Where the real Dota happens.This is a space where I put my predictions on upcoming matches. I predict based on my experience and the performance of Pro Teams — and I comment on every single one, with an aftermath added after each match.
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We already saw this match in the group stage (Spirit won 2:0). They are just too good; they make fewer mistakes, and I think they are better farmers than Aurora is. Even though Aurora won against NAVI, it was really, really hard. Team Spirit won't give them 45 minutes to breathe; it will be non-stop pressure. And if it goes to late, Aurora is doomed there.
TSpiritTwo teams that are really struggling. This is the most 50/50 match of the tournament. I will give the edge to Tundra, just because they are slightly (and I mean SLIGHTLY) more organized.
TundraI will go with BetBoom on the lower bracket run. PlayTime is really strong in 5-man Dota, but if it gets dragged to late game, BetBoom wins purely because of the experience and high ground defense. Think like this: PlayTime is stronger in overall map fights, but BetBoom is stronger when it comes to high ground.
BetBoomWhat you get here
One pick per match. My honest read, written before the draft. No fluff, no hedging.
Team Spirit
My take
We already saw this match in the group stage (Spirit won 2:0). They are just too good; they make fewer mistakes, and I think they are better farmers than Aurora is. Even though Aurora won against NAVI, it was really, really hard. Team Spirit won't give them 45 minutes to breathe; it will be non-stop pressure. And if it goes to late, Aurora is doomed there.
Tundra Esports
My take
Two teams that are really struggling. This is the most 50/50 match of the tournament. I will give the edge to Tundra, just because they are slightly (and I mean SLIGHTLY) more organized.
BetBoom Team
My take
I will go with BetBoom on the lower bracket run. PlayTime is really strong in 5-man Dota, but if it gets dragged to late game, BetBoom wins purely because of the experience and high ground defense. Think like this: PlayTime is stronger in overall map fights, but BetBoom is stronger when it comes to high ground.
DreamLeague Season 2921 May68
Natus Vincere
My take
We already saw this match in the group stage, where NAVI dismantled PlayTime in both maps. It will happen the same thing because NAVI plays fast and they also farm a lot. The only win condition for PlayTime is to match that pace and somehow survive the first 20 minutes. But they can't do that because they play aggressive Dota and will get punished for that.
✗ Aftermath
I was wrong about the prediction. But I was not wrong regarding the gameplay. Did you see how well PlayTime was matching the pace? Picked 2 times the Shadow Fiend and then they stomped NAVI in early games. Absolutely flawless. And now, if PlayTime somehow wins against BB, they are qualified for EWC instead of NAVI.
PARIVISION
My take
My model is SCREAMING, "Go with the Falcons," but I'm telling you guys, this will be an upset. I believe PARIVISION is a better team here. I know that Falcons are undefeated. But this is the playoffs, and I will go with PARIVISION. Satanic is just too good right now. Prepare for an upset in the upper bracket.
✓ Aftermath
What? What? Where are your models guys? What happened? Where are the undefeated Falcons? When I tell you that PV is absolutely bonkers, you need to listen to me. But I need to throw that jab to PV. What was that Viper pick for Satanic? You have arguably the best farmer in the pro scene (maybe behind Yatoro), and you pick him a goddamn Viper?
Tundra Esports
My take
I'm going to pick Tundra on this one. I know, I know. But what did VP do in the group stage? Won barely 2 matches and then lost every single one against slightly better teams? At least Tundra can hang out with the big dogs; I believe VP will go home.
BetBoom Team
My take
It's a hard match for BetBoom. Xiao8 will coach VG (I'm not sure that he is doing it in the middle of the tournament, but still). I will go with BetBoom because VG tries to play fast, and if it doesn't work, they don't know what to do. Kind of like Nigma is doing. I'm going with BetBoom to win.
✓ Aftermath
Did you notice? As soon as BB started to outplay VG in the early game, everything collapsed for Vici. I feel like shiro should do a little bit more to be honest. He's kind of a good farmer, but when it comes to fighting decisions, he always jumps the most beefy target.
Team Liquid
My take
Sorry guys, I can't go with Xtreme. Something is broken inside the team. The coach left. Ame is writing GG after he dies. It looks to me that they are in big trouble. And they need to play against arguably the best team in the fast-dota niche.
✗ Aftermath
Definition of the dogfight. Every time we see a Liquid game in the playoffs, it turns into a bloodbath. The ONLY reason why they lost is because in late-game Xtreme had way better heroes. But they were so close; I think they needed to push with that aegis and just make megas.
Team Falcons
My take
The fact that Tundra is in the upper bracket is already insane. But, unfortunately for them, they need to fight against the undefeated team in the DreamLeague. In all other matches, the winning formula for Tundra was 33, setting the pace of the game. Well, Falcons have Ammar, which does the same thing, just better.
