The BLAST Slam II Group Stage, held on February 4, concluded with Tundra Esports and Gaimin Gladiators securing the top spots in their respective groups. This achievement grants both teams a direct berth into the semifinals of the Playoffs, avoiding the early elimination rounds.
One of the biggest surprises of the tournament so far has been Nigma Galaxy, who finished second in Group B despite playing without Miracle-. With Ghost standing in as their carry, the team delivered a remarkable performance, showcasing resilience and adaptability.
BLAST Slam II Overview
The second installment of the BLAST Slam series features 10 teams competing for a share of a $1 million prize pool from February 4 to 9 in BLAST Studio, Copenhagen, Denmark.
The tournament’s fast-paced format kicked off with a one-day Group Stage, where teams were split into two groups of five and competed in a round-robin format. Strong performances were rewarded with favorable seeding in the Playoffs, with the top teams advancing directly to the semifinals.
Image via BLAST.
Group A Recap: Tundra Esports Lead the Way
Fresh off their victory at FISSURE PLAYGROUND Belgrade 2025, Tundra Esports continued their dominant run, finishing Group A with a 3-1 record:
- Defeated Talon Esports and BetBoom Team (BLAST Slam I champions)
- Suffered a loss to Team Liquid, reigning The International (TI) champions
- Closed out the group stage with a victory over Yakult Brothers
Yakult Brothers also secured a 3-1 record with wins against BetBoom, Liquid, and Talon, but their head-to-head loss against Tundra placed them second in the group, sending them to the quarterfinals instead of the semifinals.
Meanwhile, Team Liquid finished 2-2 and will start their Playoffs run in Round 2. BetBoom and Talon Esports struggled, both ending with 1-3 records, meaning they will face an uphill battle from Round 1 of the Playoffs.
Image via BLAST.
Group B Recap: Gaimin Gladiators on Top, Nigma Galaxy Surprises
Gaimin Gladiators claimed the top seed in Group B with a 3-1 record, securing victories over PARIVISION, Xtreme Gaming, and Nigma Galaxy. Their only defeat came against Team Falcons. This result is a promising sign for the three-time Major champions, who have been adjusting to their new carry player, Alimzhan “Watson” Islambekov.
The biggest storyline of Group B, however, was Nigma Galaxy. The team could have secured a semifinal spot had they not lost to Gaimin Gladiators. Despite playing without Miracle-, Nigma shined with Ghost stepping in as carry, while Syed Sumail “SumaiL” Hassan proved to be the driving force behind their wins over Falcons, PARIVISION, and Xtreme Gaming.
Team Falcons and PARIVISION were expected to lead Group B but ended with 2-2 records each. Due to a higher Neustadtl score, Falcons secured the third seed, despite losing their head-to-head matchup against PARIVISION.
Lastly, Xtreme Gaming had a disastrous performance, finishing 0-4 as the only team without a single victory in the Group Stage.
Image via BLAST.
Playoffs Format and Matchups
With the Group Stage concluded, the BLAST Slam II Playoffs will now proceed in a single-elimination bracket. The bottom two teams from each group will start in Round 1, while higher-seeded teams await in later rounds. All Playoff matches will be best-of-three (Bo3), except for the Grand Finals, which will be a best-of-five (Bo5).
BLAST Slam II Playoff Bracket:
- Round 1 A: PARIVISION vs Talon Esports
- Round 1 B: BetBoom Team vs Xtreme Gaming
- Round 2 A: Team Liquid vs Winner of Round 1 A
- Round 2 B: Team Falcons vs Winner of Round 1 B
- Quarterfinals A: Nigma Galaxy vs Winner of Round 2 A
- Quarterfinals B: Yakult Brothers vs Winner of Round 2 B
- Semifinals A: Tundra Esports vs Winner of Quarterfinals A
- Semifinals B: Gaimin Gladiators vs Winner of Quarterfinals B
- Grand Finals: Winner of Semifinals A vs Winner of Semifinals B
Final Thoughts
With Tundra Esports and Gaimin Gladiators already waiting in the semifinals, the remaining teams must fight their way through a challenging bracket for a shot at the championship title. The BLAST Slam II Playoffs promise intense matchups, high-level strategy, and thrilling Dota 2 action leading up to the Grand Finals on February 9.
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