Report: Evil Geniuses Allegedly Sells BLAST Spot for Nearly $1 Million Amid Speculation of CS2 Closure
Cloud9 Acquires Evil Geniuses’ BLAST Team Spot for $900,000
In a surprising move, Evil Geniuses has reportedly sold its spot as a partnered BLAST team to Cloud9 for a hefty sum of approximately $900,000. The news was first shared by Counter-Strike 2 caster and analyst Chad “SPUNJ” Burchill during the latest episode of the HLTV Confirmed podcast.
According to SPUNJ, multiple “reputable” sources have confirmed this staggering sale figure. It is worth noting that Cloud9’s acquisition of the BLAST partner spot only grants them one year under Valve’s partner league system in CS2, as Valve plans to terminate these systems by early 2025.
During the podcast episode, SPUNJ humorously remarked that Cloud9 essentially paid “dollary-doos” for just “two group stages,” along with a significant revenue share with BLAST. This revenue share would supposedly cover more than 50 percent of Cloud9’s investment.
The official announcement confirming the sale was made on December 17th, bringing Evil Geniuses’ impending departure from CS2 closer to reality. In his statement regarding the sale, CEO Chris DeAppolonio expressed that they will continue supporting North American CS talent within the league from afar.
This comes right after Evil Geniuses recently parted ways with two members of their starting roster: Paytyn “junior” Johnson and Jeorge “Jeorge” Endicott.
Evolving Esports Landscape
Evil Geniuses’ exit from various esports has been making headlines over the past few months. Back in early November, veteran reporter Richard Lewis reported that EG was considering pulling out not only from CS2 but also from the LCS. Shortly after, EG’s departure from the LCS became a reality.
For now, it seems that Evil Geniuses will primarily focus on competing in VALORANT for 2024; however, this may not include the same roster that recently won a world championship just a few months ago.
The team’s final official CS2 match took place on December 7th in the ESL Challenger League for North America.
In conclusion, Cloud9’s acquisition of Evil Geniuses’ BLAST team spot brings significant implications to both organizations and adds another intriguing chapter to the ever-changing esports landscape. Only time will tell how this move unfolds and what lies ahead for these prominent teams in Counter-Strike 2 and other competitive titles.