Team Yandex won its latest trophy at BLAST SLAM VII by defeating LGD Gaming in its Dota 2 esports return showing in the event’s grand final, three games to one. It was the second playoff meeting between the two sides, and the second victory by Yandex.
The triumph marks a second big championship win for Yandex in 2026, following a PGL Wallachia Season 7 win in March. And while it’s surely a disappointment for LGD Gamnig, the runner-up finish still marks a great result in the esports organization’s return to Dota 2.
Yandex continues hot 2026 run with BLAST SLAM VII trophy
Team Yandex has been one of the hottest sides in Dota 2 over the past two years, and that form has continued into 2026, though its BLAST SLAM VII title run wasn’t an easy one.
Yandex finished the group stage with a 7-4 record and was forced to win a last chance qualifier series in order to advance to the playoffs. It did exactly that, defeating Team Spirit 2-0.
Tight play continued in the playoff bracket. After sweeping Aurora Gaming in the first round, Yandex went to a final game with LGD and BetBoom before winning the trophy in a grand finals rematch with LGD Gaming.
Yandex made a change to its roster in May, bringing in DM to substitute for the benched Noticed. The move doesn’t seem to have slowed the side at all; if anything, it may have provided the boost the team needed to capture another title, the fourth significant trophy Team Yandex has claimed since 2025.
BLAST SLAM VII marks Dota 2 esports return for LGD Gaming
Fan sentiment was largely in favor of runner-up LGD Gaming, as one of the most popular names in Dota 2 esports history made its return to the game for the first time since 2024.
After Heroic became the latest esports organization to leave Dota 2, LGD surprised fans by swooping in to pick up Heroic’s South American roster. The return on that investment was immediate, as the new LGD team topped group play at BLAST SLAM VII before going on a lower-bracket run that included wins over Team Liquid, BetBoom, and Aurora.
While LGD ultimately came up short versus Team Yandex in the grand final, it was still an unqualified success for the side.
LGD Gaming became one of the biggest names in Dota 2 during a run that spanned well over a decade and included five top-four finishes at The International, though the organization never quite managed to lift the Aegis. With rosters keyed by such names as xiao8 and Ame, LGD made an indelible mark.
Hopes of ever winning at TI seemed dashed when LGD dropped its last Chinese roster in 2024. But this surprise return in 2026 could open up new possibilities for the future, including at this year’s event in August. LGD Gaming will attempt to qualify for that event in the official South American qualifier culminating on June 19.
