Team Spirit and Aurora Gaming have been eliminated after day one of the BLAST Slam IV Playoffs.
The BLAST Slam IV Playoffs kicked off today, bringing the final lineup of Dota 2 teams to the live stage at Singapore’s Indoor Stadium.
The Playoffs feature the six remaining teams–
Team Falcons, 
Tundra Esports, 
Team Spirit, 
MOUZ, 
Aurora Gaming, and 
HEROIC–all of whom advanced from the Group Stage held last October. While the group phase was hosted online, likely due to scheduling conflicts with FISSURE PLAYGROUND 2, the Playoffs mark BLAST’s first-ever live audience for its Dota 2 tournament series.
At first glance, the lineup seemed predictable, with many obviously expecting Dota 2 juggernauts to dominate. However, the first day of Playoffs delivered upsets and surprises, setting exciting possibilities for the rest of the tournament.
MOUZ upset Team Spirit 2–1
The opening match of the BLAST Slam IV Playoffs was an absolute spectacle. Two-time The International (TI) champions Team Spirit faced off against MOUZ, a newly formed European roster. The contrast was vivid and most expected Spirit to take the series with ease–but MOUZ was more than ready for the challenge.
In a thrilling back-and-forth battle, MOUZ emerged victorious with a 2–1 score line, even pulling off a stunning comeback. The first map was already a pulse-pounding showdown with Team Spirit drafting the newest Captain’s Mode hero, Kez, and 
Nai Zheng “MidOne” Yeik's Nature’s Prophet securing a very early seven-minute Rampage. Spirit would then snowball and amass a massive 20K net worth lead, but MOUZ clawed their way back to take the win.
Spirit then bounced back and evened out the series following a win in their second game.
But in the deciding game, MOUZ regrouped with a strong draft and disciplined gameplay. MidOne’s unconventional mid lane Venomancer pick proved devastating, applying relentless pressure and forcing Spirit into an unusually passive playstyle.
Although Spirit produced some jaw-dropping highlights–including perfectly-timed Berserker's Calls from 
Magomed “Collapse” Khalilov's Axe that led to an Aegis steal, and 
Nikita “Panto” Balaganin unbelievable Clockwerk precise Aegis snatch. But MOUZ stayed composed. Unshaken by Spirit’s counterplays, MOUZ closed out the series convincingly, eliminating one of the tournament favorites.
HEROIC sweep Aurora Gaming
Just months ago, few would have predicted that South America’s HEROIC would rise to become one of the scene’s top contenders–often overshadowed by regional powerhouses on the global stage.
Now, the story is different. HEROIC eliminated Aurora Gaming in dominant fashion, cruising past the Eastern European side to secure a Top 4 finish at BLAST Slam IV.
HEROIC’s recent performances have been stellar, including a Top 6 finish at TI 2025 and a championship title at FISSURE Universe: Episode 7. Even with a consistent recent track record, many still hesitated to believe in HEROIC, especially as Aurora holds two notable TI champions, questions remained–could HEROIC maintain their form, or would Aurora’s new lineup shine?
HEROIC dismantled a formidable Aurora roster featuring two TI champions, taking the first game in just 33 minutes. 
Adrian “Wisper” Cespedes Dobles' Leshrac was unstoppable, topping the damage charts and pressuring Aurora across the map. The second game followed the same storyline, as HEROIC completely outplayed their opponents and closed out the match in an early 38 minutes victory.
Day two to bring stronger battles ahead
With Team Spirit and Aurora Gaming out of contention, all eyes now turn to day two. Tomorrow, November 8, the semifinals will feature the first Playoffs appearance of the remaining powerhouses.
Tundra Esports will face MOUZ in the opening series, followed by Team Falcons versus HEROIC. On paper, Falcons and Tundra are the clear favorites given their long-lasting dominance–but after today’s unexpected results, anything can happen.
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