✓ Aftermath
Tundra tried their luck AGAIN with this Phantom Assassin in map 1 (Pure even bought a Divine Rapier), but this is not PlayTime; this is Falcons. In the second game, they put an all-in on BZM on the Tinker, which simply didn't work. It's hard to play against Falcons if you are not pushing them early.
Team Spirit
My take
Spirit just looks way more polished in the late game, and they tilt less than BetBoom. I can't go against the king here (I mean Yatoro). The only thing I am a little bit worried about is the mid-lane. If Larl can keep up with Gpk~, it's in the bag for Team Spirit.
✓ Aftermath
What can you do against Yatoro? The king outfarmed Monkey King on his Drow Ranger 2 to 1. BetBoom had a chance, but as I said, if the game goes late, it's hard to win against Spirit.
PARIVISION
My take
Very tough match. And probably the most interesting in the Upper Bracket. PV farms more and usually pull some greedy drafts that win. Liquid is playing fast, and if it doesn't work, they try to find pickups left and right (similar to Nigma, just miles better). Based on my model, mathematical calculations, and the psychological factor, I'm going with PARIVISION to win.
Natus Vincere
My take
NAVI lost a single match against PV in the group stage. Aurora looked beatable in almost every match. But I will judge on the fast-paced teams they played against. They almost lost to Vici because they couldn't stop the pressure from them. NAVI has a similar playstyle, but they also farm way more. Sorry guys, I'm going with NAVI here.
✗ Aftermath
That's the definition for "You've got what you've deserved." Man, NAVI, I would better say gotthejuice won map 1 solo on Templar Assassin (a dead hero in this patch). Then, in the next map, he just put that chrono on void so bad that they just lost the throne. I am so disappointed, because NAVI is really good, but these little things matter in the tier 1 tournament.
PlayTime
My take
This is the match for the upper bracket. I’m going with PlayTime here; Xtreme just looks too unstable. They are stronger on paper, but without motivation, it is impossible to win in Dota. And the winner will fight against Tundra Esports AGAIN. I swear to God, Tundra STILL has a chance to be in the upper bracket. Unbelievable.
✓ Aftermath
What did I tell you? Did you see how fast PlayTime was getting towers? That's what you call a 5-man fast dota. Xtreme thought that Terrorblade would farm for 50 minutes and then would fight 1v5. Guess what? They lost in 35 minutes.
PlayTime
My take
Okay, I will go again with PlayTime here. There is no fatigue today, and yesterday the ALMOST won against Tundra. I don't think that Tundra got better overnight. I'm going with the boys today.
✗ Aftermath
They started so well, but I think the problem was in the draft. I never liked this Shadow Fiend carry from Wits. You can't play this fast against Tundra. I believe it is a mistake from PlayTime. And funny thing, Tundra won with Phantom Assassin (a dead hero in this patch). Now, Tundra has a real shot for the upper bracket.
Tundra Esports
My take
Tundra looks squishy, of course, and they already lost to Xtreme in the group stage. But man, these last 2 days, Xtreme have been nowhere near their top form. I'm going to say it again: something is off in their team. I'm going with Tundra on this one.
✓ Aftermath
Wow, from a team that almost got knocked out of the group stage, they are now in the upper bracket. I can't believe how well Tundra executed their timings. They knew that Luna was extremely strong in the mid-game, so they kited them, and in the late-game cMuerta was just unstoppable. Credit where due.
Team Spirit
My take
Ex-Heroic needs a miracle to win this fight. They stand against arguably the strongest team in late-game scenarios. And guess what? ex-Heroic also tries to play late. I think this is a mistake from my POV, so I'm going with Team Spirit.
✓ Aftermath
Unfortunately, Spirit didn't give them any chances. Yuma tried his cheesy pick with Meepo, and they still got destroyed by Tiny. And now, I am really disappointed. Maybe because Whisper wasn't on the roster? You need to understand that they went to extreme stress with all the Heroic org fiasco. But, wish them good luck, and see you in the Blast Slam VII.
Team Falcons
My take
Man, I doubted Falcons against Spirit, but they look really strong. I mean, they never back down. You can have a 20k gold lead, and they still play like it's nothing. There is a reason why Falcons won The International 2025. I'm going with the Falcons, no brainer.
✓ Aftermath
It's just sad. GamerLegion was so close to winning this series. It's a shame that they wake up BY THE END of the tournament. They could've stolen that map 2 with Clinkz. And mind you, they took a map from Falcons. Anyway, GL is out of the DreamLeague; I wish them good luck, and I hope they stay together.
Team Liquid
My take
Vici is solid, man; I love their gameplay, and I think they are getting better and better every day. Hell, they even took a map from Aurora yesterday. But Liquid is just better in all directions. If Vici tries to play aggressively in the early game, that's it for them. You can't beat these guys in early. I'm going with Team Liquid to win.
✓ Aftermath
I was nervous after the first map. Man, Vici plays well. Yes, they don't have enough experience, but they surely play like a tier 1 team. Did you see Xm on the Ember Spirit with Assault Cuirass? This dude always has some sketchy builds, but guess what? He won with that build.
