Esports organiser BLAST has signed a new partnership deal with the Mongolian Esports Association (MESA) to support the delivery of BLAST Premier Open Ulaanbaatar, a Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) tournament that was announced earlier this year and is set to take place in Mongolia in May 2027.
The event, announced in July 2026, will run from May 10 to May 23, 2027, at Steppe Arena in Ulaanbaatar. The agreement terms confirmed that MESA will handle local operations, such as venues, logistics, and connections to Mongolia’s gaming and media scene, while BLAST will manage the overall tournament production and global broadcast tailored for an international audience.
BLAST Premier Open Ulaanbaatar will feature 16 teams competing over two weeks on LAN (meaning players compete in person at the venue rather than online). The total prize pool is $1,250,000, comprising $500,000 in prize money based on results and $750,000 paid to teams simply for taking part. Teams will qualify through the Global VRS ranking system and BLAST Premier’s regional qualifiers, with two spots specifically set aside for the Asia Qualifier.
The partnership also builds on MESA’s growing institutional backing, following its official induction as a member organisation of the Mongolian National Olympic Committee (MNOC). Supported by MNOC President Battushig Batbold, the move gives local players access to state-level funding, infrastructure, and tax benefits.
James Woollard, VP of Destinations and Market Development at BLAST, said, “This partnership with MESA is about giving that momentum a permanent home. The partnership between BLAST and MESA is a long-term commitment to Central Asia, and proof that Ulaanbaatar has earned its place among the destinations shaping where esport goes next.”
Munkhtuvshin Tsagaan, President of Mongolian Esports Association (MESA), said, “Previously, top-tier esports events in Asia were concentrated in only a small number of destinations. Now Ulaanbaatar has joined that map. Over the next three years, we believe our capital has the opportunity to become one of Asia’s key esports hubs.”
BLAST also highlighted that Mongolian fans have built a reputation for their enthusiasm around Counter-Strike, often staying up overnight to watch matches taking place on the other side of the world. That fanbase got a major moment in the spotlight in 2025, when the Mongolian team The Mongolz made it to the final of the BLAST.tv Austin Major before losing to Team Vitality. The run put Mongolian Counter-Strike on the radar of fans and organisers worldwide, and this new tournament is being framed as the next step.
Ulaanbaatar becomes the latest addition to the BLAST Premier calendar, which has previously included stops in London, Fort Worth, Hong Kong and Singapore. It’s the first time the tour has come to Central Asia. Mongolia’s event is also one of several new locations planned for 2027, alongside Rio de Janeiro, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malta.
