BLAST Spring Group A Preview
A quick dive into what to expect from each team coming into the first tournament of 2023 plus a player from each team to keep an eye on.
Heroic
Perched atop the HLTV rankings, the Major runners-up and current BLAST Fall holders come into the new season ready and raring to go after an exuberant end to 2022. With Jakob 'jabbi' Nygaard now fully integrated within the team, Heroic will look to continue their momentum and cling on to the number one spot as their biggest competitors continue to build back stronger. Casper 'cadiaN' Møller’s crew have accrued significant respect on their name and now must deal with the weight of expectation befitting the world's best. Can they survive under the pressure?
Player to Watch:
Martin 'stavn' Lund 
Evil Geniuses
With their roster uncertainty continuing, no one will expect much to come from EG but the potential double header of and in-form Timothy 'autimatic' Ta and Vincent 'Brehze' Cayonte certainly whets the appetite and if EG come out swinging with a solid AWP signing, we really could be cooking with gas. Their showing at the Major wasn’t awful and Sanzhar 'neaLaN' Iskhakov is definitely one to watch with his combined fragging output and IGL talent. The only way is up for this ailing team, so with nothing to lose, let’s hope they can restore the pride of NA and give us some entertaining matches.
Player to Watch:
Sanzhar 'neaLaN' Iskhakov 
Vitality
I don’t think I’m alone in the opinion that more needs to be shown from Vitality, the sum of their parts are far less than one would expect from the names on the roster and while their ESL Pro League 16 victory was impressive, something tells me it is only delaying the inevitable. I mustn't go much further without name dropping Mr Mathieu 'ZywOo' Herbaut, his talent is immeasurable, but I believe it’s Peter 'dupreeh' Rasmussen who holds the key to sustained success and Vitality needs him to maintain consistent performances to go far.
Player to Watch:
Lotan 'Spinx' Giladi 
Astralis
The return of the king, and a fresh face in Christian 'Buzz' Andersen, but will it be enough to haul the fraying remnants of a dynasty to new heights. This will be the much anticipated first look at the new Astralis, should we place them as underdogs or as a team that should cruise through due to the overall calibre of player they possess? It seems Benjamin 'blameF' Bremer will finally be getting some help and I am excited to see what they can cultivate as they begin their new era.
Player to Watch:
Nicolai 'device' Reedtz
Expect a tight three-way battle to avoid the showdown, but can the underdogs from across the pond spoil the party for one of the favourites?
Group A kicks off on the 19th of January with Heroic taking on Evil Geniuses.
