The professional Dota 2 scene has a new undisputed king. Team Yandex has officially been crowned the champion of BLAST SLAM VIII, cementing their status as the team to beat in the current 2026-2027 competitive season. By defeating the legendary Team Spirit 3-1 in the grand finals, Yandex has now secured back-to-back major titles, having also triumphed at PGL Wallachia Season 9.
A Masterclass in Malta
The journey to the top of the podium was anything but easy. After finishing atop their group, Yandex navigated the playoff bracket with surgical precision. Their path to the final was marked by a clinical 2-0 sweep of Team Spirit in the upper bracket final, a result that sent a clear message to the rest of the field.
While Team Spirit fought their way back through the lower bracket—eventually besting PARIVISION in a tense 2-1 series to earn their rematch—the grand final belonged to Yandex. Despite dropping the opening map, Yandex showcased incredible composure. Led by the explosive performance of Alimzhan “Watson” Islambekov and the relentless pressure from Ammar “ATF” Assaf, they dismantled Spirit’s defenses over the next three games to close out the series 3-1.
The New Meta-Definers
The acquisition of ATF has proven to be the defining move of the post-TI 2026 roster shuffle. His impact on the offlane has provided Yandex with a level of aggression that few teams can currently handle. When paired with the consistency of Watson and the tactical depth of their core, it is no surprise that they are currently dominating the circuit.
For Team Spirit, the second-place finish marks a period of transition. With new faces like Bohdan “Batyuk” Batiuk and coach Ilya “IllidanSTR” Pevcaev integrating into the squad, reaching a grand final is a positive indicator, even if they fell short of the trophy.
As the season progresses, all eyes are now on how the rest of the field will adjust to the Yandex juggernaut. With their victory, Yandex has secured a direct invite to BLAST SLAM IX, ensuring we will see them back on the big stage very soon.
Check out the latest matches and get ahead of the game with our MyEsports predictions.