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've seen this match in the Group Stage (LGD won). It was the longest game in the BLAST SLAM VII. But now we are in the playoffs, and after what we've seen today from Yandex, it's hard not to go with them. I love LGD with all my heart, but I highly doubt LGD can stop these early aggressions from Yandex. I'm going with Yandex to win.
TYThis is genuinely tricky because of the Malr1ne situation. BetBoom's biggest weapon is the laning stage—Save and Gpk will absolutely target a stand-in player who's still finding his footing. Map 1 is very likely BetBoom's just on that lane dominance alone. But here's the thing: the Falcons' late-game system—ATF, Skiter, and the overall structure—doesn't depend on one player to carry. BetBoom historically collapses when games go past 45 minutes, and Falcons will make sure they do. I'm going with Team Falcons to win.
FLCNMan, what a sad matchup. I believe this is really unfair for Aurora and for Yandex at the same time. And all of this happens because PV has the visa problems AGAIN! That's said, I'm going with Yandex to win here, even though they lost to Aurora in the group stage. I believe in a BO3; they can breach the 5-man Dota from Aurora early, and the edge goes to Yandex to win it.
TYWhat you get here
One pick per match. My honest read, written before the draft. No fluff, no hedging.
Team Yandex
My take
We've seen this match in the Group Stage (LGD won). It was the longest game in the BLAST SLAM VII. But now we are in the playoffs, and after what we've seen today from Yandex, it's hard not to go with them. I love LGD with all my heart, but I highly doubt LGD can stop these early aggressions from Yandex. I'm going with Yandex to win.
BLAST Slam VII4 Jun71
Team Falcons
My take
This is genuinely tricky because of the Malr1ne situation. BetBoom's biggest weapon is the laning stage—Save and Gpk will absolutely target a stand-in player who's still finding his footing. Map 1 is very likely BetBoom's just on that lane dominance alone. But here's the thing: the Falcons' late-game system—ATF, Skiter, and the overall structure—doesn't depend on one player to carry. BetBoom historically collapses when games go past 45 minutes, and Falcons will make sure they do. I'm going with Team Falcons to win.
Team Yandex
My take
Man, what a sad matchup. I believe this is really unfair for Aurora and for Yandex at the same time. And all of this happens because PV has the visa problems AGAIN! That's said, I'm going with Yandex to win here, even though they lost to Aurora in the group stage. I believe in a BO3; they can breach the 5-man Dota from Aurora early, and the edge goes to Yandex to win it.
✓ Aftermath
Saksa solo. I swear to God, every single team he's in instantly becomes a tier 1 team. The way Yandex won game 1 is something to be studied. They bought a Divine Rapier and went all in without buybacks and WON the game. Who calls that?
Team Falcons
My take
Liquid got the invitation because PV withdrew from the tournament. Somewhat a second chance, but unfortunately for them, they need to fight Falcons for the slot. We have the same situation as Yandex/Aurora, where Liquid won against Falcons in the group stage, but in a BO3, I'm leaning heavily on Falcons to win. You see, the H2H matchup is also in the Falcons' favor, and they always drag these games to extra late, where ATF will make a difference.
Team Spirit
My take
Spirit looked inconsistent throughout the group stage—heavily reliant on Yatoro carrying the entire team. But here's the thing: OG simply cannot match that level of individual brilliance. OG's biggest weakness exposed in the group stage was their complete inability to deal with scaling heroes late.
✓ Aftermath
That was not even competitive from my POV. If you know that Yatoro is THE BEST on this Drow Ranger, what was the point of giving it to him?
Aurora Gaming
My take
Tundra's problems are deep—they're passive, afraid to engage, and Pure keeps getting put on heroes (Shadow Fiend, Windranger) that just aren't working. I can literally describe them as "playing like they're afraid to fight." Aurora, on the other hand, showed their classic pattern—a slow start early in the tournament, then never losing a game once they warm up. Nightfall on Tiny is a nightmare to deal with, and in a BO3 where Aurora gets full draft control, Tundra has no answer.