Aurora Gaming
My take
Honestly? This is a tough match for Aurora. VP has this tendency to find skirmishes and let Timado farm. And if this happens, it's hard to beat them in mid-to-late game. But, with all being said, Aurora is still a better team here; based on analysis, they should win the match.
✓ Aftermath
VP still can hang out with the top teams here. Just look what they did in map 2 with that Luna. But they are also lucky because GamerLegion and ex-Heroic lost their matches. So, even though they lost, they will fight in the playoffs.
Natus Vincere
My take
I don't know what happened with NAVI; maybe they are going to church or something. But they look amazing. Man, you know what team they remind me of? Do you remember the old TongFu team from China? They have the same playstyle: an extremely greedy carry and a sacrificial mid. I'm going with NAVI on this one.
✓ Aftermath
I'm telling you, something is off with Xtreme Gaming. More than that, I would say that something is wrong with Ame. He bought a Yasha and Kaya on Drow Ranger. The second map, he just called GG without a fight AGAIN.
BetBoom Team
My take
That's a life-and-death situation for Nigma right now. If they lose this match and Tundra wins the match against PlayTime, they are going home. And honestly? It's hard to play against BetBoom when you play with a single core (meaning the 4+1 strategy). I'm going with BetBoom comfortably.
✓ Aftermath
Nigma tried; they wanted to play with Medusa and somehow go to late-game. But this completely nullifies their playstyle. They are not YET out; the only thing that could help them is if Tundra somehow wins against PlayTime.
PlayTime
My take
Do you realize that PlayTime beat PARIVISION yesterday? PARIVISION! I can't go with Tundra on this one; I believe DarkMago and the boys have a better 5-man Dota than Tundra. Yeah, I know what you are thinking, but what did Tundra show in the DreamLeague in the past 3 days? That they BARELY can skirmish with the qualified teams? No, I'm going with PlayTime.
✗ Aftermath
So close… Wits, my brother, why didn't you buy Monkey King Bar? It was in the bag, I swear to God. And now, they will need to play a 3-way BO1 against Xtreme and Tundra for the Upper Bracket slot.
PARIVISION
My take
PARIVISION should take this without any issues. REKONIX is already at the bottom of the group, and I think they are going home. PV is just too strong right now; if you are not a strong laner (which RENONIX isn't), you can't beat this team.
✓ Aftermath
It was hard for REKONIX, but they took a map from PV. Congratulations to InYourDream and the boys; not bad, not terrible. I hope they can bounce back in the SEA qualifiers for EWC and TI next.
BetBoom Team
My take
I can't go with Tundra. Guys, it's time to wake up. Since Wallachia, they haven't won a game. I mean, something is clearly wrong there. Maybe the patch affected them this much? Guys, they are the TOP 1 EPT leaderboard and can't win against Division 2 teams. Come on.
✗ Aftermath
That's what you get when you don't ban the Lycan. But even though that Tundra won, they still look really shaky to me. I would say that BB lost more because of the draft rather than execution.
PARIVISION
My take
PARI are undefeated. Noticed is back; Satanic is farming Terrorblade faster than Alchemists, and Noone in the mid is just dismantling everyone. I'm going with PARIVISION. 2-0, comfortable, and if Nigma somehow steal a map here, I will be genuinely shocked.
✓ Aftermath
Like I said, it's hard to play against PV if you can't lane properly. Not to mention that they can flex this Huskar pick, either as position 4 or in the mid. These dudes remind me of the old BetBoom Team with Pure and Nightfall. Do you remember their laning stage?
PlayTime
My take
This is the match I'm most nervous about predicting. PlayTime beat Nigma and REKONIX and looks genuinely entertaining—that 5-man Dota they play is something I love watching. But NAVI beat BetBoom 2-0. BETBOOM. However, do you remember when I said that NAVI has a very similar playstyle to Nigma? And guess what Head-to-Head is between Nigma and PlayTime? It's 4:0, so I'm going with PlayTime on this one.
✗ Aftermath
Noooooo… My boys were destroyed by NAVI. Bully beatdown situation. PlayTime didn't have any real chance in either map. Niku on his Monkey King (mid) was a nightmare on the map. Imagine that you are a support playing against Monkey King with Diffusal Blade at minute 10. What can you do? Pray?
Xtreme Gaming
My take
Boys, REKONIX just beat Tundra 2-0. I cannot believe I'm typing those words. But let's be real—Tundra is a broken team right now, and that result tells us more about Tundra than it does about REKONIX. Xtreme just lost to Nigma, but REKONIX isn't playing fast Dota, so I'm going with Xtreme Gaming.
✓ Aftermath
Skill difference. But I always love REKONIX for the "never give up" thing. They tried, but Alchemist had double the farm as the entire radiant team.
