BLAST Rivals Hong Kong 2026: groups, format, schedule and storylines of the last big event before the Major
BLAST Rivals Hong Kong kicks off this Wednesday, 11 November, as the last big event before the Singapore Major. Eight invited teams, a $1 million prize pool and five days of action at Chek Lap Kok, culminating in the grand final on Sunday 15.
The format
The eight teams are split into two double-elimination groups of four, with every match best-of-three. The top three in each group reach the playoffs: the winner goes straight to the semi-finals, while second and third play the quarter-finals. The playoffs, from 13 to 15 November, are single elimination, with best-of-three quarter-finals and semi-finals and a best-of-five grand final.
Group A: FURIA defend the title
Group A brings together Vitality, Falcons, Legacy and FURIA. FURIA are the defending champions: last year they won this same event in Hong Kong after coming from behind against Falcons in the final (3-1). They also arrive as PGL Masters Bucharest champions, and for FalleN it will be one of the last two events of his career, as he retires at the end of the year. The group opens with a Brazilian derby: Legacy against FURIA.
The other opener pits Vitality against Falcons, who meet for the fifth time this year. Vitality turned down IEM Beijing, while Falcons missed the playoffs there after being knocked out by NAVI, and they arrive amid rumours: journalist Richard Lewis claimed last week that karrigan could move into the coaching role, something Falcons have not commented on.
Group B: SunPayus against Spirit
Group B opens with Spirit against FUT, who play their second event with Álvaro "SunPayus" García. On his debut in Bucharest, the Spanish AWPer won all three of his Swiss-stage matches, including one against Vitality, before falling to Nemiga in the quarter-finals. Now he faces donk's Spirit.
The other match sees MOUZ, fresh from winning IEM Beijing without dropping a map, take on a G2 side that left Bucharest with a 0-3 Swiss record.
Wednesday's schedule
With the event in Hong Kong, the first day takes place overnight and early morning in Europe (CET):
- 03:00 · Legacy vs FURIA
- 05:30 · Vitality vs Falcons
- 07:00 · Spirit vs FUT
- 09:30 · MOUZ vs G2
The final rehearsal
NAVI, third in Beijing, have chosen to skip Hong Kong and will go into the Major without further matches. For the eight teams that will be there, BLAST Rivals is the last chance to head to Singapore with confidence, and the last chance to see FalleN before his farewell at the Major.
Source: HLTV, BLAST, Liquipedia, Fragster.