Astralis, G2 win groups at BLAST Premier World Final

Astralis and G2 Esports won their groups Thursday and advanced to the semifinals of the $1 million BLAST Premier: World Final 2024 in Sentosa, Singapore.

Astralis swept MOUZ in the Group A winners match and G2 swept Team Spirit in the Group B winners match. MOUZ and Spirit moved into the quarterfinals of the single-elimination playoff bracket.

Also Thursday, FaZe Clan rallied for a 2-1 win over Natus Vincere in a Group A elimination match and Team Vitality came from behind for a 2-1 win against Team Liquid in a Group B elimination match. FaZe Clan and Vitality moved into the quarterfinals.

The Counter-Strike 2 event began Wednesday with eight teams battling for a top prize of $500,000. The top three teams from each group made the playoffs. All matches are best-of-three until Sunday's best-of-five grand final.

Astralis won 13-7 on Vertigo and 13-9 on Nuke against MOUZ. Denmark's Nicolai "dev1ce" Reedtz led the winners with 39 kills and a plus-22 kills-deaths differential.

NAVI opened with a 13-6 win on Inferno before FaZe Clan answered with a 13-8 win on Mirage and a 13-6 decision on Ancient. Robin "ropz" Kool of Estonia led FaZe Clan with 47 kills and a plus-10 differential.

G2 had a tough battle with Spirit, winning 16-13 on Anubis and 13-10 on Mirage. Russia's Ilya "m0NESY" Osipov posted a team-high 42 kills and a plus-9 differential for G2.

After falling 13-10 to Liquid on Anubis, Vitality bounced back with a 13-3 victory on Dust II and a 13-11 decision on Nuke. France's Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut tallied 53 kills and a plus-22 K-D ratio to pace Vitality.

Friday's quarterfinals:

--Team Spirit vs. FaZe Clan

--MOUZ vs. Team Vitality

Final Group A standings:

1. Astralis, 2-0

2. MOUZ, 1-1

3. FaZe Clan, 1-1

3. Natus Vincere, 0-2

Final Group B standings:

1. G2 Esports, 2-0

2. Team Spirit, 1-1

3. Team Vitality, 1-1

4. Team Liquid, 0-2

BLAST Premier World Final prize pool:

1. $500,000

2. $250,000

3-4. $85,000

5-6. $25,000

7-8. $15,000 -- Natus Vincere, Team Liquid

--Field Level Media