Dota 2 BLAST Slam II: Group Stage Recap

On February 4, 2025, one of the most anticipated Dota 2 tournaments of the early season—BLAST Slam II—kicked off. The tournament features 10 top-tier teams, all invited by the organizers, competing for the championship title and a $1 million prize pool. What makes BLAST Slam II unique is its format and match structure, which differ from standard tournaments. In this article, we provide a summary of the first day of play (the group stage) and highlight the key moments.

BLAST Slam II Group Stage

As mentioned earlier, BLAST Slam II stands out from other professional tournaments due to its format. Firstly, only 10 teams are competing, whereas similar events typically feature 16 or 20. Secondly, the tournament is structured as a Round-robin group stage followed by Single-elimination playoffs, with all group stage matches being Bo1. On February 4, the first stage of the tournament was fully played, and we now present its results.

Top Performers

The BLAST Slam II format ensures that no teams are eliminated after the first stage, but standings still play a crucial role, as they determine each team's placement in the playoff bracket.

Group A

In Group A, the strongest teams were Tundra Esports and Yakult Brothers, both finishing with a 3-1 record. Tundra Esports secured victories against Talon Esports, Yakult Brothers, and BetBoom Team, but suffered a loss to Team Liquid. Meanwhile, Yakult Brothers defeated BetBoom Team, Team Liquid, and Talon Esports, but lost to Tundra Esports.

Final Group A Standings:

• Tundra Esports – 3-1
• Yakult Brothers – 3-1
• Team Liquid – 2-2
• BetBoom Team – 1-3
• Talon Esports – 1-3

Group B

In Group B, the top two teams were surprisingly Gaimin Gladiators and Nigma Galaxy, both securing a 3-1 record. Gaimin Gladiators claimed victories over Nigma Galaxy, Xtreme Gaming, and PARIVISION, losing only to Team Falcons. Nigma Galaxy defeated Xtreme Gaming, PARIVISION, and Team Falcons, but fell to Gaimin Gladiators.

Final Group B Standings:

• Gaimin Gladiators – 3-1
• Nigma Galaxy – 3-1
• Team Falcons – 2-2
• PARIVISION – 2-2
• Xtreme Gaming – 0-4

Playoff Schedule

The BLAST Slam II playoffs will begin on February 5, 2025, with Round 1, where the teams that finished 4th and 5th in the groups will compete.

• Round 2 starts on February 6, featuring teams that advanced from Round 1 along with the 3rd-place teams from the group stage.
• Quarterfinals will take place on February 7, with winners of previous rounds facing the 2nd-place teams from the group stage.
• Semifinals are set for February 8, where the remaining teams will battle against the group stage winners.
• The Grand Final of BLAST Slam II is scheduled for February 9, 2025, at 17:30 EET. By the end of this match, we will know the tournament champion.

Tune in to the official BLAST Slam II broadcasts on YouTube and Twitch and cheer for your favorite teams!