Tournament organizer BLAST has unveiled prediction market Polymarket as its new prediction partner for the 2026 tournament season.
Unveiled on Feb. 10 via release, the partnership will cover BLAST’s Counter-Strike and Dota 2 events in 2026, including BLAST Premier and BLAST Slam events. This is thought to be the first major prediction market sponsorship in esports.
Polymarket will be directly integrated into BLAST’s tournaments in 2026, beginning at BLAST Slam VI in Malta. With playoffs for that event starting this weekend, Polymarket content will feature on broadcast, in segments within the tournament and integrated elsewhere in the event.
BLAST Premier Counter-Strike events will get similar treatments with markets, content, and segments dedicated to Polymarket’s prediction markets. These integrations will reportedly not just be on-broadcast, but in-person at the live arena events, where the new Polymarket Fancam will showcase dedicated supporters.
Alex Lewin the senior vice president of commercial revenue at BLAST commented on the partnership:
“Esports is evolving rapidly into a more interactive, data-driven entertainment experience, and we are delighted to team up with Polymarket to bring exciting new engagement opportunities to our fans all around the world. Together, we’re creating something that feels native to esports culture: fast, live, and deeply connected to the action.
This partnership is about enhancing how fans experience competition, whether they’re watching online or inside an arena. We’re proud to join Polymarket’s industry-leading group of partners, alongside the NHL, UFC and the MLS among others, reflecting the growing global recognition of BLAST’s events.”
Matthew Modabber, CMO of Polymarket, also weighed in:
“Esports has long been dominated by traditional sportsbooks, but prediction markets open the door to a more transparent and community-driven way for fans to engage with competition. Partnering with BLAST brings that experience to a global audience and helps make prediction markets a natural part of how people watch, debate, and follow competitive gaming. We see this as the beginning of a new chapter for fan participation in esports.”
Prediction markets have seen a huge surge over the past few months, with sites like Polymarket and Kalshi starting to dominate the prediction scene. With markets available for everything from political moves, to cultural events, and of course, sports and esports, the prediction market train seems set to surge in the next few months.
However, critics have pointed to the potential vulnerability for manipulation in prediction markets. The opportunity for ‘insider trading’ and manipulation seems rife, especially with prediction market sites not currently formally legislated for within existing gambling and gaming legal frameworks.
Still, esports has often been the testing ground for new ideas, and prediction markets look set to be the next frontier for the industry.
BLAST events in 2026 will include tournaments in Rotterdam, Fort Worth, and Hong Kong, as well as this weekend’s BLAST Slam event.
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Featured Image Credit: BLAST
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