Stewie2K cites "bittersweet feeling" watching the BLAST.tv Austin Major from the sidelines

The BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 is well underway with Stage 1 action, and while veterans such as Nick "nitr0" Cannella, Peter "stanislaw" Jarguz, and Jonathan "EliGE" Jablonowski are there, Jake "Stewie2K" Yip will have to follow from home or the stands.

The ELEAGUE Boston Major 2018 champion had a quick interview with our sister website Dust2 Brasil, and revealed that he wished that he was there to compete.

Flashbacks and memories of the Boston Major instantly flooded along with a bunch of mixed emotions once Blast Austin was announced. It is a bittersweet feeling to have been a part of such a historical run in NA’s first major victory, and now being on the sidelines as a spectator.

It’s every competitor’s dream to have an opportunity to experience and to play on a stage in front of a home crowd at the most prestigious tournament. There’s no price tag that could buy any of these moments and feelings that come from being a competitor.

However, I’m embracing all the emotions that will come from watching and utilizing it all as a source of fuel and motivation. Nonetheless, the fans in North America deserve more prestigious tournaments to experience in the states. From all the chances I’ve been able to play in front of a home crowd, they have never failed to amaze regardless of the size of the crowd — whether it was 2016 Dallas or 2024 Dallas.

I’m excited to see how the entire event unfolds and if the crowd could deliver yet again!

Even though Stewie2K won't play at the Austin Major, he did cement his name as one of NA's best after winning IEM Dallas 2024 with G2 while standing in for them.

Stewie2K opted to remain on the sidelines afterward and had a brief return to competition this year as a Wildcard stand-in. He also said once that he'd come back "eventually" this year.