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Team Yandex has secured the top spot in the BLAST Slam VIII grand final, dominating The International champions Team Spirit 2-0 in the upper-bracket final. This victory propels Yandex directly to the title match, while Spirit must now battle through one more series to earn their spot. According to GosuGamers, this outcome occurred in a rematch following Spirit’s initial win against Yandex earlier in the tournament.
Spirit had no room for a slow start as Yandex claimed victory in the first game with a score of 50-14, and then sealed the series with a 49-16 lead in the second game. This clean sweep solidifies Yandex as the first confirmed finalist, leaving the other grand-final spot up for grabs.
Yandex takes the fast track; PARIVISION remains in the game
In another playoff series, PARIVISION defeated Aurora Gaming 2-0 in the lower-bracket semifinal, enduring a 65-minute first game before wrapping up the second game in 43 minutes. Aurora Gaming finishes in fourth place, while PARIVISION advances to face Spirit for a chance at the final.
The final day’s bracket leaves no room for error for the remaining contenders: Spirit and PARIVISION will clash in the lower-bracket final, with the victor moving on to challenge Yandex. While the first finalist can now prepare for the championship series, their potential opponent must earn their spot the hard way.
Watson shines in the spotlight
Alimzhan “Watson” Islambekov delivered standout performances in both games. Playing as Sven in game one, he ended with an impressive 19 kills, 13 assists, and no deaths. Switching to Windranger for the finale, he tallied 17 kills and 17 assists with just two deaths as Yandex completed their sweep.
In the second game, Watson had strong support from Martin “Saksa” Sazdov with nine kills and 22 assists, and Ammar “ATF” Assaf with 15 kills and 14 assists, both with only one death each. With a commanding 49-16 team kill lead, the victory was more of a decisive shutdown of Spirit’s attempts rather than a close call.
Finalists guaranteed a payday
Yandex now secures at least second place and US$135,000 in prize money, with the BLAST Slam VIII champion poised to claim US$270,000. PARIVISION secures at least third place and US$95,000, while Aurora exits the tournament in fourth place with US$65,000.
For fans following the Dota 2 calendar, The International 2026 presents another opportunity to witness top-tier competition. However, at BLAST Slam VIII, the focus is on whether Spirit or PARIVISION can prevent Yandex from converting their first grand-final qualification into a championship victory.
Spirit and Yandex face one final challenge
Team Spirit and PARIVISION will compete in the lower-bracket final on the tournament’s last day. The winner will advance to challenge Team Yandex in the grand final, where the championship title and the top prize of US$270,000 will be decided.