New 32-team format debuts for BLAST Major
Odds are now live on Cloudbet for the BLAST.tv Austin Major — with an explosive storyline already unfolding: FaZe Clan announced Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev joins the roster on loan from Natus Vincere for the tournament.
The switch comes on the back of benching Helvijs “broky” Saukants. s1mple’s reputation is enough to bring huge hopes, yet the markets are cautious: 10.1 is the price to win the tournament for FaZe outright.
Outright winner odds of June 3:
· Vitality – 1.67
· Falcons – 4.13
· Spirit – 4.21
· MOUZ – 6.59
· FaZe Clan – 10.1
Vitality is still the favorite to win, but the addition of s1mple makes FaZe the largest wild card on the table — a high-risk, high-reward bet for those who are looking for volatility.
Swiss format makes each round a risk
Austin Major is held between June 3 to 22 with 32 teams and a three-round Swiss format. Each round is played as best-of-one until teams get eliminated or qualified. With so little room for error, even solid lineups can get punished by one map — and underdogs can excel.
“This is a bettor's enigma,” says Tim "Dktruman" de Lange, CS commentator and Cloudbet esports analyst, “Favorites are susceptible to upsets, and long shots with a big day — such as FaZe — can reverse the script. Savvy players are closely watching the initial rounds because they understand each victory or defeat causes immediate line movement.”
No-limit betting on the match winner is available on Cloudbet. Round handicaps, correct score, overtime markets, and round total combos such as "Team 1 to win and more than X rounds" are also among Cloudbet’s available betting markets.
s1mple's influence: Upside vs uncertainty
It is s1mple’s first Major since his stint with Team Falcons for the Shanghai Major last November. While his raw skill is not in doubt, there is uncertainty pertaining to FaZe’s cohesion and practice time with him on the team, especially after his debut - and FaZe’s early exit - at IEM Dallas in May.
“Bettors are playing cautiously,” adds Dktruman, “FaZe is not bet for superiority at 10.1 — they’re bet for mayhem. If s1mple gets off to a fast start and the team clicks, we may look back on this number being the steal of the century. There is no time to warm up, however, in this best-of-one.”
Vitality vs MOUZ: On a collision
Team Vitality arrives with the strongest form, having won six consecutive events and riding a 30-match win streak.
While Vitality leads the field, challengers are not in short supply. MOUZ, Team Spirit, and Team Falcons are among the top contenders capable of testing the French side’s dominance. Of those, MOUZ has the most direct history — though not the results. In 2025 alone, Vitality has defeated them in three separate finals.
Still, MOUZ brings a deep and well-rounded lineup. With former Vitality player Spinx now leading alongside torzsi, Jimpphat, and xertioN, the team has shown flashes of brilliance. Their most recent meeting at IEM Dallas pushed Vitality to the limit on multiple maps, underscoring their potential to turn the tide under the right conditions.
Meta watch: Aggression reigns
The modern meta for CS2 prefers aggressive play: explosive riflers, aggressive site rushes, and aggressive AWPers. CS2 maps have shorter time-to-kill and closer angles, so rounds are frequently won and lost within the initial 20 seconds.
“Players such as ZywOo, frozen, maden, and now s1mple are all well-placed to take advantage,” says Dktruman, “This extends to round total and first-kill props, where smart bettors try to take advantage of tendencies of the players in the initial rounds.”
Note: Odds are subject to change and reflect current market trends.
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Tim “Dktruman” de Lange is a Dutch CS:GO and Dota 2 commentator and betting analyst. Known for his sharp line reads and tournament insights, he contributes expert coverage for Cloudbet esports. Follow him on X @dktrumantv.
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