Team Yandex Beat Team Spirit 3-1 to Win BLAST Slam VIII

Posted : 13 October 2026

Team Yandex defeated Team Spirit 3-1 in the grand final of BLAST Slam VIII, extending their winning run with a second consecutive major tournament championship at the start of the 2026-2027 Dota 2 season. The victory followed their triumph at PGL Wallachia Season 9 in late September and reinforced their position among the leading teams in competitive Dota 2.

Spirit made a strong start to the best-of-five final, winning the opening game after 40 minutes with a commanding 48-19 kill advantage. Illya “Yatoro” Mulyarchuk was instrumental in the victory, recording 19 kills and 12 assists on Ursa. Yandex struggled to regain control as Spirit disrupted their early plans and maintained pressure throughout the game.

Yandex responded in the second game, turning a decisive teamfight victory at the 23-minute mark into a comeback win after 52 minutes. Ammar “ATF” Assaf played a crucial role on Timbersaw, finishing with 20 kills and seven assists. His performance, alongside contributions from Alimzhan “Watson” Islambekov and Ilya “CHIRA_JUNIOR” Chirtsov, helped Yandex level the series at 1-1.

The third game saw Yandex move ahead for the first time in the final. Watson delivered an outstanding performance on Nature’s Prophet, recording 14 kills and 14 assists without a death. Yandex exploited weaknesses in Spirit’s slower lineup to secure a 48-minute victory and move within one game of the championship.

Spirit could not force a deciding fifth game as Yandex closed out the series in game four after 56 minutes. Watson finished with 19 kills and 14 assists, while ATF contributed 13 kills and 22 assists. Their combined efforts helped Yandex secure a 51-37 kill advantage in the final game and complete the 3-1 series victory.

Yandex Secure $270,000 as Spirit Finish Second

Yandex earned US$270,000 for winning BLAST Slam VIII, while Spirit received US$135,000 for finishing second. The tournament featured a US$750,000 total prize pool, with the result adding another major trophy to Yandex’s growing collection.

The grand final was the third meeting between the teams at the event. Spirit won their earlier seeding match, but Yandex bounced back in the upper-bracket final with a 2-0 victory to qualify directly for the championship match. Spirit secured their place in the final by defeating PARIVISION 2-1 in the lower-bracket final.

Yandex’s latest victory also follows their success at PGL Wallachia Season 9, giving them consecutive major tournament wins. ATF’s addition to the roster has strengthened the team’s lineup, with Watson and CHIRA_JUNIOR also playing important roles throughout the tournament.

For Spirit, the runner-up finish came during their first tournament appearance with a revised roster following changes to the playing lineup and coaching staff. Despite missing out on the trophy, the team demonstrated its ability to compete at the highest level by reaching the final after navigating the lower bracket.

Yandex now move forward with two major titles to begin the 2026-2027 competitive season, while Spirit will look to regroup ahead of their next tournament. Their three encounters at BLAST Slam VIII highlighted an increasingly competitive rivalry, with Yandex ultimately winning the most important match of the event.

Team Yandex Beat Team Spirit 3-1 to Win BLAST Slam VIII

Yandex Secure $270,000 as Spirit Finish Second

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