BetBoom withdrew from BLAST Open Porto 2026 on August 11 due to visa complications, and paiN was called up as replacement. The Brazilian side gets the seat as the highest-seeded closed-qualifier runner-up.
Event snapshot
- Tournament: BLAST Open Porto 2026
- Prize pool: $1,100,000
- Format: mixed field of invited teams + closed-qualifier winners
- Runs: August 24 - September 6, 2026 in Porto, Portugal
BetBoom's ongoing travel problem
The Russian organisation has had recurring travel issues across 2026, previously forcing players to compete without full rosters. Missing Porto is a fresh setback despite BetBoom staying inside the VRS top 10 after their Cologne Major playoff performance. The org will get a chance to compete at FISSURE Playground 3, which starts two days after Porto concludes.
paiN's schedule now looks heavy
paiN are already in EWC Group D (the death bracket — see our groups article) and now roll straight into Porto after Paris ends August 23. The back-to-back gives them 60 minutes of travel window before Portugal — a hard schedule but a $1.1M event isn't a slot you turn down.
