Credit: RFRSH Entertainment
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League/Tournament Brands:
- The BLAST Pro Series will hold its fifth event of 2019 at the VTB Arena in Moscow from Sept. 13-14.
- Winstrike will co-produce the event and handle regional and location production and promotion.
- Six teams will compete for a share of the $250K USD prize pool, with Natus Vincere, Ninjas in Pyjamas, and ENCE announced thus far.
RFRSH Entertainment’s 
BLAST Pro Series of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) tournaments will land in Moscow this September for its fifth event of the 2019 season.
BLAST Pro Series Moscow will be held in the city’s new VTB Arena on Sept. 13-14, with six CS:GO teams battling it out for a share of the $250K prize pool. Natus Vincere , Ninjas in Pyjamas , and ENCE have been announced so far; the other three slots will be filled between participating BLAST Pro Series international teams and a local qualifying event.
For the Moscow event, RFRSH Entertainment has partnered with Winstrike as a co-producer. Winstrike will oversee both regional and local production and promotion of BLAST Pro Series Moscow, which is expected to draw as many as 7,000 fans during the weekend.
“When we look at new territories, the first thing we do is look for a strong local partner to co-produce and promote the tournament on local terms,” said BLAST Pro Series executive producer Jordi Roig, in a release. “In Winstrike we’ve connected with a very strong partner who understands the market, the esports core scene, and mainstream entertainment. We believe, together with Winstrike, we can create a live experience that will show the fans our appreciation of [their] feedback and loyalty, but also give them—and all viewers—a great live experience with the very best Counter-Strike has to offer.”
Related Article: BLAST Pro Series Introduces Season Format to Tournament Series, $500K Finals
The BLAST Pro Series has already made stops in Sao Paulo, Miami, and Madrid in 2019, with a Los Angeles tournament taking place at the Galen Center from July 12-13. In April, RFRSH Entertainment implemented a season structure to the series, awarding qualifying points to each team in advance of a $500K Global Final in December (location yet to be announced).
Given Winstrike’s role in the production, it’s currently unclear whether the company’s Winstrike Team will be able to participate in BLAST Pro Series Moscow. The Esports Observer has reached out to RFRSH Entertainment for comment and will update if we hear back.