✓ Aftermath
I swear to god, this ws fella is Collapse from Southeast Asia. I don't know; he is never failing. Man, he was playing on the Axe against Drow +1 and he was top 2 networth in the game. I am extremely happy for Aurora, and as I said, they always wake up by the end of the tournament. I don't even want to mention that Phantom Lancer from Nightfall; it was just flawless.
Aurora Gaming
My take
I’m going with Aurora again on this one. I do believe that they can hold against Liquid toe to toe in early. And if it goes to late, Mikoto will snipe them there.
✓ Aftermath
Yeah, I am really happy for Aurora because it was a deserved win. I mean they really deserve to go to Copenhagen for the LAN event. Tundra is really underperforming; the draft is weird (what was that DK for Pure?), the execution is really OFF, and I feel like the individual form is falling off for them.
Team Falcons
My take
Team Falcons is more confident, and I can bet that they will go to late-game. Because when Liquid can't win in the mid-game, they prepare for late. Guess what? They will need to fight against the best team in the late-game scenarios.
✗ Aftermath
Bully beatdown from Liquid. Nisha's fish destroyed the whole map. Liquid is the weirdest team ever; if they get an early advantage, they will demoralize you. But if they end up against a team that nullifies their early game, they prepare for late-game from minute 10.
BetBoom Team
My take
BetBoom is unpredictable, but they are always rich. I mean, they farm a lot. And when it comes to team fights, they win them because their cores have 2-3 items above Tundra's cores.
✓ Aftermath
BetBoom is indeed extremely strong. Man, they play like the old DK team. They have 3 cores running around in fights. They never AFK farm; they always look for skirmishes, and it works. I don't know; they are close to the top 4.
PARIVISION
My take
I can't even think about Team Spirit right now. They are looking completely lost against teams that are slightly more disciplined.
Team Yandex
My take
We have arguably the best team in the tournament when it comes to execution against a team that don't have any execution. Yandex will probably push them in 20 minutes. They are extremely strong if you can't handle the early pressure.
✓ Aftermath
I said that Yandex would push Glyph in 20 minutes, but no, they pushed them in 25 minutes. They have this unique style where as soon as they get some advantage, you're doomed. And they pick Clinkz for that.
LGD Gaming
My take
When you see Xtreme vs LGD, you instantly think as a Chinese derby. But no, these are my boys from South America against Ame. I must go with LGD based on the fact that they play fast, the farm a lot and they FINALLY can breach highground.
✓ Aftermath
Xtreme has this issue over and over again. What was the point in having a Lone Druid extremely farmed from Ame if the only thing he was doing was farming? And the Sniper? I don't even want to go there. NTS had a pike and Hydra's Breath? What is this? A 2K pub build?
Aurora Gaming
My take
Not only is Aurora far more disciplined, but they are also extremely strong as the tournament is moving forward. They had the exact same problems in the DreamLeague, 0-4 in the first 2 days and then didn't lose a single match until the Grand Finals. So, Aurora to win.
✓ Aftermath
Hold and behold. Nightfall FINALLY picked the Phantom Lancer. You need to understand that this dude is the best player in the world on Phantom Lancer.
Team Falcons
My take
That's a big dog fight right here. We have almost undefeated Falcons (they lost to Glyph of all teams here). And then, we have the most dominating lane-stage team BetBoom. There are a few things to sort it out here. If they go to late-Falcons, if they fight in mid-game, BetBoom. But as pretty much 90% of games go to extra late, I will pick Falcons to win.
✗ Aftermath
BetBoom woke up. Man, this Centaur Warrunner from MieRo reminds me of my pub game. He had 3 braces and then farmed a heart of tarasque. There was no way to kill this bag of meat.