Team Spirit
My take
Here we go, boys. The match of the tournament in Group A: El Clásico. Messi vs. Ronaldo. Falcons are undefeated. Spirits are undefeated. ATF on Timbersaw, Malr1ne on Slardar going 18-1-26—against Collapse back in the offlane, Yatoro untouchable in the safe lane, and "not me" stealing Ravages on Rubick. This is the kind of match I watch Dota for. Both teams play late-game Dota; both teams have elite supports; and both teams have the mentality to go to map 3 without flinching. I'm going with Team Spirit. Barely. Yatoro outfarming Skiter in a long game is the deciding factor.
✗ Aftermath
El Clásico is over, and Team Falcons are the winners. Man, Spirit was so close. I swear to God, I'm not even mad. They were so close to beating them 2:0. But this goddamn Timbersaw is unbeatable. It's just impossible to kill him. The best match of the tournament so far.
Team Liquid
My take
Liquid is looking like one of the two best teams in Group A right now. ex-HEROIC are still fighting and still hungry, but the same problem keeps showing up—they get leads and don't know what to do with them. I'm going with Team Liquid. Ex-HEROIC needs a miracle result to stay alive at this point, and Liquid is not the team that gives you miracles.
✓ Aftermath
What did I tell you? When I see this Void with Battle Fury and Aghanim's Scepter, I instantly think of the 7k MMR bracket. I think it was a bad move for Yuma to test these strats against Liquid.
Aurora Gaming
My take
Aurora is finally awake. That Nightfall Tiny in the ex-HEROIC game was the bounce-back performance. Vici are running out of room. Xm's weird builds have been entertaining but not enough against real opponents. Aurora with momentum and Nightfall back on heroes that suit him are a genuinely scary team. I'm going with Aurora. This is the match where they remind everyone why they went to the Wallachia Grand Finals.
✓ Aftermath
Oh my God, I was so stressed the whole series. Aurora would've lost if Nightfall hadn't bought that Disperser on Ursa. Man, GG to Vici anyway; they came here to fight!
Virtus.pro
My take
GL are 0-5. Zero. Five. They have lost every single series in this tournament, and I genuinely feel for RCY—this guy can be one of the best mids in the world, and he keeps getting put in impossible situations by the draft. VP, on the other hand, have two wins and some momentum behind them. Abed is finding his spots; Timado is farming properly. I'm going with Virtus.Pro If GL somehow wins this, it might actually be the most shocking result of the entire tournament. And knowing GL's luck this tournament, it'll probably never happen.
✗ Aftermath
Unbelievable. That's what you get when you play yolo dota against GamerLegion. What was Timado thinking? Farming those Aghs against Ursa? He was chopping him like breakfast. And now, VP is in real trouble because they can go home. If they lose their next match, they have a real chance of losing everything. And guess who is the next opponent? AURORA!
BetBoom Team
My take
BetBoom, after two bad losses against PARI and NAVI, is walking into this match angry and desperate. Xtreme are playing their best Dota of the tournament—Ame is in form, the drafts have been cleaner than usual, and they've beaten PlayTime and Tundra already. This is genuinely the toughest call of the day. But here's what I know—BetBoom doesn't lose three in a row. It's just not who they are. Gpk will find his game, Save will dominate the laning stage, and they will remind everyone why they won Wallachia. I'm going with BetBoom. They need this more than anyone right now.
✓ Aftermath
Imagine if Ame would've typed GG and just left the lobby like he did against Nigma. xD Either the Uncrowned King is tilted or they have big disagreements in Xtreme Gaming. Did you see their faces after the loss?
Natus Vincere
My take
I keep trying to believe in Tundra, and they keep destroying that belief. Lost to REKONIX, boys. REKONIX. But NAVI beat BetBoom and are looking like a genuine top 4 contender in this group. Gotthejuice is growing every game; Niku is finding his space, and that Necrophos carry is still something teams haven't answered properly. I'm going with NAVI. Tundra needs to show me something before I give them another chance. Pure being on the roster is not enough anymore.
✓ Aftermath
So? Where are you haters now? I'm telling you, something is really wrong in tundra. They always come short in such weird scenarios. Look at the Templar Assassin in game 3; he was outfarming everyone 2 to 1, and what? They just threw the lead and lost the game.
PARIVISION
My take
PARI is the best team in Group B right now, and it's not even close. PlayTime is fun to watch, and that 5-man aggression is real, but PARI specifically counters that style—when Satanic gets space and noone controls the mid, they don't give you those chaotic fights that PlayTime needs. More than that, we already saw this match like a week ago in the 1Win Essence Series, and PV won convincingly. I'm going with PARIVISION.
Nigma Galaxy
My take
We saw this match 1 week ago, and they played 2 times against each other. Guess who won? Nigma 2 times without breaking a sweat. I don't think they improved that much in the last days. I'm going with Nigma to win.
✓ Aftermath
Nigma is a menace against any tier 1.5 team. They look unstoppable, but as soon as they fight against a more farming-oriented team, they choke. Anyway, Nigma looked good; I'm not going to jinx it.
