Group Yandex defeated Group Spirit 3-1 within the BLAST Slam VIII grand ultimate, claiming a second consecutive main match title at first of the 2026-2027 Dota 2 season.
Yandex flip the ultimate round
Spirit took the opening recreation after 40 minutes, constructing a 48-19 kill benefit. Illya “Yatoro” Mulyarchuk led the best way on Ursa with 19 kills and 12 assists, whereas Yandex have been unable to get well after Spirit disrupted their early progress.
Yandex levelled the collection in recreation two, changing a significant teamfight win on the 23-minute mark right into a 52-minute victory. Ammar “ATF” Assaf’s Timbersaw was central to the comeback, ending with 20 kills and 7 assists as Yandex’s core of ATF, Alimzhan “Watson” Islambekov and Ilya “CHIRA_JUNIOR” Chirtsov discovered their footing.
Watson then delivered an ideal 14-kill, 14-assist efficiency on Nature’s Prophet in recreation three. Yandex took management towards Spirit’s slower lineup and secured the map after 48 minutes, shifting one win from the title.
The ultimate recreation lasted 56 minutes, with Yandex closing out the 3-1 outcome. Watson completed with 19 kills and 14 assists, whereas ATF added 13 kills and 22 assists; collectively, they helped Yandex end with a 51-37 kill lead. GosuGamers reported the game-by-game outcomes, whereas Subject Stage Media additionally reported the 3-1 ultimate rating.
The title provides to Yandex’s earlier success at BLAST Slam VIII, the place the group had superior by the playoff bracket to succeed in the championship match. The BLAST Slam VIII playoff field additionally noticed Spirit battle by the decrease bracket to arrange the ultimate.
BLAST Slam VIII ultimate standings
Yandex claimed the match’s high prize, whereas Spirit completed runner-up. The outcome marked Yandex’s second BLAST title after BLAST Slam VII and delivered the primary two main match wins of the 2026-2027 aggressive season, in response to GosuGamers.
| Place | Group | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Group Yandex | US$270,000 |
| 2nd | Group Spirit | US$135,000 |
Spirit entered the ultimate because the reigning The Worldwide champions. Their second-place end introduced US$135,000, whereas Yandex collected US$270,000 for the championship.
A 3rd assembly settled the title
The grand ultimate was the groups’ third assembly at BLAST Slam VIII. Spirit had gained their earlier seeding match, however Yandex claimed the subsequent encounter with a sweep to change into the primary group by to the ultimate.
Spirit reached the championship match after recovering from a deficit towards PARIVISION within the lower-bracket ultimate. Yandex’s win adopted its PGL Wallachia Season 9 title in late September, giving the group consecutive main match victories.
GosuGamers additionally recognized ATF’s arrival after Group Falcons exited the scene as a significant transfer within the post-TI 2026 roster shuffle. The signing fashioned a part of the roster context round Yandex’s run; its wider roster changes involving ATF preceded the group’s back-to-back match wins.
Yandex now heads into the subsequent main cycle with two titles to open the season, whereas Spirit go away BLAST Slam VIII as runners-up after their first look with a modified roster. Their subsequent conferences will supply one other check of the matchup established throughout three encounters in Malta.