PARIVISION
My take
We saw this match in the DreamLeague, and I believe that we will see the exact same thing. You see, Liquid can't breach the early game because PARIVISION is extremely strong in the laning stage. It means that they can't push fast, and they will be forced to play late-game against Satanic. Which is a death sentence to them.
✓ Aftermath
Liquid tried the same draft as they did against the Falcons, but it didn't work against PV. Viper just built a Mage Slayer and basically deleted Storm from the game.
Team Spirit
My take
I am so disappointed in Team Spirit that I almost want to pick OG. But man, they are so unreliable. I will pick for the last time Team Spirit, just because they are more discliplined in team-fights. But don't be surprised if they lose in 20 minutes.
✓ Aftermath
This is the first time I see Yatoro on a semi-carry (Necrophos). And he did well, to be honest.
Tundra Esports
My take
That's a match that Tundra can win easily. Funny how I pick them ONLY against tier 2 teams. It's picky, but this is lthe reality for now.
✓ Aftermath
That's the match where Tundra won purely because of skill. Man, they played with the Templar Assassin carry in this patch. And with this loss, Glyph is going home.
Aurora Gaming
My take
We saw this match like 1 week ago. Aurora will ragdoll Xtreme Gaming based on the fact that they have a stronger 5-man Dota than Xtreme. You see, Ame is playing really passively, and this kind of play doesn't win against Aurora.
✓ Aftermath
I don't want to comment on that, but what needs to be said is that Xtreme Gaming is going home based on the Neustadtl score. I wish them the best, and I hope they will find the motivation for the EWC. It's clear that they have a ton of internal issues.
Team Yandex
My take
I can't wait for this match. Expect a full non-stop slaughterfest. Sorry, guys, but here I will go with Yandex. Saksa alone is just making too much impact in early team fights.
✓ Aftermath
Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you the LONGEST GAME in patch 7.41c (1h:51 minutes). Unbelievable game. This is a must-watch for every hardcore Dota fan out there. Boys, this was the Mount Everest of the late-game calls. They played megas against megas. The only reason why Yandex lost is because LGD had way better late-game scaling heroes (Gyrocopter, Snapfire "with 2 rapiers" and Goddam Axe).
Team Falcons
My take
Uuuuuu, this is the most high-skilled match in the BLAST SLAM VII. I know that PARIVISION beat them in the DreamLeague (I picked them to beat Falcons there), but in this match in a BO1, I will favor Falcons to win.
✗ Aftermath
Oh my God. Poor Skiter, the little fella was dying on his Vengeful Spirit like he was a position 4. I don't know; I don't like this Venge carry pick. I feel like if you're not pushing in 20 minutes, you are just doomed to lose.
BetBoom Team
My take
It's hard to comment on this. They picked the SF, AFK farmed for 20 minutes, and then wrote GG. I mean, something is clearly wrong with the squad. They are playing like they are afraid to engage in fights.
✓ Aftermath
Glyph was demoralized after the first 10 minutes. Gpk was running around with a godlike streak at minute 14.
LGD Gaming
My take
I think Tundra is having a mental breakdown right now. Imagine that they are top 1 EPT, they were the first to be invited to the TI and they can barely scrap with the qualified teams. Until they figure out their problems, LGD is the pick.
✓ Aftermath
That's gotta sting. I mean, leading ALL THE WAY and then just throwing the game. I believe this will hit really hard, especially Pure. The way he died on the Shadow Fiend, bought back, and then died again, is something to be studied. LGD Gaming is at the top of the group stage; congratulations.
Team Liquid
My take
That's the match of the day. I expect at least 60 kills on the map because both teams just run around and fight nonstop. BUT, I will pick Liquid here to win because they find better fights and somehow win the skirmishes.
✓ Aftermath
Nisha solo won the game. I don't get it; if you see that you can't play against this Necrophos, why don't you ban it? I mean OG lost against Necro in the Spirit series as well. Necro was shredding through Phantom Lancer illusions like a boss. But OG are lucky again; they will have a place in the last chance seed.