Team Liquid
My take
VP actually looked decent over the last two days—they beat ex-HEROIC and then beat Vici Gaming, which is two wins more than I expected from them. But Liquid is just on another level right now. They play really fast, and it's hard to keep the pace against them. They almost won against Team Spirit too. VP cannot consistently handle that kind of pressure across three maps. I'm going with Team Liquid.
✓ Aftermath
It's hard; it's really hard to play against Liquid. They will pick the most ridiculous heroes and still win. For example, in map 1, Timado was huge on his Terrorblade. But guess what? Liquid had this Underlord, which was making his life miserable.
Aurora Gaming
My take
Aurora is 0-3, and this is basically a must-win situation. They lost to Liquid on Luna twice, then Falcons picked Nature's Prophet against them, and it worked—something is seriously wrong with their draft approach. But ex-HEROIC? They showed they can't close games when it matters. They had the VP on the ropes and fell apart completely. Aurora, even a struggling Aurora, has more individual quality than ex-HEROIC. Nightfall needs one good game to find his confidence again. I'm going with Aurora. They have to wake up sometime, and this is the opponent that lets them do it.
Team Spirit
My take
GamerLegion are in freefall (0-4). Spirit, on the other hand, is looking like the best team in Group A right now. I'm going with Team Spirit. This is not even close. GL need a complete reset before they can compete at this level (I mean against Team Spirit).
✓ Aftermath
This has to be the biggest throw, right? And at the same time, it showed how composed spirits are. Man, GL was leading the WHOLE time, and then they ruined everything with that Doom Buyback. Now, GamerLegion is in real trouble; I don't think they can get out of the group stage.
Team Falcons
My take
Boys, Vici Gaming is genuinely the surprise of this tournament. Not bad at all, but I don't think they can do something against the Falcons. The reason behind it is pretty simple: They don't let breathing on the map. We will see the same scenario as they did to the VP: late game, outfarm, and win.
✓ Aftermath
VG had a small chance in map one, but that Bear just destroyed them. Also, this was the first Zeus MID pick in the tournament.
PARIVISION
My take
PARI beat BetBoom AND Xtreme on the same day—that's back-to-back quality wins, and Satanic is looking really good right now. NAVI beat REKONIX comfortably and then shocked everyone by beating BetBoom 2-0. Look, I believe in PARI more than NAVI at this level. No one in the mid against Niku should be the difference, and when PARI is confident and not tilting, their structure is just better. I'm going with PARIVISION.
✓ Aftermath
It's official now. PARIVISION is the strongest team in the DreamLeague. Man, they pulled out a Huskar support AGAIN in the pro scene. They basically played without supports because Dukalis was playing on Techies.
Xtreme Gaming
My take
Nigma lost to NAVI and to PlayTime—they are genuinely struggling to outfarm teams that just ignore their early skirmishes. Xtreme beat PlayTime and Tundra, which are two real results. Ame is looking sharp, and without Lone Druid in the meta, Xtreme's weaknesses are slightly less exposed. I don't think Nigma has the farming base to keep up with Xtreme in a long game. I'm going with Xtreme Gaming. If they draft properly and let Ame breathe, this should be 2-0.
✗ Aftermath
Oi oi oi oi, I feel like Xtreme is back in Wallachia. Why would you let Nigma have Lone Druid AGAIN? It's unbelievable; it's like they are doing it on purpose.
BetBoom Team
My take
PlayTime is solid — they beat Nigma 2-0 and REKONIX 2-0, and they have a real structure that teams underestimate. But BetBoom just lost to NAVI in one of the biggest upsets of the tournament so far, and trust me, they are angry. When BetBoom gets embarrassed, they come back and destroy the next opponent. Gpk is not having a bad tournament — he's having a bad game. There's a difference. I'm going with BetBoom. This is the response game, and I don't want to be on the wrong side of it.
✓ Aftermath
Phew, what a game. If BetBoom hadn't thrown that map and won it, it would've been a clean 2:0. But, credit where it's due: PlayTime can officially hang up with the big dogs. They had BetBoom on the ropes even in map 3 (well, before Doom died solo).
Tundra Esports
My take
Man, Tundra is in a real crisis right now. Lost to PARI, lost to Xtreme—Pure is back, and nothing is clicking. But REKONIX? They lost to BetBoom and then to PlayTime. If Tundra can't beat REKONIX, the group stage exit is basically confirmed. Tundra should outfarm whatever REKONIX put on the map in 35 minutes. I'm going with Tundra Esports. This is the floor. They cannot go lower than this.
✗ Aftermath
Where to start? Why did they pick this beastmaster two times in a row for Pure? Is this 2025? Tundra now has a real chance of going home; they are literally at the bottom of the group. B. Also, Jikroy does a lot of weird stuff as a carry, but man, his Naga Siren is on another level. Jesus Christ, he had Manta Style and Eye of Skadi at the 21-minute mark.
