London is once again stepping into the esports spotlight this week as the Counter-Strike 2 BLAST Premier London Open arrives at Wembley’s OVO Arena. The tournament, running from 5 to 7 September, is expected to draw thousands of fans from across the globe and deliver an estimated £30 million boost to the city’s economy.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has praised the impact of esports on the capital, calling it a “hugely exciting and fast-growing industry” and reaffirming his commitment to making London a leading global destination for competitive gaming.
London is a leading destination for esports, a hugely exciting and fast-growing industry, and I’ll continue to work hard to support its growth in the capital.
This weekend, London will welcome gamers & fans from across the globe to the BLAST Premier London Open at Wembley Arena. pic.twitter.com/9L5Yy2p2AB
— Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) September 2, 2025
“I am delighted to see the prestigious BLAST Premier London Open come to the capital this weekend,” Khan said. “It will showcase the very best of esports as gamers and fans from across the globe flock to London, creating a significant estimated £30 million economic boost for our city.”
The biggest UK esports event of 2025
This year’s BLAST Open is being billed as the UK’s biggest esports event of 2025. Six teams that qualified through the BLAST Fall circuit will battle it out across three days of LAN competition, chasing their share of a $1 million (around £747,000) prize pool and crucial Valve Regional Standings (VRS) points.
The Final Six teams heading to the OVO Wembley Arena this weekend for the BLAST Open London Playoffs 🇬🇧 #BLASTPremier pic.twitter.com/J5Uu0Ewju1
— BLAST Premier 💥 (@BLASTPremier) September 2, 2025
The OVO Arena Wembley has become a familiar stage for Counter-Strike. Team Spirit lifted the BLAST Premier Spring Final trophy there in 2024, while the iconic venue also hosted the Esports Championship Series Season 3 Finals back in 2017, where SK Gaming came out on top.
A growing history of esports in London
London has become a regular stop on the esports calendar, with events ranging from Rocket League and Call of Duty tournaments to last year’s League of Legends World Championship Final, which alone generated £12 million for the local economy.
By hosting another international Counter-Strike spectacle, the city is further solidifying its reputation as one of the most attractive destinations for major esports organisers. With world-class infrastructure and a proven track record of drawing big crowds, London is well positioned to remain a hub for top-tier tournaments in years to come.
For fans, all eyes now turn to Wembley Arena as the BLAST Premier London Open kicks off. With millions of pounds on the line, both in prize money and economic impact, the stakes have never been higher.