PARIVISION
My take
I think this is hard for Glyph mentally. Because they need to play against arguably the best team in the world right now. I know for a fact that psychologically it is hard to do that (I remember I played against VP in the qualifiers in 2015, and I was so stressed out that we lost in 20 minutes). Glyph is in a similar situation right now.
✓ Aftermath
Yep, as I said. Mentally it's really hard to play against PV. They are like bullies; they will make you feel miserable in team fights.
BetBoom Team
My take
Bad match-up for OG, again. They can't play against a team that farms more than them and is more aggressive than them. BetBoom will run through OG in 30 minutes, mark my words.
✓ Aftermath
Complete domination from the BB Team. OG is now almost out of the group stage; they need to win against Glyph no matter what.
Team Falcons
My take
I don't see any winning conditions from Team Spirit. I mean, not only are they desperate in team fights, but they also have a weird draft. I will go with the Falcons, and they will win this comfortably.
✓ Aftermath
That's a whole different level right now. Falcons even picked a Razor for Ammar, and they destroyed Spirit in all possible departments.
Team Yandex
My take
2 months ago I would've said that this is the most 50/50 match in the tournament. But now, I would say that it is not even close. Team Yandex looks miles ahead of Tundra; maybe this pause (they declined the DreamLeague invitation) really helped them a lot. I'm going with Yandex, no brainer.
✓ Aftermath
It's clear that Yandex is way above Tundra right now. But still, why does Tundra keep picking this Windranger for Pure if they can't win with it?
Team Liquid
My take
Expect a 60-minute game. These dudes ALWAYS go to extra late-game no matter what. I believe that the style of Aurora doesn't let Liquid play fast. But, even in late-game scenarios, Liquid has more threats than Aurora. That being said, going with Aurora.
✗ Aftermath
Dragon Knight carry? I feel like Valve nerfed it too much to work under these circumstances. Also, Aurora somehow is back again; they always have this rough start.
BetBoom Team
My take
I can tell you that this will be a dog fight. But I need to give BetBoom the edge because they are more active in the early game and then just pick off the cores in the mid-game. Xtreme relies too much on the late-game potential and Ame factor.
✓ Aftermath
NNothingToSay had probably the worst match of his life. And Ame even bought an Aghanim's scepter for him. It's unbelievable how badly this midlane was lost. I understand that Gpk is probably the best laner in the whole pro scene, but losing like this?
PARIVISION
My take
A very interesting match, but there are levels to this game. I believe that PARIVISION will counter any aggressive early rotations from LGD. And if it goes to late-game, LGD is doomed there.
OG
My take
We've got a SEA derby right here. OG is in deep trouble right now. If they can't beat Glyph (which I believe they will), they are out of the BLAST SLAM VII. OG is slightly better in team fights than Glyph; I will go with OG to win.
✓ Aftermath
The Southeast Asian derby is won by OG. I like this Axe pick for TORONTOTOKYO; I think cores that farm and fight more are suited for his play style. Nevertheless, OG is still in the game.
Team Yandex
My take
Aurora has a slow start. Usually they wake up by the end of the group stage. But unfortunately for them, they need to fight Watson (Kazakhstani Miracle), and I don't think they can manage the pressure from Yandex.
✗ Aftermath
First of all, congrats to Aurora. But man, DM had a ton of questionable moves on his Enigma. I will not blame anyone here because the match was really competitive, but he couldn't find his position for Black Hole.
Team Spirit
My take
We've seen this match 50 times at least. But, right now, Spirit just looks more composed. They don't look like world-beaters but still have better execution than Xtreme. This battle will be between Yatoro and Ame.
✗ Aftermath
It's just sad to watch. I swear to God. I don't know, there is noone calling the shots in Team Spirit? Like when to fight and when not to fight? You can't alway rely on the fact that Yatoro will outfarm the other carry. I am speechless.
Team Liquid
My take
It's impossible to go with Spirit in these conditions. I swear to God, how did they go from top 4 in DreamLeague to this? I mean, they can't even hold the high ground against LGD with similar net worth.
