Yandex secures back-to-back major titles with BLAST Slam VIII win

Yandex has officially kicked off the 2026-2027 Dota 2 season with a statement, taking down Team Spirit 3-1 in the BLAST Slam VIII grand final. This victory earns the squad their second consecutive major tournament title following their win at PGL Wallachia Season 9, alongside a top prize of US$270,000.

According to reporting from Esports Insider, the grand final served as a rubber match between the two organizations, who had already faced off twice earlier in the tournament. While Team Spirit—the reigning The International champions—took the opening game with a dominant 48-19 kill lead behind Illya “Yatoro” Mulyarchuk’s Ursa, the momentum shifted quickly. Yandex leveled the series in game two behind a 20-kill performance from Ammar “ATF” Assaf on Timbersaw.

Alimzhan “Watson” Islambekov was the standout performer as the series progressed. After game two, Watson dictated the pace of the remaining maps, delivering a perfect 14-kill, 14-assist game on Nature’s Prophet in game three, followed by a 19-kill performance in the 56-minute series clincher. ATF also remained a force throughout the final, contributing significantly to the team’s eventual 51-37 kill lead in the final match.

The road to the final

Reporting from Esports Insider and GosuGamers highlights that this victory is the culmination of a successful post-TI 2026 roster shuffle. The integration of ATF, formerly of Team Falcons, has proved to be a catalyst for the team’s current dominant form. For Team Spirit, the second-place finish resulted in a US$135,000 payout. The squad had reached the final after a grueling lower-bracket run, including a comeback victory against PARIVISION.

Why it matters

For Dota 2 fans, this result signals that Yandex is currently the team to beat in the new season. By capturing the first two major titles, they have established themselves as the early favorites for future events. The intense rivalry established during BLAST Slam VIII, where the two teams met three times, suggests that any future matchups between Yandex and Team Spirit will be the highlight of the upcoming tournament cycle.

As the teams head into the next major, all eyes will be on how Team Spirit adjusts after their first major tournament with a revised roster, and whether Yandex can maintain their momentum against a field of competitors currently scrambling to adapt to their high-tempo playstyle.