Mayor of London Projects £30M Economic Boost from BLAST Premier London Open

Mayor of London Projects £30M Economic Boost from BLAST Premier London Open

London’s Mayor, Sadiq Khan, has heralded the upcoming BLAST Premier London Open as a major economic and cultural highlight for the city. The Counter‑Strike 2 tournament, set for September 5–7, 2025 at the OVO Arena Wembley, is poised to be the UK’s biggest esports event of the year. It is expected to generate an estimated £30 million economic impact for the capital. 

The event features six elite teams competing for a $1 million (~£747,000) prize pool, along with valuable Valve Regional Standings (VRS) points that can secure their spots at the StarLadder Budapest Major in November. 

Mayor Khan praised the event, stating:

“I am delighted to see the prestigious BLAST Premier London Open come to the capital this weekend. It will showcase the very best of esports as gamers and fans from across the globe flock to London, creating a significant estimated £30 million economic boost for our city. London is a leading destination for esports – a hugely exciting and fast‑growing industry – and I will continue to work hard to support its growth in the capital.” 

BLAST CEO Robbie Douek highlighted London’s position as a premier destination for major live events:

“We are thrilled to be bringing elite esports back to London for what is set to be the UK’s biggest esports and gaming event of the year. The capital has a rich history of hosting world‑class sporting and entertainment events, and we are delighted to add esports and gaming to that list. We can’t wait to welcome fans from across the UK and beyond to witness the world’s best Counter‑Strike players compete.” 

Ailsa Buck‑Dell, Head of Major Events & Experiences at London & Partners, added:

“We’re incredibly excited to see the return of the BLAST Premier Open to London. Previous events have been a huge success, bringing the capital's gaming community together while also introducing new audiences to the exciting world of esports. Live entertainment is one of the many things that makes London so special, and hosting world‑class events like this shows how our city continues to bring people together and create unforgettable moments.” 

Last year’s BLAST Premier Spring Final in London delivered a significant £30 million economic impact, a benchmark this year’s organisers are aiming to match.  The broader esports ecosystem in London continues to flourish, building on events like RLCS London Major and League of Legends World Championship Finals, which have collectively contributed tens of millions of pounds to the city’s economy.

Related Developments

• Playoff Teams Decided
  The six teams that qualified for the BLAST Open London playoffs are: Team Vitality, FaZe Clan, M80, FURIA, G2 Esports, and MOUZ. Notably, Team Vitality topped its group, FaZe introduced newcomer jcobbb, M80 secured a surprise Tier‑1 appearance, FURIA rode a strong wave of form, and G2 pulled off a dominant win over Team Spirit.

• Virtus.pro Roster Changes Post‑Event
  Following a disappointing exit from BLAST Open London, Virtus.pro has made roster changes: Denis ‘electroNic’ Sharipov was benched, and Vadim ‘tO0RO’ Arkov from the VP.Prodigy academy team has been promoted to the main CS2 roster. Ilya ‘Perfecto’ Zalutskiy has taken over as their new in-game leader.

• FURIA Secures Semifinal Spot
  In group action, FURIA defeated MOUZ 2‑0 in the upper bracket final to advance directly to the semifinals. Despite the loss, MOUZ still has a chance to progress via the quarterfinals. xertioN emerged as the match MVP for MOUZ, delivering strong individual stats.