✗ Aftermath
Spirit is a one-man show, I swear to God. If Yatoro has a good game, this dude is 1v9 against everyone. And he must be the best player on the Drow Ranger in the world.
Team Falcons
My take
This will hit Tundra really hard. Team Falcons is in shape and ready to fight. Tundra? Well, they are still figuring out the patch (that was released 2 months ago).
✓ Aftermath
It's hard to comment this. They picked the Shadow Fiend, afk farmed for 20 minutes and then wrote GG. I mean, something is clearly wrong with the squad. They area playing like they are afraid to engage in fights.
PARIVISION
My take
Poor Aurora… They went toe to toe against PARIVISION in the grand finals, and now they can't even win against a lower-tier team. I think that loss hit them mentally. I doubt they can pick themselves up for this match.
✓ Aftermath
In RU streams, people are laughing at Noone and calling him Pension Man. But this "old dude" just schooled Mikoto on how to lane on mid. xD
Team Yandex
My take
I'm not doubting Yandex again. Man, they are literally back to their true form. They play really fast and will push you in literally 20 minutes. I doubt BB can handle this kind of pressure.
✗ Aftermath
Interesting. So, if someone plays in their Dota, I mean extremely aggressively, Yandex is starting to play on the backfoot. BetBoom did exactly that, didn't let them breathe, and that pick of Windranger was EXACTLY for this kind of scenario. Smart move from BB.
Xtreme Gaming
My take
Glyph had their moments in the last 2 days, but Xtreme is still a powerhouse. I mean, even if they are not coordinated, they still out-farm anyone in late-game. In the end, we can't cover the fact that Glyph has some issues with farming.
✓ Aftermath
NothingToSay played that Pangolier for ALL the hate that he got in the Aurora match. Glyph is most likely going home after group stage.
LGD Gaming
My take
Funny thing, they have a pretty similar playstyle, except LGD Gamin is farming way more, and they always play as 5. Actually every SA team is playing like that. It means that it completely nullifies OG playstyle.
✗ Aftermath
Abaddon carry….and Natsumi made it work. Unbelievable. But I need to give the props to TORONTOTOKYO as well; this dude outfarmed EVERYONE on his Timbersaw. Congrats OG, they are still in the game.
Aurora Gaming
My take
Well, here is the first wall for LGD. And this wall is called high-ground defense. The problem with LGD is this one: They are really aggressive, win fights, but when it comes to end the game, they end up having all the issues in the world. So, I'm going with Aurora.
✗ Aftermath
Man, Aurora looks squishy. What happened? They lost AGAIN with this Alchemist strat. Stop picking it if you can't play fast enough.
Team Falcons
My take
TI2025 finals are happening again. And guess what? I'm going to pick the Falcons again to win. They have a similar play-style, but the Falcons are just better in team-fights and late-game.
✓ Aftermath
Falcons are looking strong. I have a feeling that they will end up at the top of the group stage.
Team Yandex
My take
OG hasn't shown me yet that they can fight against big dogs. I mean, they are ALMOST there, but still make a ton of mistakes. Yandex looks pretty decent from what we saw on the first day. And, because this is a BO1, I'm going with Yandex.
✓ Aftermath
I will eat my words, man. Yandex is playing fast. They just destroyed OG in 20 minutes. And mind you, they did it with a Night Stalker mid for Chira_Junior.
Team Spirit
My take
It's hard NOT to go with Team Spirit here. I don't think Glyph can push them fast enough. That's why I'm going with Spirit to win.
✓ Aftermath
Spirit won just because they are way more experienced, to be honest. Glyph had a good start with the Shadow Fiend, but then they choked in the mid-game.
PARIVISION
My take
I just can't go against Satanic. What can Tundra do to win this? PARIVISION is just way better in any scenario.
