HEROIC join The International 2025 playoffs, secure a top 8 finish

Elimination round at The International 2025 is set to bring a thriller of a day as four of the main favourites for the title are now bound to fight for staying in the tournament.

Luckily for SA Dota, the anxiety is over. HEROIC have secured a place in the playoffs by taking down Yakutou Brothers and slowed down a bit China’s domination by doing so. The Chinese team wasn’t even supposed to be at TI this year. They placed second in the regional qualifiers and have only been granted an invite after Gaimin Gladiators withdrew from the event.

However, after witnessing the splash made by the Chinese teams in the group stage, fans were once again reminded that The International is truly the place where “everything is possible.”

TI 2025 Group Stage final standings

While Xtreme closed the group run with a perfect 4-0 series score and were joined by Tidebound in the playoffs, Yakutou struggled through the Swiss system and landed in the elimination round with a 2-3 series score. They were pitted against HEROIC, who finished 3-2 in the group.

South America’s only hope at TI 2025 started the group stage with two back-to-back losses, but ended on a high note, winning their next three series and delivering an upset by taking down Tundra Esports 2-0. Headed into the elimination match, HEROIC pulled out what could be regarded a pocket strategy to secure themselves a spot in the playoffs. They came prepared with two Meepo drafts, and to make it even more exciting for the viewers at home, they also ran an offlane Pudge in game one. Yuma "Yuma" Langlet on his Meepo took the spotlight in the elimination series with a 14/1/11 KDA in game one and 18/1/8 KDA in game two.

Given HEROIC’s extremely dominant performance in the elimination round, it will be interesting to see if anyone will take their chances against Yuma’s Meepo in the playoffs. But until then, there are still plenty of exciting matches to follow in the elimination round.