Every Chinese team exits BLAST Slam V before the playoffs

It was a rough day for Chinese Dota 2 as every team from the region was eliminated from BLAST Slam V before the playoffs in Chengdu.

With the end of the Group Stage at BLAST Slam V, came the Last Chance playoffs, and the Play-In stage too. With both of these stages taking place on November 30th, we would see a Sunday filled with eliminations. Two teams were eliminated after the Last Chance playoffs, while another four would see their tournament lives come to an end following the Play-Ins.

Surviving the Last Chance Playoffs

Similarly to the previous tournament, PGL Wallachia Season 6, BLAST Slam V had a chance to see every Chinese Dota 2 team exit early. Tearlaments, Xtreme Gaming, Yakult Brothers, and Execration were the first teams on the chopping block in the Last Chance playoff. While YB survived easily, with a clean 2-0 victory over XCTN, XG had a scare in their series. However, managing to secure a 2-1 win over Tearlaments, XG endured the Last Chance playoffs.

With that, Tearlaments and Execration were the first two teams eliminated from BLAST Slam V, while XG and YB would move on to the Play-Ins to face Team Yandex and MOUZ, respectively.

Play-Ins leave four teams on the side lines

Following the Last Chance playoffs, it was time for more elimination series, as we headed into the Play-Ins. OG managed to keep their strong run going, as they blasted their way through HEROIC without much issue. With their win, the team heads into the playoffs, as they go in search of a finish higher than the top 6. At the same time, Natus Vincere sent Team Tidebound out of BLAST Slam V. Having also struggled through tournaments this year, NAVI were finally able to reach the playoffs and got ready to fight next week.

While XG were able to hold strong to send Tearlaments out of the tournament, they would join them after the Play-Ins. With Yandex as their opponent, XG did well to take the first game in the series, but following that, they were nowhere near making it through. With the final hope for Chinese Dota 2 at BLAST Slam V, YB were going up against MOUZ. Strangely, even with their huge recent victory at PGL Wallachia Season 6, the team struggled through the Group Stage. Unfortunately for YB, even after taking the series to its full length, they would be eliminated from the event, too.

With that, the Play-Ins and opening stages of BLAST Slam V come to an end. The teams eliminated before playoffs were:

• Tearlaments
• Execration
• HEROIC
• Team Tidebound
• Xtreme Gaming
• Yakult Brothers

For the remaining six teams, they now prepare for the Playoffs, which will kick off on December 5th, 2025. The scene is set, and with a single elimination bracket, these teams will be giving it everything they have when BLAST Slam V reaches its pinnacle in a few days.