✓ Aftermath
I feel like Tundra is the only team that can't win with the Windranger carry. They had a small, small chance, but what can you do when against you is Faceless Void with 7 items in 30 minutes?
Team Liquid
My take
I want to risk it here, and I will give Team Liquid the edge. You need to understand that both teams have the same play style: play fast, if it doesn't work, hold the high-groound. But Team Liquid is more experienced in late-game scenarios than BetBoom.
✓ Aftermath
What a stressful game, I swear to God. Nisha, Vortex, 4 heroes, Gpk, and Divine Rapier Snapfire. Did you notice that EVERY Liquid game is turning into a bloodbath?
Team Falcons
My take
Even if Falcons lost Aurora in the DreamLeague, I think it was some kind of fluke. In a BO1 scenario, I will go with skiter and the boys.
✓ Aftermath
What? Did you forget that Malr1ne is an Earthshaker player? Ohh, you also forgot that Skiter can play on Vengeful Spirit? (I didn't see Venge carry since 2024).
Team Yandex
My take
Usually Yandex have some sorts of problems when they play against Chinese teams. But, after what we saw yesterday from Xtreme, it's safe to say that Yandex should win this comfortably.
✓ Aftermath
That's how you play Windranger carry. Even if Yandex lost a little bit in the early game (which is strange, judging that they always win lanes). They still manage to push extremely fast.
Team Spirit
My take
I believe this is the same situation as LGD vs Aurora. I don't believe that TaiLung can push Spirit in 25 minutes. So, it's safe to say that LGD will hit another wall, and they will just lose because of the bad fights on the high ground.
✗ Aftermath
Unbelievable. What did they want to do? To copy what Satanic did with Juggernaut? Well, I have news for you. They didn't have a Beastmaster mid, and they didn't lose every single lane.
Tundra Esports
My take
Tundra always finds a way to hold the game. This is really a bad thing for OG, because they are significantly weaker in late scenarios. Tundra are like cockroaches, they will drag the game and win it.
✗ Aftermath
No comment. Why would you pick this Phantom Assassin?
PARIVISION
My take
We have a CIS derby. But, in this derby, I just don't see any winning conditions from BetBoom. I don't know, I feel like Kiritych is not in form, right? PV is farming more, they have a better draft and they have exceptional execution.
✓ Aftermath
92-minute game. This is the match with the most Divine Rapiers in the last 3 months. Gpk on Ember Spirit had 3 divine rapiers. I love this Dota; BetBoom really tried till the end, which is respectable.
Team Liquid
My take
This is a terrible match up for Glyph. They play against a team that plays fast, and this means that it completely nullifies their whole play style.
✓ Aftermath
Glyph started really well, but when it comes to chaotic dota, Liquid always has the upper hand. They have this weird style where they can come back in ANY game. They waited until Axe was eligible to fight and then didn't leave any room for Glyph to breathe.
Team Falcons
My take
This is a dog fight. And in any dogfights, we need to pick Falcons to win. The only winning condition that Yandex has, is if they play extremely fast and the Falcons can't catch up. But, in any other scenarios, the Falcons are just better.
✓ Aftermath
Looks like Yandex hit a wall for the first time. You see, they also tried to be sneaky here and drafted an insane amount of early game damage. But guess what? Falcons knew they would lose early and never engaged in their skirmishes; they just outfarmed them and then pushed the towers.
Aurora Gaming
My take
This is a draft match. Whoever has a better draft, wins this match up. I will favor Aurora based on the fact that we've seen in the DreamLeague, that if they draft a little bit greedier lineup, they will smoke Team Spirit.
✓ Aftermath
Such a smart decision from Aurora to have a dual lane in mid vs. Huskar. But what bothers me is this: Spirit was ahead every single second of the game. But, because they drafted an Omniknight for Collapse, they couldn't do a thing against QoP and Tiny.
Tundra Esports
My take
Again, we have 50/50 here. But, I'm going with Tundra based on the late-game potential from them.
