The 2026-2027 Dota 2 season has a clear protagonist. After a dominant run in Malta, Team Yandex has hoisted the BLAST SLAM VIII trophy, cementing their status as the team to beat right now. By defeating the reigning The International champions, Team Spirit, in a 3-1 grand final, Yandex has now claimed victory in the first two major tournaments of the competitive calendar.
The ATF Effect
The narrative surrounding this roster has shifted rapidly since the post-TI 2026 shuffle. Bringing in Ammar “ATF” Al-Assaf as their new offlaner was a calculated risk that is paying dividends. Following their triumph at PGL Wallachia Season 9, this second consecutive trophy proves that the synergy between ATF, Alimzhan “Watson” Islambekov, and Ilya “CHIRA_JUNIOR” Chirtsov is not just a honeymoon phase—it is a championship-caliber core.
The grand final itself was a masterclass in adaptation. Team Spirit struck first, with Illya “Yatoro” Mulyarchuk’s Ursa dismantling Yandex in the opener. However, Yandex showed the composure of a veteran squad. They stabilized in game two, with ATF’s Timbersaw dictating the tempo, and never looked back. By the time game four concluded, Yandex had firmly established their authority, closing out the series 3-1 and taking home the $270,000 top prize.
What This Means for the Season
For Team Spirit, the result is a bitter pill, though not entirely unexpected given their recent roster changes, including the absence of Magomed “Collapse” Khalilov. Still, finding themselves in the grand final despite the disruption shows they remain a top-tier threat.
For the rest of the professional circuit, the message is loud and clear: the road to any trophy currently runs through Yandex. Whether they can maintain this blistering pace remains the biggest question as we head toward the next set of qualifiers. If you want to see how the experts rate their chances in upcoming events, check out our MyEsports predictions for the latest insights.