On Wednesday, rain’s 100 Thieves eliminated karrigan’s Falcons from the BLAST Bounty Season 2.
Due to holding a lower seed in the championship, 100 Thieves chose to face the Falcons in the first round.
Earlier on the same day, the team had debuted with a loss in the qualifier for the StarLadder StarSeries Fall, with new captain Jack “Gizmy” von Spreckelsen. The team then faced the Falcons in the inaugural round of the BLAST Bounty Season 2 and secured the elimination victory.
For the Falcons, the defeat represented a jarring early exit. The team, the current Major champion, departed in the 17th/32nd place.
Before the server went live, NiKo shared his perspective on the matchup, acknowledging the obvious motivation behind 100 Thieves’ choice. He noted the intriguing nature of facing rain and karrigan, mentioning that it had been a while since he had competed against Howie and Finn. His comments framed the contest as a cool match.
The Deliberate Pick and the Single-Elimination Pressure
The BLAST Bounty Season 2 format left no room for error, operating on a single-elimination basis. This structure magnified the significance of 100 Thieves’ calculated decision to challenge the Falcons. By leveraging their lower seed, they not only chose a high-profile opponent but also forced the Major winners into a do-or-die scenario immediately. The victory advances 100 Thieves to the second round of the initial phase.
For the Falcons, the early elimination provides an unexpected extended break before their next scheduled commitment, the Esports World Cup, which runs from August 12 to August 23.
- 100 Thieves utilized a lower seed to select the Falcons as their first-round opponent in the single-elimination BLAST Bounty Season 2.
- The Falcons, current Major champions, were eliminated in the 17th/32nd place after losing the opening match.
- NiKo commented before the match that the choice was obvious and highlighted the interesting dynamic of facing both rain and karrigan.
- The victory allowed 100 Thieves to advance to the second round.
While the BLAST Bounty result dominated the headlines, the day’s events also highlighted the transitional period both organizations are navigating. The contrasting outcomes within a single day painted a vivid picture of the volatility in professional Counter-Strike 2.
Diverging Paths Forward After the Early Exit
The immediate competitive futures of the two teams now diverge sharply. 100 Thieves must quickly refocus on their next BLAST Bounty match. The team’s ability to bounce back from the earlier StarLadder defeat and perform under elimination pressure against the Falcons highlights their resilience.
Conversely, the Falcons are forced into an unplanned hiatus. Their elimination from the BLAST Bounty Season 2 means they will have more preparation time until the Esports World Cup, their next commitment, between the 12 and 23 of August. This break could serve as a critical reset period for karrigan and his squad. The reigning Major champions will be eager to reassert their dominance on one of the year’s biggest stages.
| Team | Outcome | Next Event |
|---|---|---|
| 100 Thieves | Advanced to second round | BLAST Bounty Season 2 next match |
| Falcons | Eliminated (17th-32nd) | Esports World Cup |
The first post-FaZe encounter between rain and karrigan delivered immediate drama and a definitive result, with 100 Thieves emerging victorious.
The match took place in the opening round of the BLAST Bounty Season 2, where 100 Thieves, holding a lower seed, chose to face Falcons.
The tournament uses a single-elimination format, so Falcons exited in 17th/32nd place after the loss.
Before the match, NiKo called the choice obvious and noted it would be fun to play against rain and Finn again.
With the win, 100 Thieves advanced to the second round of the initial phase and must win their next match to reach the playoffs.
Falcons, the current Major champion, will have more preparation time before the Esports World Cup, their next commitment from August 12 to 23.
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