Team Liquid
My take
This is the match of the day. Both teams are looking like the two strongest in Group A right now. Liquid beat Aurora and VP; Falcons beat VP, Aurora, and ex-HEROIC. Nisha vs. Malr1ne in the mid role is the matchup I want to watch most. Here's my read—Falcons like to drag games into super late game, and Liquid's fast, aggressive Dota doesn't let them do that. In a long BO3, Liquid's consistency wins out. I'm going with Team Liquid. Barely. This almost certainly goes to map 3.
✗ Aftermath
Ai ai ai, I made the same exact mistake in Wallachia. ATF solo won game 2 on that Viper.
Team Spirit
My take
VP had a good day yesterday—one win, some structure, and Abed finding his skirmishes. But spirits are running this group right now. Collapse is back, Yatoro is untouchable, and FINALLY we can see the supports on the map. Abed needs a perfect game to keep up with Larl in the current form he's in, and Spirit won't give him that. I'm going with Team Spirit. VP had their moment; now it's back to reality.
✓ Aftermath
I think people will start to copy Yatoro and his build on Alchemist. That's how you play it: farm until you have 2-3 items (Radiance, Black King Bar, Blink Dagger, and Assault Cuirass), and only after that buy Aghs for the team.
Aurora Gaming
My take
Aurora needs a win. And maybe I am being too harsh on them. Because they lost to the best teams in the group stage. And every match was kind of close. There is nothing GamerLegion can do against Aurora.
✓ Aftermath
Aurora is back on track. You know why GamerLegion lost map 1? Because they don't have the experience and don't know what to do when they are ahead. Imagine that Aurora won the map, but the kills were 39-26 for GamerLegion. What was the point for RCY running around on his Ember Spirit killing everyone if you don't know what to do on the map?
ex-HEROIC
My take
ex-HEROIC are desperate—they need points; they need to win this match. But so does Vici; they're both 1-2 until now. I am leaning towards ex-HEROIC a little bit more. Vici tries to play fast, but if they can't do that, they just try to in the late game, and MAYBE they have a chance there.
✗ Aftermath
I don't want to comment on it. I mean, ex-Heroic lost in 20 minutes on map 2. That's a tilt; you can't compete in a tier 1 tournament and just let it go.
PlayTime
My take
How many times in the last 2 weeks did we see PlayTime vs Nigma? We saw it exactly 3 times, and PlayTime always wins. 2:0. 3:0, etc. There is no point to discuss it further. PlayTime will win because they are too strong against Nigma strategy.
✓ Aftermath
Fun fact: Nigma didn't win a SINGLE map against SAR/Playtime in the last 3 tournaments. That's literally the definition of the Achilles heel.
BetBoom Team
My take
Here we go, boys. The match of the day, no question. PARI just beat Tundra 2-1 and looked really good. BetBoom destroyed REKONIX 2-0 and looked absolutely clinical. I've been burned by PARI too many times to be fully confident, and I've promised myself I will never underestimate BetBoom again. Gpk in the midlane against Noone is the matchup I'm most excited about in this whole group stage. Save will make life miserable for Satanic in the lane. Look, I'm going with BetBoom. PARI have the individual ceiling, but BetBoom is better.
✗ Aftermath
No guys, in this patch (7.41c), PV looks unbeatable. I was wrong thinking that BB can outfight them early. Because guess what? PV also can fight early, and they did it better. It's kind of hard to play against them because they also farm WAY MORE than any other team here. It looks like greedy Dota is working better than I expected. That Terrorblade was more farmed than the Alchemist by the minute 15. Which is insane.
Tundra Esports
My take
Now THIS is interesting. Xtreme looked good yesterday—Ame on Drow Ranger was flawless in both maps. But Tundra just lost to PARIVISION, and that Lone Druid game still doesn't make sense to me. They are getting embarrassed left and right. Something has to snap. Here's my concern though—Xtreme's drafting is still a disaster waiting to happen. I'm going with Tundra Esports. Pure needs to wake this team up, and this is the match where it happens.
✗ Aftermath
What a throw by Tundra in map 1…. They lost just because BZM popped the Black King Bar early. And they beat the record (107 minutes, map 2). Previously, it was Falcons vs. VP. But honestly? I feel for Tundra; they are top 1 on the EPT leaderboard, and they can't win a single map against the big dogs.
Natus Vincere
My take
Boys, NAV I looked extremely sharp yesterday—that Necrophos carry was something I didn't expect, and they dismantled Nigma without breaking a sweat. REKONIX, on the other hand, is exactly the kind of team that NAVI feasts on online. I'm going with NAVI. 2-0, comfortable; don't overthink it.
✓ Aftermath
Man, NAVI almost lost the match. They were lucky that Tiny died solo (again) and then somehow turned the game around. Not to mention that REKONIX won game 1 with Naga Sirenin 2026!
