The group stage of BLAST Open Porto 2026 continues today. Following the opening matches of the first group, Group B enters the competition, featuring four Bo3 series right away.
Particular attention from Ukrainian fans will be focused on Inner Circle, who will face Team Vitality. Meanwhile, the main event of the day will be the matchup between FUT Esports and Legacy — two teams that recently surprised everyone with their performances at the Esports World Cup 2026.
The day will kick off with the Team Vitality vs Inner Circle match. The Ukrainian team received one of the toughest possible starts in the group, standing opposite Vitality — a world-class roster that will also be eager to redeem itself after EWC.
For Inner Circle, this is a great opportunity to test themselves against one of the top rosters in the world. The Ukrainians have already earned their spot at BLAST Open through the European qualifier, and will now try to pull off an upset directly on the tournament's main stage.
The match starts at 12:00 Kyiv time.
Next up on the server will be MOUZ and 9z. The European squad approaches the matchup as favorites, but 9z should definitely not be underestimated. For MOUZ, this is the first opportunity to assert their ambitions after EWC, while 9z will try to disrupt the expected script and immediately send their opponent to the lower bracket.
Start time — 14:30.
At 17:00, a match will take place that can without exaggeration be called the central clash of day two — FUT Esports vs Legacy.
Both teams had a strong Esports World Cup 2026, reaching the highest stages of the tournament. FUT finished EWC in second place, while Legacy came in third, making their encounter at BLAST feel like a continuation of the Paris storyline.
Ukrainian fans should pay special attention to FUT. The team roster features dem0n and cmtry, and following the recent contract extensions with dem0n, dziugss, and coolio, FUT are clearly determined to preserve their winning core.
Now, one of these teams is guaranteed to start BLAST with a loss. And while this is only the beginning of the group stage, the winner will gain an important advantage on the path to the playoffs.
The Falcons roster holds favorite status, but Lynn Vision have repeatedly demonstrated that they can create problems for stronger opponents. For Falcons, this is an opportunity to start the tournament with a win, while for the Chinese team, it is a chance to immediately surprise Group B.
The match is scheduled for 18:30.
What are we watching on August 27?
• 12:00 — Vitality vs Inner Circle • 14:30 — MOUZ vs 9z • 17:00 — Legacy vs FUT • 18:30 — Falcons vs Lynn Vision
All matches will be played in a Bo3 format, and based on the results of the group stage, the top three teams from each group will advance to the playoffs. Group winners will immediately secure a spot in the semifinals, while second and third places will start in the quarterfinals.
For Ukrainian fans, the main question of the day is simple: can Inner Circle pull off an upset against Vitality? And in the evening, the battle of EWC bronze medalists and finalists awaits us — Legacy vs FUT.
As a reminder, Aleksib on NAVI’s Slump, the Absurdity of Roster Rumors, and Preparation for BLAST Open Porto 2026.
