BLAST Open Porto group-stage openers set in Copenhagen

BLAST has released the opening group-stage schedule for BLAST Open Porto, which will run at the organizer’s studios in Copenhagen from Aug. 26–31. The group stage will cut 16 teams to six before the tournament moves to the Super Bock Arena in Porto for the playoff rounds.

The Copenhagen phase features 16 teams competing for six spots in the Porto playoffs. The winner of each group will advance directly to the semifinals in Porto. Group runners-up and third-place teams that progress through the lower bracket will qualify for the quarterfinals.

Group A opens on Aug. 26 with Aurora facing G2 at 09:00 local time. Later that day Spirit plays DENDELE at 11:30, Natus Vincere meet M80 at 14:00, and FURIA take on paiN at 15:30. Group A’s lineup includes Natus Vincere, Spirit and FURIA among the teams contesting the available advancement spots.

Group B begins on Aug. 27, with Vitality fielding Justinas “jL” Lekavicius as a stand-in for William “mezii” Merriman, who is stepping away for paternity leave. jL’s first match with Vitality is scheduled against Inner Circle at 09:00. MOUZ face 9z at 11:30, FUT meet Legacy at 14:00, and Falcons play Lynn Vision at 15:30.

Ten teams that reach the Esports World Cup playoffs in Paris will travel to Copenhagen after their matches in Paris. Additional entrants in the BLAST field include M80, Lynn Vision, 9z and paiN, who were eliminated in the Esports World Cup group stage, and DENDELE and Inner Circle, who did not qualify through the EWC open qualifier.

The Copenhagen results will determine seeding and which teams go straight to the semifinals in Porto and which must play in the quarterfinals. The schedule gives teams coming from Paris a short turnaround before their first group matches in Copenhagen.