BLAST Slam II: Playoff Semifinals Recap

From February 4 to February 9, 2025, one of the biggest Dota 2 tournaments of the first half of the year, BLAST Slam II, is taking place. The teams have already completed the group stage, determining their starting positions in the playoffs. On February 8, 2025, the semifinals began, featuring two key matchups: Tundra Esports vs. Nigma Galaxy and Gaimin Gladiators vs. Team Falcons. In this article, we’ll break down both matches and highlight the most exciting moments from this stage of the tournament.

Tundra Esports vs. Nigma Galaxy

The semifinals featured two thrilling matches, the first of which saw Tundra Esports face off against Nigma Galaxy, who had sensationally defeated PARIVISION in the previous round. Before diving in, it's worth noting that all matches are played in a best-of-three (BO3) format, adding intensity to the tournament.

The first game unfolded as experts had predicted. Tundra Esports took control early on, playing aggressively across the map and hunting for isolated opponents. Among their players, 33 stood out the most, playing offlane Beastmaster. He delivered an outstanding performance, securing 11 kills and dying only once, which allowed him to farm efficiently and build all the necessary items, making it incredibly difficult to counter him. In the end, Tundra Esports claimed victory in Game 1 with a score of 38-23 in 44 minutes.

In the second game, expectations were high for Tundra Esports to deliver another dominant performance, but Nigma Galaxy had other plans. Learning from their mistakes in Game 1, they banned Tundra’s key heroes during the draft phase. This strategic move allowed Nigma Galaxy to pick comfort heroes like Phantom Assassin and Leshrac, which proved to be a winning combination. The match ended in Nigma Galaxy’s favor, 27-15, in 45 minutes.

The third game was the decider, with a BLAST Slam II Grand Final spot on the line, making the stakes incredibly high. Tundra Esports had a superior draft, but Nigma Galaxy showed resilience from the start. However, by minute 15, the game took a dramatic turn—after a series of successful kills, Tundra Esports started to build a commanding lead. By minute 25, their advantage was overwhelming. Ultimately, Tundra Esports secured the victory with a 35-9 score in 29 minutes, advancing to the BLAST Slam II Grand Final, where they will face the winner of Gaimin Gladiators vs. Team Falcons.

Gaimin Gladiators vs. Team Falcons

The second match of the day featured Gaimin Gladiators against Team Falcons, who had easily defeated Yakult Brothers in the previous round. Both teams are considered powerhouses, making for an intense matchup right from the start. During the draft phase, the teams opted for unconventional picks, such as Nature’s Prophet mid for Team Falcons.

The first game was a slow-paced, evenly contested battle. Both teams avoided unnecessary fights, focusing on farm, which led to a late-game scenario. In this phase, Gaimin Gladiators proved to be the stronger side, securing a 27-24 victory in 48 minutes. A notable highlight was watson, the GG carry player, who delivered a flawless performance on Morphling, not dying a single time throughout the game.

The second game was far more dynamic, with more team fights and faster gameplay. After Game 1, both teams had a better understanding of each other’s strategies, so they picked their signature heroes. Team Falcons performed well in the early game, but as the match progressed, Watson on Terrorblade, Ace on Magnus, and Quinn on Lina took over. These three players had a net worth exceeding 20K gold, and once they completed their key items, they dominated the map. Under immense pressure, Team Falcons crumbled, unexpectedly losing to Gaimin Gladiators 2-0 in a 37-minute match.

Conclusion

With this 2-0 series victory, Gaimin Gladiators advanced to the BLAST Slam II Grand Final, where they will face Tundra Esports for the championship title and the $400,000 prize.

What are your thoughts on these matches?