The race for the final invitations to BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026 is entering its final stretch, and Ukrainian team B8 remains among the contenders for a tournament spot. Following the results of the first day of play at IEM Kraków 2026, performances in Kraków will determine the fate of the last two available slots.
To secure an invite, B8 need to reach the second stage of the tournament, meaning they must win two more matches. However, there is also a more complicated scenario in which the team could still qualify even after a 0–2 elimination, but that would require both Legacy and HEROIC to lose as well. The situation remains extremely tight, as all competing teams are still fighting in parallel matches.
After the latest results, Aurora have already secured their BLAST spot, while GamerLegion are officially out of the race. Liquid, B8, Legacy, and HEROIC are now battling for the final two slots, with everything set to be decided over the next two days in matches including paiN vs B8, Liquid vs G2, Legacy vs FUT, and GamerLegion vs HEROIC.
Liquid will guarantee qualification with a win over G2, while a loss for Legacy against FUT would automatically eliminate the Brazilian side from contention. HEROIC keep their chances alive only with strong results of their own combined with losses from their rivals, while B8 remain in one of the most flexible positions, as even a single win could keep them in the race until the final ranking calculations.
Additional intrigue comes from the fact that HEROIC still have a chance due to their relatively low number of LAN wins, meaning each new LAN victory grants them maximum ranking points. As a result, the standings can shift after virtually every map played.
Invitations to BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026 will be issued based on the Valve ranking on February 2. The same ranking will also determine invites to PGL Bucharest, IEM Atlanta, and the CS Asia Championships.
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As a reminder, Boars Gaming Finish Second at PMGLL S3.
