.
With the competitive Valorant scene taking shape as organizations from across the world build star-studded rosters, tournament organizers have also been trying to make headway with their own events.
Now, BLAST has followed in the footsteps of Flashpoint, going from being a typically Counter-Strike: Global Offensive-only event host to adding Valorant to their skillset.
They have hosted their own European-based event, with a €50,000 prize pool, as four of the continent’s best teams battled on the near-future Earth to prove they’re best around. Here’s what you need to know.
G2 Esports win their sixth straight
BLAST’s Valorant Ignition Series event got underway on September 11 and ended on September 13 – with every minute being broadcast live on Twitch.
G2, arguably the world’s best team, proved why they were considered the favorites coming in, as they dominated their way to the Grand Final with sweep after sweep. But, despite FunPlus Phoenix being one of their 2-0 victims, the team managed to push G2 into an absurd Game 5. This was the first time a team has taken two maps off of G2 and the first time in this tournament that a team had taken just one map against them.
[#VALORANT | Ignition Series]@G2Esports have done it! They edge out @FPX_Esports 3-2 and are your @BLASTValorant Invitational champs!
6-peat 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
Results & final placements: https://t.co/Wk0MaxkTIf pic.twitter.com/8nJAGgfM8a
— Valorant News (@ValorINTEL) September 13, 2020
The game was incredibly back-and-forth, with G2 needing some huge performances and the clutch factor to secure the win. The final map was fittingly as close as the series, going 13-11 in favor of G2. Notably, G2’s Ardis ‘ardiis’ Svarenieks was crowned tournament MVP.
The @Gillette Tournament MVP: @G2ardiis 🔥
With so many impactful performances he was instrumental in taking home the trophy for @G2esports!
CONGRATULATIONS 🏅#TwitchInvitational #BLASTVALORANT pic.twitter.com/IAF9X031qv
— BLAST VALORANT (@BLASTVALORANT) September 13, 2020
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BLAST VALORANT Ignition Series: Results
G2 Esports, FunPlus Phoenix, Ninjas in Pyjamas, and Team Liquid all battled in BLAST’s event.
The format of the event consisted of a double-elimination best-of-three bracket, so it wasn’t a case of scooping up a lucky win in a best-of-one. Teams needed to be consistent in order to win… especially in the Grand Final, where it became a best-of-five and truly tested the two best’s mental fortitudes.
Here’s how all three days of pure Valorant action played out.
Below is the full schedule for all three days of Ignition Series matches.
Friday, September 11
Round | Match | PST | EST | BST | CEST |
Upper Bracket Semifinals | G2 Esports 2-0 Ninjas in Pyjamas | 6:30 AM | 9:30 AM | 2:30 PM | 3:30 PM |
FunPlus Phoenix 2-0 Team Liquid | 10:30 AM | 1:30 PM | 6:30 PM | 7:30 PM |
Saturday, September 12
Round | Match | PST | EST | BST | CEST |
Lower Semifinal | Ninjas in Pyjamas 0-2 Team Liquid | 6:30 AM | 9:30 AM | 2:30 PM | 3:30 PM |
Upper Bracket Final | G2 Esports 2-0 FunPlus Phoenix | 10:30 AM | 1:30 PM | 6:30 PM | 7:30 PM |
Sunday, September 13
Round | Match | PST | EST | BST | CEST |
Lower Bracket Final | Team Liquid 0-2 FunPlus Phoenix | 7:30 AM | 8:30 AM | 1:30 PM | 2:30 PM |
Grand Final | G2 Esports 3-2 FunPlus Phoenix | 9:30 AM | 12:30 PM | 5:30 PM | 6:30 PM |
BLAST Valorant Ignition Series: Final placements
After three days of the four best European lineups going toe-to-toe, here’s how each team finished with their respective prize money.
Placing | Team | Prize money (EUR) |
1st | G2 Esports | €25,000 |
2nd | FunPlus Phoenix | €12.500 |
3rd | Team Liquid | €7,500 |
4th | Ninjas in Pyjamas | €5,000 |