BLAST Open Porto 2026 predictions: Who will win?

Jon Nicholson, Freelance Writer

Last Updated: 25/08/2026

Following a hugely successful appearance at the Esports World Cup (EWC), the Counter-Strike circus will head to Copenhagen and Porto for the latest BLAST Open tournament of 2026. Running from August 26th to September 6th, 16 powerhouse rosters will face off for a chance to win a share of a $1.1 million prize pool. 

With several of the world’s top teams experiencing dips in form, the door has swung wide open for the underdogs to take centre stage and make an impact. With that said, we take a look at the tournament favourites alongside the outsiders capable of taking home the trophy.

Short turnaround for several big names

Fourteen of the 16 teams competing at BLAST Open Porto also participated in the EWC main event. They will now head to the BLAST Studios in Copenhagen for the Group Stage, with the six remaining teams travelling to Porto for the Playoffs.

M80 and Lynn Vision bowed out of EWC during the Group Stage, giving them more time to recover and prepare for Porto. But for Team Spirit and FUT Esports, it’s straight back into the server shortly after a gruelling campaign in Paris.

Despite the short turnaround for several big names, UK betting sites still have Team Falcons as the favourite at 11/4 (3.75), representing a 26.7% implied probability of adding another Tier 1 trophy to its cabinet. Meanwhile, EWC champion Team Spirit sits at 10/3 (4.33).

If Danil ‘donk’ Kryshkovets can play at a comparable level to EWC, the price could be excellent value as the tournament progresses.

Team Spirit begins its BLAST Open Porto campaign against DENDELE in what could be one of the most one-sided matches of the event. At 1/14 (1.07), Spirit is the overwhelming favourite. However, after DENDELE pushed JiJieHao to three maps during the EWC Open Qualifier, odds of 13/2 (7.5) could tempt anyone looking for an early upset.

With just over a week to go, it’s time to reveal the opening matches and groups for the BLAST Premier Open Porto 🇵🇹🙌

📰 https://t.co/LdK4vxbkVm #BLASTPremier pic.twitter.com/8zUmxEutO3

— BLAST Premier 💥 (@BLASTPremier) August 17, 2026

Another chance for underdogs

FUT Esports and Legacy shone at EWC, finishing second and third, respectively. At BLAST Open Porto, the pair will face each other in what could be a hotly contested best-of-three.

Armed with a wealth of young talent, FUT has displayed enough quality to compete against the biggest names. With Aulon ‘Krabeni’ Fazlija continuing to develop as an in-game leader, the roster is laying the foundations for a strong end to 2026.

Legacy is also building momentum. Victory at the CS Asia Championships 2026 and a third-place finish at EWC appear to be the start of an impressive run of form for the South American side. Despite flying under the radar, the team has cemented its place as one of the region’s leading contenders.

At 25/1 (26.0), FUT Esports is considered a relative outsider despite its recent success, with a 3.8% implied probability of going one better than at EWC. Legacy’s chances are even slimmer at 33/1 (34.0), reflecting only a 2.9% chance to reach the top step of the podium. 

Even with those long odds, neither team should be ruled out after displaying glimmers of brilliance in Paris.

Is the Team Vitality era over?

Team Vitality is widely considered one of Counter-Strike’s greatest-ever rosters. However, after dominating the first half of 2026 with five consecutive tournament victories, the French organisation’s form has dipped.

A 5th–8th-place finish at EWC was the team’s latest result outside of the podium places. Despite the disappointing result, Mathieu ‘ZywOo’ Herbaut continued to shine with both the AWP and rifle in hand.

For BLAST Open Porto, former NAVI rifler Justinas ‘jL’ Lekavičius joins the starting lineup in place of William ‘mezii’ Merriman, who is taking paternity leave. Even with a temporary stand-in, the team heads into the Group Stage at 4/1 (5.0) with a 20% implied probability of re-establishing its dominance in global Counter-Strike.

NAVI’s last chance?

After showing signs of returning to the summit of Counter-Strike earlier in the year, NAVI’s recent drop-off in form has been alarming.

A 9th–11th-place finish at the IEM Cologne Major was followed by a disappointing 9th–16th result at EWC, leaving the Ukrainian organisation at a crossroads. Another missed playoff appearance at BLAST Open Porto would raise further questions about the roster.

Conversely, a strong result would demonstrate that the ability is still there and that any potential changes shouldn’t be rushed. 

Odds of 7/1 (8.0) reflect an implied 12.5% probability that NAVI will take the title, making it a relative outsider in Porto. The team opens the tournament with a Group A match against M80, another team looking to rediscover its best form.

Who will win BLAST Open Porto 2026?

Taking recent form and results from EWC, BLAST Open Porto 2026 is one of the most unpredictable CS2 tournaments of the year so far. With several teams building momentum, there are numerous contenders capable of lifting the trophy. 

With Falcons showing weaknesses and Vitality fielding a stand-in, Team Spirit has an excellent chance of claiming another tournament title. Notably, donk’s incredible fragging ability, combined with sh1ro’s high-impact AWPing, keeps the team on track in high-pressure moments and gives it the best chance of victory.

Jon Nicholson, Freelance Writer

Jonno is a veteran esports journalist with over a decade of experience in covering the world of competitive gaming. Since starting in 2014, he’s covered the biggest events for outlets including Esports Insider, GGRecon, Gfinity, and Siege.GG. When he’s not writing, he can be found sim racing with varying degrees of success.

All Posts By Jon Nicholson