✓ Aftermath
The only team that Tundra is consistently beating is Xtreme Gaming. I don't know how they are doing this, but they always end up on top no matter what.
LGD Gaming
My take
I think LGD is a favorite here, based on the fact that Liquid really struggles mid-game. The only fear I have, is that Liquid will drag this match into the 60+ minutes. But, I'm going with LGD to win.
✗ Aftermath
Even with this draft, PGD looked decent against a complete outdraft from Liquid. Man, they almost turned around the game, but the Pipe of Insight completely nullified their damage.
Team Falcons
My take
Falcons are in another league compared to Glyph (no offence). ATF on Timbersaw alone is enough to end GLYPH's day. No discussion needed here. Going with Falcons.
✗ Aftermath
Unbelievable.....JaCkky destroyed Falcons on his Windranger. That's what happens when you don't know how a qualified SEA team will perform. This one is on me.
PARIVISION
My take
OG has always been the kind of team that can steal a map on a weird draft, but this is BO1. PARI doesn't give you those chaotic games where OG can YOLO their way into a win. Satanic is too good right now. Going with PARIVISION.
✓ Aftermath
Zero late-game potential from OG. You need to understand that they were ahead of PARIVISION the whole game. But what can you do against Satanic late-game?
Team Liquid
My take
Xtreme is still carrying the baggage from DL29—Ame tilting, coach gone, zero internal stability. Liquid plays structured, fast Dota and will punish any hesitation. Going with Liquid.
✓ Aftermath
Paper Faceless Void from Ame. Even if he was full slotted, Tiny would've pierced through him like butter.
BetBoom Team
My take
BetBoom smashes teams that can't match their laning stage, and ex-HEROIC is exactly that kind of team. More than that, BB is kind of really strong in the high-ground defense, where HEROIC can't push even if they have a 40k advantage. Comfortable win. Going with BetBoom.
✗ Aftermath
That's the new LGD boys....Snapfire on position 3? GG.
Team Yandex
My take
This Spirit roster is terrifying right now. Yandex hasn't proven they belong at this level yet. DM is back on the squad. I don't know how they will do (since they missed the last 2 tournaments), but we've seen that the meta is rewarding aggressive offlane plays, not Aura or Zoo. Going with Team Yandex.
✓ Aftermath
Looks like Yandex is in shape. Even Yatoro on Lone Druid didn't help. But most importantly, Yandex is playing fast. Chira_Junior soloed the game on Night Stalker.
Aurora Gaming
My take
We saw this match literally 2 days ago. Aurora beat Tundra 2-0 in the DL29 lower bracket without even breaking a sweat. Nightfall's mid-game heroes eat Tundra alive. I see no reason why this changes in a BO1. Going with Aurora.
✓ Aftermath
Wow... Machine Gun Mikoto. Aurora won even if they were behind the whole game. Tundra feels a little bit disconnected to be honest. But, it's just the first day, so let's see.
Team Falcons
My take
OG is a wildcard on any given day, but Falcons didn't go undefeated in the DL29 group stage by accident. Actually, I am really curious if they improved anything in their playstyle. I want to see how fit TORONTOTOKYO is on the team. For now, going with the Falcons.
✓ Aftermath
It was a rough start for OG. But, they couldn't do a thing to this Sniper from Malr1ne. I am still shocked that the Falcons lost to Glyph.
ex-HEROIC
My take
GLYPH is a mystery, but ex-HEROIC at least has tier 1 tournament experience and showed they can compete even in their current state. Going with ex-HEROIC, but low confidence here.
✓ Aftermath
Okay, LGD started really strong. Finally, we can see some early game plays from them. I really love the fact that they are starting to draft this Kez mid for TaiLung. But, if they encounter a team that can hold the high-ground, I think they are in trouble.
PARIVISION
My take
DL29 champions against a team falling apart from the inside. Satanic will outfarm Ame before Ame even types GG. BUT, against there is some curiosity regarding PV. Will they play with SSS or they will play again with Noticed? Anyhow, I'm still going with PARIVISION.
