TYLOO and NiP Secure Early Spots at BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026

TYLOO and NiP Secure Early Spots at BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026

Two well-known Counter-Strike 2 organisations — TYLOO and Ninjas in Pyjamas (NiP) — have already punched their tickets to one of the most notable CS2 competitions of the early 2026 season: BLAST Open Rotterdam. These teams earned their places by triumphing in competitive regional qualifying events hosted under the BLAST Premier Rising banner. 

BLAST Open Rotterdam is set to become a marquee event on the CS2 calendar, bringing intense competition and international attention to the Netherlands later this year. 

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How They Qualified

⮞ TYLOO: Dominance in Asia

Chinese powerhouse TYLOO emerged victorious at the Yuqilin Pinnacle of Battle Season 2 — a BLAST Premier Rising event in Asia. The squad delivered an impressive performance throughout the regional qualifier, navigating past several opponents without dropping a map, including teams such as FengDa, Rare Atom, and Lynn Vision, to secure their place at BLAST Open Rotterdam. 

This qualification represents a significant milestone for TYLOO in 2026. The team, which has restructured its roster with fresh talent — including rising star Su “Zero” Jingshen — is making its first major international LAN appearance since the roster changes were completed at the beginning of the year. 

⮞ NiP: Tough Road Through Europe

Veteran organisation Ninjas in Pyjamas prevailed in the RES Showdown 3 — European BLAST Premier Rising event, booking their spot after a series of hard-fought matches. Their qualifying campaign was not straightforward; NiP required all three maps in several series, including matchups against Gentle Mates, M1X KS, and GamerLegion, demonstrating resilience and experience on the European stage. 

They eventually closed out their decisive match with a solid showing to clinch the qualification, proving that even gritty, closely contested series can be overcome with strong strategic play and individual performances. 

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BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026: Event Format & Context

BLAST Open Rotterdam is scheduled for 27–29 March 2026 and will be hosted at the Rotterdam Ahoy, one of Europe’s premier indoor arenas. This marks one of the biggest scheduled CS2 events in the first half of the year and is expected to attract a worldwide audience. 

📍 Event Structure

• Total teams: 16 teams will participate in the main tournament.

• Qualification paths:

  • 12 teams will receive invitations based on their positions in the Valve Regional Standings (VRS) as of the 2 February cut-off date.

  • Two spots have already been claimed by TYLOO and NiP through BLAST Premier Rising events.

  • The remaining slots — typically two more — are still up for grabs through the North American and South American Rising qualifiers.

BLAST’s tournament structure involves a double-elimination group stage, where teams compete in best-of-three (Bo3) matches. The top teams from each group will either advance directly to the playoffs or compete in lower bracket matches to keep their title hopes alive. 

The playoffs themselves culminate in a single-elimination bracket, with the grand final contested as a best-of-five (Bo5) — often producing some of the most memorable matches of the season. 

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Prize Pool and Global Reach

BLAST Open Rotterdam comes with a substantial prize pool and a significant payout structure for teams. While initial announcements varied slightly by source, multiple outlets cite a $1.1 million total value, with approximately $400,000 in direct prize money and the remainder allocated for team payments and other awards. 

The event is expected to be broadcast globally in over 100 countries and more than 30 languages, underscoring BLAST’s commitment to making Counter-Strike one of the most accessible esports experiences worldwide. 

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Why This Matters

BLAST Open Rotterdam represents a strategic highlight in the 2026 CS2 season. Coming at a moment when competitive Counter-Strike is rapidly evolving — and following the establishment of the VRS system replacing traditional partner leagues — this tournament bridges open qualifiers and major invitational events.

For teams like TYLOO and NiP, early qualification provides a crucial opportunity to build momentum, refine strategies, and gain international exposure ahead of other major tournaments later in the year, including marquee events such as IEM Cologne and various PGL Majors. 

Their performances in Rotterdam will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike, especially as both teams aim to disrupt the rankings and potentially upset higher-seeded invites.!