Team Spirit
My take
This is the match that hurts the most to predict after yesterday. Aurora lost to Liquid AND to Falcons. Nature's prophet in this patch—I still can't get over it. They look confused without Lone Druid as their anchor, and Nightfall hasn't found his Plan B yet. Spirit, on the other hand, won both matches yesterday—including a 2-1 against Liquid in a genuinely competitive series. Collapse is setting the tempo, Yatoro is farming, and Larl is finding his YOLO plays. I'm going with Team Spirit. Aurora needs to sort out their draft before they can beat a team this well-structured right now.
✓ Aftermath
I feel like Team Spirit is the only team that can win with this alchemist strategy. You know why? Because Yatoro is NOT farming Aghanim's first, he goes Radiance, Blink, Black King Bar, Assault Cuirass, and only after that he buys the Aghanim's scepters.
Team Falcons
My take
Naah, Team Falcons is in the zone. Ex-HEROIC looked decent in the morning against GL and then completely fell apart against VP in the evening—they had the lead and just didn't know what to do with it. I'm going with Team Falcons.
Team Liquid
My take
Man, GamerLegion had an absolutely brutal day yesterday. Lost to ex-HEROIC 0-2, then lost to Vici Gaming 0-2. RCY just couldn't find his footing, and Ghost was nowhere near the level we need from him. Liquid, on the other hand, beat Aurora—Luna two times in a row, fast Dota, exactly what Nisha and Boxi do best. This should be comfortable for Liquid.
✓ Aftermath
Yep, GamerLegion is 0-3 already. Guys, imagine that Liquid won map 2 with the Troll Warlord (this hero is basically dead right now, in the competitive meta). And the ONLY reason why GamerLegion could stand and fight in map 1 is because they had Luna. Which is goddamn OP right now.
Vici Gaming
My take
I cannot believe I'm about to say this, but Vici Gaming actually impressed me yesterday. They beat GamerLegion 2-0. Xm looked decent, and the team had structure I didn't expect. VP, on the other hand, beat ex-HEROIC, which is fine, but ex-HEROIC showed us yesterday that they have no idea what to do with a lead. I'm going with Vici Gaming. Yes, I know. Yes, I'm aware. But VP is VP—and Vici right now has more momentum and more belief. If Abed has a monster game, I'll be wrong. But I'll take that risk.
✗ Aftermath
WHAAAAAT? Complete domination by VP in both games. What was the Juggernaut pick by Vici?
PARIVISION
My take
Here's the thing about Xtreme—when they face a team with real structure and Satanic gets space, they fall apart. PARI's drafting when they're confident is just on a different level, and Noone in the mid lane should handle whatever Xtreme throws at him. I'm going with PARIVISION. If Satanic gets a hero that suits him and PARI doesn't tilt after dropping a map or they lose against BetBoom, this is 2-0.
✓ Aftermath
What a comeback by PV in Map 2. Until now, we can safely say that they are the strongest team in the tournament. Noticed is probably the best pick for PV at this point. Now, I still have a question: Why didn't they ban Lone Druid 2 times in a row? It is still OP. Imagine that they could've lost just because of the draft.
BetBoom Team
My take
NAVI had a really good day yesterday, and I want to give them credit for that. But this is BetBoom. Gpk is in his prime. NAVI against BetBoom online is not the same as a LAN series, where nerves play a role. BetBoom will outfarm them and outfight them, and Gpk will cook Niku in the midlane. I'm going with BetBoom.
Tundra Esports
My take
Okay, so Tundra are in a crisis. Lost to PARI, lost in the 1Win Essence to tier 2 teams — this is not the Tundra I was excited about coming into this tournament. But man, how can I go with Nigma if I know EXACTLY what they are going to do? I'm going with Tundra Esports.
✓ Aftermath
Nigma fought, but they lost. I know I'm hyping this kid a LOT (rincyq). But man, did you see his Tiny? I believe he is the next-generation talent in Dota. Along with Wits, TaiLung, and gotthejuice.
PlayTime
My take
Two teams that got demolished yesterday. PlayTime lost 0-2 to Xtreme. REKONIX lost 0-2 to BetBoom. Somebody has to win this, and honestly, I think PlayTime has way more to offer.
✓ Aftermath
I love watching these dudes play. I swear to God, they have the most entertaining Dota in the pro scene right now. They always run as 5; if you jump a support from PlayTime, expect a full 5-man fight. I guess this is the way South America plays.
Aurora Gaming
My take
Boys, first match of DreamLeague Season 29, and what a way to start. Boxi is back, which matters more than people give it credit for—that space he creates for Nisha in the mid lane is something else. But Aurora? They have something to prove. I'm going with Aurora. Liquid will make it competitive; they always do, but Aurora's 5-man Dota in the early-to-midgame is just on a different level right now.
Team Spirit
My take
Collapse is back. That's the whole story here. Without him at Wallachia, Spirit looked slow, reactive, and completely dependent on Yatoro going nuclear every single game. With him back in the offlane setting the tempo, this team is a completely different animal. Vici Gaming is a good story and fun to watch, but against Spirit? Nah, I'm going with Team Spirit, and it won't be close.
