BLAST Slam I Groups and Schedule Announcement

Our inaugural Dota 2 tournament, BLAST Slam I, is just around the corner. The ten best teams from across the globe are heading to our studio in Denmark to compete for their share of an impressive $1,000,000 prize pool.

These teams are prepared to bring their best strategies, skills, and teamwork to claim victory. However, becoming the first-ever BLAST Slam I champion won't be easy—they must first navigate through the challenging group stage.

The group stage is a crucial part of the tournament. History has shown that even strong contenders can face shocking eliminations due to unexpected upsets in this stage. With that in mind, let’s dive into the two groups and their opening matches, which kick off on November 26th.

Team Falcons Headline Group A

Team Falcons has gained prominence in recent years. Despite being a relatively young team, their roster boasts a dynamic mix of seasoned veterans and promising newcomers.

While this combination occasionally presents coordination challenges, Team Falcons has proven their ability to adapt and overcome obstacles. That said, a few teams have managed to exploit their weaknesses and come out on top.

In their opening series, Team Falcons will face Xtreme Gaming, one of China’s most formidable powerhouses. Later that day, they’ll take on HEROIC, an underdog that disrupted their momentum in a recent tournament.

Group A is rounded out by two Eastern European titans, PARIVISION and BetBoom Team. Both have, at times, triumphed over the mighty Falcons.

The big question is: will the Falcons soar through their group or will they be grounded once again? We’ll find out at BLAST Slam I.

Group A Teams

Team Falcons

Xtreme Gaming

HEROIC

BetBoom Team

PARIVISION

Intense Rivalry in Group B

When Group B kicks off, the reigning TI champions Team Liquid will step into the spotlight. Their opening series will be against OG, a team undergoing significant changes this season.

With their veterans on the sidelines, OG faces an uphill battle against the TI champions. However, their current roster still features a former TI champion, and OG has a storied history of defying expectations and overcoming impossible odds.

Later in the day, fans can look forward to a high-stakes showdown between Gaimin Gladiators and Team Liquid—their rivalry can be compared to the legendary clashes of Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston. In previous tournaments, Gaimin consistently triumphed over Liquid, cementing their dominance.

However, the narrative shifted after their TI 13 encounter. Since that pivotal moment, Team Liquid has turned the tables with commanding victories in their recent matchups.

Can this momentum drive them to another win, or will Gaimin Gladiators regain their dominance?

Group B also features Tundra Esports and Team Spirit, both of whom have claimed the Aegis of Champions at The International—some even more than once!

Tundra boasts a formidable roster, including the reigning TI champion, 33. Remarkably, every team in this group has reached a TI grand final, ensuring the competition will be nothing short of cutthroat.

Group B Teams

Team Liquid

Gaimin Gladiators

Tundra Esports

Team Spirit

OG

Schedule for the opening day

The first day of the tournament will be online and the remainder of the tournament will be held in our studio here in Denmark. Thus, we can assure you that you won't be missing any action as it will start at 10 am CET.

The matches will be played on a rolling schedule and the series during the group stages will be best of ones. Other than that, there will be an hour's break for each team after their series.

We've got some awesome matches on our opening day, including the El Classico series and the rematch of DreamLeague Season 24 grandfinals. You can check the full schedule for our opening day down below.

Time (CET):

• 10:00:
  • Group A: BetBoom Team vs HEROIC
  • Group B: Tundra Esports vs OG
• 11:00:
  • Group A: Team Falcons vs Xtreme Gaming
  • Group B: Team Spirit vs Gaimin Gladiators
• 12:00:
  • Group A: PARIVISION vs HEROIC
  • Group B: Team Liquid vs OG
• 13:00:
  • Group A: BetBoom Team vs Xtreme Gaming
  • Group B: Tundra Esports vs Gaimin Gladiators
• 14:00:
  • Group A: Team Falcons vs PARIVISION
  • Group B: Team Spirit vs Team Liquid
• 15:00:
  • Group A: Xtreme Gaming vs HEROIC
  • Group B: Gaimin Gladiators vs OG
• 16:00:
  • Group A: BetBoom Team vs PARIVISION
  • Group B: Tundra Esports vs Team Liquid
• 17:00:
  • Group A: HEROIC vs Team Falcons
  • Group B: OG vs Team Spirit
• 18:00:
  • Group A: PARIVISION vs Xtreme Gaming
  • Group B: Team Liquid vs Gaimin Gladiators
• 19:00:
  • Group A: Team Falcons vs BetBoom Team
  • Group B: Team Spirit vs Tundra Esports

To view the schedule for the first day of the tournament, you can also head over to our tournament page.

BLAST Slam I will kick off on November 26th—mark your calendars because it’s going to blast your socks off! Be sure to tune into our BLAST.tv to witness the action unfold live.