Cloud9 and FaZe Clan each posted a big win Wednesday as action got underway at the BLAST Premier: World Final 2023 in Abu Dhabi.
Eight teams are gathered at Etihad Arena in the UAE capital to compete for a $1 million purse, with the winner of Sunday’s Counter-Strike 2 grand final earning $500,000.
Teams are divided into two groups. The winners of the double-elimination group stage advance to the playoff semifinals. The runners-up advance to the quarterfinals as the high seeds, with the third-place teams earning the low seeds. All matches are best-of-three.
In Group A on Wednesday, Cloud9 swept ENCE with a 13-4 win on Ancient and a 16-13 decision on Overpass. Team Vitality swept Natus Vincere with a 13-8 win on Anubis and a 13-6 victory on Overpass.
In Group B, FaZe Clan swept Heroic with a 13-3 win on Overpass and a 16-14 decision on Ancient. G2 Esports swept MOUZ with a 13-10 victory on Ancient and a 13-11 win on Vertigo.
Action continues Thursday with four matches:
–ENCE vs. Natus Vincere (Group A elimination match)
–Cloud9 vs. Team Vitality (Group A winners match)
–Heroic vs. MOUZ (Group B elimination match)
–FaZe Clan vs. G2 Esports (Group B winners match)
–Group standings with won-loss record, total score and point differential:
Group A:
1. Cloud9: 1-0, 29-17, plus-12
2. Team Vitality: 1-0, 26-14, plus-12
3. ENCE: 0-1, 17-29, minus-12
3. Natus Vincere: 0-1, 14-26, minus-12
Group B:
1. FaZe Clan: 1-0, 29-17, plus-12
1. G2 Esports: 1-0, 26-21, plus-5
3. Heroic: 0-1, 17-29, minus-12
3. MOUZ: 0-1, 21-26, minus-5
–BLAST Premier: World Final 2023 prize pool:
1. $500,000 — TBD
2. $250,000 — TBD
3-4. $85,000 — TBD, TBD
5-6. $25,000 — TBD, TBD
7-8. $15,000 — TBD, TBD
–Field Level Media
