Team Yandex is a step away from achieving their first major tournament victory.
Team Yandex has done it again. The newly formed Eastern European (EEU) Dota 2 squad has secured its place in the Grand Finals of DreamLeague Season 27 after taking down the formidable 
Team Spirit. With this victory, Yandex guarantees at least a Top 2 finish–an extraordinary achievement considering the team entered the tournament through DreamLeague Division 2.
During the first phase of the tournament, Yandex posted a respectable but mediocre Group Stage performance. Among the top contenders, they held one of the more modest records, earning wins against relatively weaker opponents such as 
Virtus.pro, 
Amaru Gaming, and 
Team Tidebound. Losses to 
OG and 
Xtreme Gaming left them trailing behind the group leaders and tempered expectations heading into the Playoffs.
But once the Playoffs began, Team Yandex stepped up their game.
They opened with a gritty 2–1 victory over Virtus.pro before edging out Tundra Esports in another hard-fought three-game series. Still, expectations remained mild as Yandex entered the Upper Bracket Finals against Team Spirit.
Despite finishing runner-up at BLAST Slam V just weeks prior, Spirit’s pedigree loomed large. They are a two-time The International champion after all, and has been one of the most consistent teams in recent seasons. On top of that, Spirit had looked stronger throughout DreamLeague Season 27. But Yandex went on to defy the odds.
Yandex shut down Team Spirit in an effortless sweep
In a stunning upset, Yandex swept Spirit 2–0 in convincing fashion. Both games stretched beyond the 40-minute mark, with Spirit repeatedly attempting to contain Yandex’s relentless aggression. However, Yandex dominated across the board: winning lanes, securing key pickoffs, controlling teamfights, and maintaining advantages in both net worth and map control. Spirit ultimately conceded both games with no clear solutions in sight.
While every member of Yandex delivered an impressive performance, 
Martin “Saksa” Sazdov stood out on his pesky supports. His Tusk in Game 1 featured spot-on Aghanim’s kickbacks, while his Shadow Shaman in Game 2 relentlessly roamed the map, punishing Spirit with swift pickoffs. Saksa closed the series with a staggering 4/6/41 KDA–the highest assist total on both teams.
As Team Yandex await in the Grand Finals, Team Spirit drop to the lower bracket, where they will face their longtime rivals, 
PARIVISION. The winner of that showdown will step into the finale to face Yandex for the DreamLeague Season 27 title–and a significant share of the prize pool.
A rapid rise for Team Yandex
Just a few months ago, Team Yandex was largely unknown. The organisation entered the Dota 2 scene in June, featuring several recognisable names like 
Alexey “Solo” Berezin, but early results failed to make waves. Everything changed with the new season shuffle.
In October, Yandex rebuilt its roster by acquiring star players 
Alimzhan “Watson” Islambekov and Arman “Malady” Orazbayev from 
Gaimin Gladiators, while bringing in Saksa from 
Tundra Esports as a temporary stand-in. The impact was immediate.
Within two months, Yandex surged into the upper echelon of competitive Dota 2. They won DreamLeague Division 2 in October, placed third at FISSURE PLAYGROUND 2 in November, and followed it up with a second-place finish at BLAST Slam V in early December.
Now, they stand one series away from either another runner-up finish–or their first major championship–perfectly timed to close out the year.
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