Watson helps Yandex win the BLAST Slam VIII grand final.
Yandex beat Spirit 3-1 at BLAST Slam VIII, led by Watson and ATF, earning US$270,000 and back-to-back Dota 2 majors in 2026-2027.
Team Yandex Defeats Team Spirit 3-1 at BLAST Slam VIII and Opens the 2026-2027 Dota 2 Season with Consecutive Major Titles
Background: A New Season Begins with a Roster Reset
After The International 2026, Team Spirit entered the 2026-2027 Dota 2 season as the reigning The International champions. Team Yandex began the season with a major roster move identified by GosuGamers: Ammar “ATF” Assaf arrived after Team Falcons exited the scene. The signing formed part of the wider roster context around Team Yandex, and its roster changes involving ATF preceded the team’s back-to-back tournament wins.
Team Yandex already had momentum before BLAST Slam VIII. Its win followed the PGL Wallachia Season 9 title in late September, giving the team consecutive major tournament victories when it captured BLAST Slam VIII.
Development: Three Meetings in Malta Lead to the Grand Final
At BLAST Slam VIII, Team Yandex and Team Spirit met three times before the championship was decided. Spirit won their earlier seeding match, but Yandex claimed the next encounter with a sweep to become the first team through to the final. Spirit still reached the championship match after recovering from a deficit against PARIVISION in the lower-bracket final.
GosuGamers reported the game-by-game results, while Field Level Media also reported the 3-1 final score.
Match Progress: Spirit Starts Strong, Then Yandex Answers Each Time
Game 1 lasted 40 minutes. Team Spirit took the opening game after building a 48-19 kill advantage. Illya “Yatoro” Mulyarchuk led the way on Ursa with 19 kills and 12 assists, while Yandex were unable to recover after Spirit disrupted their early progress.
Game 2 went to Team Yandex in 52 minutes. The turning point came at the 23-minute mark, when Yandex converted a major teamfight win into the level of the series. ATF’s Timbersaw was central to the comeback, finishing with 20 kills and seven assists as Yandex’s core of ATF, Alimzhan “Watson” Islambekov and Ilya “CHIRA_JUNIOR” Chirtsov found their footing.
Game 3 lasted 48 minutes. Watson delivered a perfect 14-kill, 14-assist performance on Nature’s Prophet. Team Yandex took control against Spirit’s slower lineup and secured the map, moving one win from the title.
Game 4 lasted 56 minutes. Watson finished with 19 kills and 14 assists, while ATF added 13 kills and 22 assists. Together, they helped Yandex finish with a 51-37 kill lead and close out the 3-1 result.
Standings and Prize Money: A Second BLAST Title for Yandex
The BLAST Slam VIII final standings placed Team Yandex first with US$270,000 and Team Spirit second with US$135,000. Team Yandex claimed the tournament’s top prize, while Spirit finished runner-up.
The result marked Yandex’s second BLAST title after BLAST Slam VII and delivered the first two major tournament wins of the 2026-2027 competitive season, according to GosuGamers.
Current Stage: Consecutive Majors, a Changed Spirit Roster, and the Next Test
Team Yandex now heads into the next major cycle with two titles to open the season: PGL Wallachia Season 9 in late September and BLAST Slam VIII. Team Spirit leave BLAST Slam VIII as runners-up after their first appearance with a changed roster.
The matchup has now been tested across three encounters in Malta. Their next meetings will offer another test of the rivalry established at BLAST Slam VIII, while Yandex carry the weight of a second consecutive major tournament win into the start of the 2026-2027 Dota 2 season.
FAQ
Who won BLAST Slam VIII?
Team Yandex won BLAST Slam VIII by defeating Team Spirit 3-1 in the grand final.
What was the final score and prize money?
The final score was 3-1 in favor of Team Yandex. Team Yandex received US$270,000 for first place, while Team Spirit received US$135,000 as runner-up.
Who was the standout player?
Watson was a key player in the final, including a perfect 14-kill, 14-assist performance on Nature’s Prophet in Game 3 and 19 kills with 14 assists in Game 4. ATF also played a major role, especially with Timbersaw in Game 2 and his assist-heavy Game 4.
What does this mean for the 2026-2027 Dota 2 season?
The win gave Team Yandex two consecutive major tournament titles to open the 2026-2027 Dota 2 season, after they also won PGL Wallachia Season 9 in late September.
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