BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026 Fantasy Guide: kyousuke Uncertainty, Falcons Risk, and Top Picks

Vitality dominate picks as Falcons face roster issues ahead of Rotterdam group stage

The BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026 Fantasy game is officially underway, but early roster uncertainty surrounding Maksim “kyousuke” Lukin is already shaping decision-making for players.

With Falcons forced to field academy stand-in Matej “NucleonZ” Trajkoski for their opening match, Fantasy managers are facing one of the biggest dilemmas of the group stage: is picking Falcons worth the risk?

kyousuke Situation Explained: What It Means for Fantasy

kyousuke has been ruled out of Falcons’ opening match against NRG due to visa issues, with his availability for the rest of the tournament still unclear.

Instead of a full roster replacement, the BLAST Fantasy system will treat NucleonZ as a round-by-round substitute, meaning:

Points may fluctuate depending on who plays

Player consistency becomes harder to predict

Falcons picks carry significantly higher volatility

This uncertainty makes Falcons one of the most high-risk, high-reward teams in Fantasy.

Falcons Form: Why They’re Still Dangerous

Despite the instability, Falcons have already proven they can perform with NucleonZ.

During a previous BLAST event:

Falcons reached the grand final

Defeated Vitality and Liquid

Eventually lost to PARIVISION in a close series

Head coach Danny “zonic” Sørensen acknowledged the difficulty but remained optimistic:

“We have to keep our heads up high… our best result came with a stand-in.”

However, he also admitted the situation is “obviously frustrating,” highlighting the team’s ongoing inconsistency.

Vitality Lead Fantasy Picks Again

As expected, Vitality are the most popular Fantasy choice heading into Rotterdam.

The most-picked players include:

Dan “apEX” Madesclaire (most selected overall)

Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut

Robin “ropz” Kool

With strong recent form and stability, Vitality represent the safest core for Fantasy teams, especially in a volatile group stage.

BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026 Format (Fantasy Impact)

Understanding the format is key for maximizing Fantasy points:

Two double-elimination groups (8 teams each)

All matches are best-of-three

Teams reaching upper-bracket finals gain extra map opportunities

📍 Schedule:

Group Stage: March 18–23 (Copenhagen)

Playoffs: March 27–29 (Rotterdam Ahoy Arena)

This structure rewards:

Consistent teams

Deep bracket runs

Players with high map volume

Group Breakdown: Teams to Watch

Group A

NAVI

FaZe

Falcons

FURIA

Aurora

B8

NRG

TYLOO

Group B

Vitality

Spirit

MOUZ

Liquid

The MongolZ

PARIVISION

Ninjas in Pyjamas

9z

Key Storylines Affecting Fantasy Picks

Spirit Still Confident Despite Recent Struggles

After a disappointing EPL result, Boris “magixx” Vorobiev pushed back against criticism:

“We still have something to play with… we are still not washed up.”

This suggests bounce-back potential, making Spirit players interesting mid-tier picks.

FaZe in Crisis Mode

FaZe enter Rotterdam under pressure after a poor start to 2026 and internal changes.

Finn “karrigan” Andersen didn’t hold back:

“This year has been completely shit.”

He also confirmed that coach NEO’s departure came as a surprise, adding uncertainty to FaZe’s performance outlook.

Best Fantasy Strategy for Rotterdam

Safe Picks (High Ownership)

Vitality core (ZywOo, ropz, apEX)

Stable top-tier teams

Risk Picks (High Upside)

Falcons (depending on kyousuke status)

Spirit bounce-back options

FaZe (if form improves)

Final Thoughts

The BLAST Rotterdam Fantasy game starts with a familiar dilemma:

Play it safe with dominant teams like Vitality

Or gamble on unstable but high-upside rosters like Falcons

Ultimately, the biggest swing factor remains clear:

kyousuke’s availability could decide whether Falcons become a Fantasy goldmine—or a trap.