✓ Aftermath
Spirit won 2 games with the Alchemist strategy. I don't know; I highly doubt that this Aghanim's Scepter farming strategy will work against a more aggressive early-game team.
Team Falcons
My take
Look, VP on paper should scare nobody at this point. They have consistently disappointing results. The BetBoom head-to-head curse is one thing, but they've looked lost against basically everyone with a pulse. Falcons, on the other hand, have that patient, suffocating late-game Dota that 7.41c was basically designed for. I'm going with Team Falcons. VP needs a miracle run to even survive the group stage at this point.
✓ Aftermath
Man, what a game 2! This has to be a record, right? You need to understand that they played for 2 HOURS with back-and-forth comebacks, but eventually VP couldn't beat Lifestealer. Flacons clinched that draw, and in map 3, there was a total domination by ATF on his Timbersaw.
GamerLegion
My take
This is the match I'm most excited about on day one. Two teams with absolutely nothing to lose and everything to prove. Ex-HEROIC are free agents, have no org, and have no safety net, and they qualified for DreamLeague before Heroic pulled out. That kind of hunger is real. But GamerLegion is just stronger in execution. The problem is we've seen GL draft one too many times. I'm going with GamerLegion here, but with zero confidence. One more thing, WHY I am giving the edge to GamerLegion is because Wisper will not play in the DreamLeague; Batyuk is a stand-in.
PARIVISION
My take
Here we go. Probably the most high-skill match of the day. The fact that Tundra LOST in the 1Win essence series is unbelievable to me. But I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt. Let's just say that they were "testing strategies." On paper the PARI roster is just stronger (even without Noticed). I'm going with PARIVISION, but I'm watching Tundra very closely.
✓ Aftermath
What a bloodbath. Tundra lost even with Lone Druid. But, at least we saw a Phantom Lancer carry from Satanic.
Natus Vincere
My take
A very interesting match, boys. I know that ALL of you think that Nigma is back and they should win this without any issues. But do I need to remind you that NAVI in the online tournament always beats Nigma? More than that, they have very similar styles, except NAVI is way stronger in the late game, and they farm more. I'm going to risk it here and go with NAVI.
✓ Aftermath
I hate to say it again, but I told you. I don't know; Nigma has this mechanical issue. If you don't engage in their early skirmishes and just try to outfarm and outpace them, they always fall behind in net worth and just lose the game. One more thing, this Necrophos carry looks really good.
PlayTime
My take
I don't know. I'm leaning heavily on PlayTime to win this. Xtreme LOST in China against a div. 2 team. And, as far as I can see, PlayTime can hang with the big dogs easily. Call me insane, I'm going with Playtime to win.
✗ Aftermath
That’s blind confidence from myself. I don’t know, Ame was on fire today. Both games he was absolutely flawless on his Drow Ranger. Im
BetBoom Team
My take
The defending Wallachia champions against a team that we watched struggle with basic fundamentals in the 1Win Essence. REKONIX is simply not ready for this level. And BTW, this happens every time. When BetBoom plays against a slightly weaker team, they just destroy it because they outfarm them 2 to 1.
✓ Aftermath
We need to admit that BetBoom Team looks scary. I told you in the beginning that they smash everybody who is slightly less coordinated. But now, when I look at their moves, I can safely say that they are probably one of the strongest here in the DreamLeague.
Team Liquid
My take
Two of the most consistent teams in Western and Eastern Europe are going head to head in round 2. This is a genuine 50/50, and I hate picking it. But here's the thing: it depends on what kind of Dota we will see. In the late game, Spirit is best; in the early game, Liquid is a no-brainer. And in a patch that rewards patient, structured Dota, Liquid's fast, aggressive style might actually catch Spirit before they set up. I'm going with Team Liquid. Barely.
Aurora Gaming
My take
Man, this is a tough one. Falcons surprised me multiple times at Wallachia. But Aurora has this dog in them, and they can somewhat mimic Tundra Esports in the late game (if you know what I mean). I don't think Falcons are scarier than Aurora in late game. I'm going with Aurora.
✗ Aftermath
Jesus Christ, what's happening with Aurora? I understand, of course, that Falcons are no joke, but you want to tell me that suddenly Aurora forgot how to play 5-man Dota? Insane. Nature's Prophet pick in this patch?
ex-HEROIC
My take
Honestly? VP should win this on paper. But ex-HEROIC have zero pressure on them; they need those EPT points and something to prove. And desperate teams in online formats are dangerous. VPs have shown me nothing that suggests they can close out a series against a team that fights back. I'm going with ex-HEROIC. If VP loses this, the group stage exit conversation starts immediately.
GamerLegion
My take
I'm going with GamerLegion. If they draft properly, this is a 2-0. If they force Ghost onto Viper again, I'm going to lose my mind.
✗ Aftermath
Well, it looks like I had too much faith in GamerLegion. On the other hand, Vici Gaming looked absolutely amazing. They looked pretty decent even against Team Spirit.
