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Xaxas
26.01.2026
The first CS2 tournament of 2026 wasted no time shaking up expectations. BLAST Bounty 2026 opened the season with immediate elimination pressure and a format that punished hesitation. By the time the dust settled, PARIVISION had carved a clear path to the finals, delivering one of the most convincing early-year runs the scene has seen in years.
This was not a lucky bracket or a one-off spike in form. PARIVISION dismantled ENCE, dominated Astralis, stunned Spirit, and outplayed FURIA to reach their first tier-one grand final. At the heart of the run was Ivan "zweih" Gogin, whose arrival transformed their T sides and added a new layer of aggression to Jame's famously structured system.
For Pick'ems players, BLAST Bounty quickly became a lesson in adaptation. Those who identified PARIVISION early gained ground fast. Those who waited fell behind.
PARIVISION entered the event with positive late-2025 form but limited expectations. Their opening match against ENCE immediately challenged that perception. A clean 2-0 win on Overpass and Anubis showcased a team comfortable dictating tempo rather than reacting.
Overpass was decided almost entirely on the T side. Zweih was given freedom to lurk and pressure rotations, finishing with 132 ADR and enabling a dominant 10-2 offensive half. Anubis proved more demanding, with ENCE forcing overtime through solid CT retakes, but PARIVISION's gamble stacks and late-round calling held up when it mattered.

This was the first sign that PARIVISION were a reliable Pick'ems option rather than a fringe upset call.
That impression solidified against Astralis.
The quarterfinal against Astralis bordered on humiliating. Dust2 ended 13-1, with PARIVISION's utility usage and trading leaving Astralis permanently out of position. Ancient was closer, but a lost Glock eco at a critical moment shattered Astralis' comeback attempt and handed PARIVISION an 8-4 half.
Once on the CT side, PARIVISION closed the map through disciplined retakes and calm decision-making. At this stage of the event, trusting PARIVISION was no longer about risk. It was about keeping pace in daily contests and monthly rankings.
The matchup against Spirit carried both competitive and emotional weight. Zweih faced his former team, while Spirit arrived with momentum under new leadership. Spirit struck first, taking Overpass 13-5 in a map where several close rounds went their way.
Down a map, PARIVISION responded by leaning into preparation rather than panic.
Mirage raised questions when PARIVISION chose to start on the T side, but their early pacing earned a 4-0 lead. Once the economy stabilized in the second half, PARIVISION took control, sealing the map with strong mid-round reads and a decisive 3v5 conversion.
Ancient became the defining map of the series. Spirit raced to a 5-1 lead, but the remainder of the half belonged entirely to PARIVISION, who closed it on a 6-0 run. Their CT side was clinical, anchored by Andrey "BELCHONOKK" Yasinskiy, and Spirit were shut out of any sustained comeback.
For Pick'ems players, this was the moment to separate from the pack. Backing PARIVISION over Spirit rewarded those willing to trust current form over name value.
If there were lingering doubts about PARIVISION's ceiling, the semifinal against FURIA erased them. Mirage began disastrously, with punishing retakes and a 1-6 deficit on PARIVISION's map pick. Instead of collapsing, they stabilized behind BELCHONOKK's impact plays and flipped the momentum before halftime.
The CT side was nearly flawless. Jame and xiELO controlled rotations, conceded minimal space, and closed the map with authority.
Inferno followed a familiar pattern. FURIA clawed back from an early deficit and built a lead through individual plays from YEKINDAR and KSCERATO. Once again, PARIVISION's defensive reads turned the tide. Stacked bombsites and decisive rotations strangled FURIA's attacks, with a late xiELO clutch sealing the series.
PARIVISION had reached their first tier-one LAN grand final by outthinking and outlasting one of the most experienced teams in the field.
PARIVISION's path to the BLAST Bounty finals was built on fundamentals. Strong T-side structure, disciplined CT setups, and the immediate impact of zweih transformed them from a promising roster into a genuine contender.
Zweih's revenge against Spirit was symbolic, but his real value showed throughout the event. His ability to take space on T sides unlocked options for Jame's calling and relieved pressure across the map.
For future Pick'ems, the takeaway is simple. Early-season tournaments reward those who identify systems, not just stars. PARIVISION are no longer a risky pick. They are a team that demands serious consideration whenever consistency matters.
Choose your battles wisely. Runs like this are how leaderboards are built.
Xaxas
26.01.2026
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