BLAST Open: Vitality Watch
BLAST Open Rotterdam playoffs are live and Team Vitality is front‑and‑center as they chase another trophy — analysts are asking if Vitality can hold dominance after group‑stage upsets that shook the bracket. The playoffs promise high‑stakes matches that could reshape the CS2 landscape heading into mid‑2026. (esports.gg)
Vitality clinched a semi-final berth by beating PARIVISION in the group-stage upper‑bracket final on March 23, taking Inferno in overtime to lock their place in the Rotterdam semis. (dotesports.com) The six‑team playoff bracket sends competitors to Rotterdam Ahoy with Team Vitality and Natus Vincere earning byes to the semi‑finals, while quarter‑finals on March 27 pair Aurora vs The MongolZ and PARIVISION vs Falcons. (hltv.org) The group stage produced multiple shocks: MOUZ were eliminated by 9z in the lower bracket on March 21, FaZe Clan exited after a 1‑2 loss to TYLOO on March 20, and FURIA lost 1‑2 to Falcons in the Group A lower‑bracket final on March 23. (hotspawn.com) (bo3.gg) (strafe.com) The MongolZ sealed a playoff spot by beating Spirit 2‑0 with Ayush “mzinho” Batbold delivering a 1.85 series rating and decisive multi‑kill rounds on Nuke and Overpass. (dust2.in) Vitality will arrive in Rotterdam with the five‑man roster ZywOo, flameZ, mezii, apEX and ropz, and BLAST’s team page lists Vitality as No.1 in the Valve Global Rankings with 2,029 points heading into the semis. (blast.tv) Vitality’s semi is scheduled for March 28 at 07:00 CET against the winner of Aurora vs The MongolZ, and the BLAST Open Rotterdam grand final is set for March 29 at Ahoy Arena. (hltv.org)