✓ Aftermath
I told you. Man, they even won with Juggernaut carry. And I think people will start to ban this IO for 9Class. It's becoming an issue.
Aurora Gaming
My take
This is the match of the day in Group B. Aurora ran through the lower bracket in DL29 and beat everyone. But BetBoom's laning is elite (I know that they lost against PlayTime, believe me I know), and in a BO1, if Save gets under Aurora's supports early, it snowballs fast. I'll give the edge to Aurora on current form, but this is a genuine coin flip. Going with Aurora, barely.
✗ Aftermath
Nooooooooooooo. Why do I always trust Aurora? They lost in 20 minutes. And BAN this Keeper of the Light.
Team Spirit
My take
Tundra was an absolute mess in DL29—lost to REKONIX, couldn't beat anyone meaningful. Spirit is structured and disciplined, and Yatoro is untouchable right now. This is a BO1, so upsets happen, but I can't bet on Tundra fixing everything overnight. Going with Team Spirit.
✓ Aftermath
OMG. 2 Rapiers on BZM and it still wasn't enough. You can't always play from behind. I feel like Tundra is kind of "anxious" in team fights, and they rely too much on late-game games. And guess what? They lose late as well.
Team Yandex
My take
Tough match to predict, because AGAIN, we don't know what version of Team Yandex shows up. Liquid plays aggressive, fast Dota, but so does Yandex. Going with Team Liquid because they are more consistent.
✓ Aftermath
It was a beat down by Team Yandex. I don't understand why Team Liquid doesn't ban the Shadow Fiend. I think this is the reason why Yandex is playing so fast.
Team Falcons
My take
Let's speculate here: what can ex-HEROIC do here in order to win? They need to push fast, right? When was the last time you saw this squad push in 30 minutes? They have the same issues every single time. They can't breach the high ground no matter what. That's why I am going with Falcons here.
✓ Aftermath
Exactly as I said. LGD was leading the whole time, but when it comes to close the map, they end up in this anxiety where they just can't breach the high ground.
OG
My take
I am leaning towards OG here. OG may be unpredictable, but Ame writing GG mid-game is not a winning mentality. Going with OG.
✗ Aftermath
I don't have any explanation why OG lost. I mean, how can you lose when Natsumi outfarms the whole XG 2 to 1? I feel like they don't know what to do after early-game.
PARIVISION
My take
PARI is the best team in the world right now. Noone in mid will cook whoever Yandex puts there. Again, we don't know how Yandex is playing right now, but I doubt they can beat these monsters. Going with PARIVISION.
✗ Aftermath
Wow...maybe I misjudged Yandex? Maybe the problem was not in DM? Maybe their strength is in the early to mid-game fights? Anyway, they look extremely strong on day 1.
Aurora Gaming
My take
Aurora should handle GLYPH. Their mid-game Windranger and Timbersaw strats are well-executed, and GLYPH is still an unknown. I don't know what needs to happen for Aurora to lose here, to be honest. Going with Aurora.
✗ Aftermath
Jesus Christ...Aurora, are you OK? Emo solo won on the Storm Spirit. The guy had 26 kills on a Goddamn Storm Spirit!!!
BetBoom Team
My take
Spirit beat BetBoom 2-0 in the DL29 upper bracket, and it wasn't even that close. That said, this is a BO1, and Save in the laning stage is a nightmare for anyone. Still, Spirit's structure in the mid-to-late game is just a level above. Going with Team Spirit.
Team Liquid
My take
A very interesting match. I know I downplay Tundra a lot, but mind you, they still got top 5 in the DreamLeague (which is nuts, because they barely got out of the group stage). Let's go here again with Liquid, based on the fact that they play faster than Tundra, and we know that Tundra really struggles with early game.
✗ Aftermath
Unbelievable... Tundra won with the frog. What's wrong with Liquid? Why are they not pushing early?
