FISSURE Universe Episode 8 begins - Key teams and storylines to watch

Team Spirit, Team Yandex, and MOUZ are among the participants in FISSURE Universe Episode 8.

The lengthy January qualifier stretch has finally come to an end–which means real tournament action is just around the corner. That brings us to the first notable Dota 2 event of 2026: FISSURE Universe Episode 8, which kicks off today, 29 January.

While the tournament isn’t as major as some of the upcoming events, with a US$250,000 prize pool and a compact four-day format–it still serves as a meaningful early-season test. FISSURE Universe Episode 8’s main appeal lies in its timing. As the first notable tournament of the year, it offers a valuable measuring stick for teams with newly adjusted lineups and a chance for those who struggled early on to prove they’ve overcome their hurdles.

It will also be the first tournament where top-tier teams compete on Patch 7.40c, with Largo now available in Captain’s Mode after over a month introduced in the game. As teams gear up to battle for the first trophy of the year, we’ve summarised what you can expect from the participants.

FISSURE Universe Episode 8 teams:

Team Spirit
Team Yandex
MOUZ
BetBoom Team
Aurora Gaming
Team Liquid (qualifier)
StrongBoys (qualifier)
Power Rangers (qualifier)

All teams and key storylines to watch at FISSURE Universe Episode 8

Any tournament is instantly elevated by the presence of the scene’s elite, and at FISSURE Universe Episode 8, Team Spirit enters as the arguable favorite. Their long-standing consistency and overall team strength give them the highest odds of lifting the trophy.

However, questions surround their shifted dynamics. Spirit will compete without Denis “Larl” Sigitov in the midlane as he takes a personal break, with the team instead fielding the less-experienced Mirele. The team is also without an official coach following Silent’s shocking departure two weeks ago–a key figure who had been instrumental in Spirit’s rise since 2021.

Still, if anything, this is Team Spirit. They’ve endured roster changes and remained dominant throughout seasons. With star players like Illya “Yatoro” Mulyarchuk and Magomed “Collapse” Khalilov still leading the charge, a podium finish feels highly likely.

Lurking close behind is a potential contender: Team Yandex, the reigning year-end champions. The new powerhouse burst onto the season with momentum, climbing from a third-place finish at FISSURE PLAYGROUND 2, to second at BLAST Slam V, and finally securing their first title at DreamLeague Season 27.

Yandex features several players with previously unproven track records, two notably coming from Gaimin Gladiators. Meanwhile, Martin “Saksa” Sazdov provides the team’s most established pedigree, boasting an Aegis to his name. Officially standing in from Tundra Esports’ bench post-TI last year, his role now appears anything but temporary as he continues to play alongside Yandex in their third month together.

Another legitimate title threat is MOUZ, who–much like Yandex–caught everyone off guard in the season’s opening events by winning PGL Wallachia Season 6. Built largely from “washed” and overlooked talent, the squad has flourished under the leadership of Melchior “Seleri” Hillenkamp, himself a former Gaimin Gladiators standout.

Other established names in the FISSURE Universe Episode 8 lineup include Team Liquid, BetBoom Team, and Aurora Gaming, though recent performances suggest they are unlikely to contend for the top spots.

Team Liquid, in particular, is taking longer than expected to find their rhythm with the new duo of Marcus “Ace” Hoelgaard and Erik “tOfu” Engel. Their struggles continued this early season with a failure to qualify for ESL One Birmingham–marking the first time Liquid has missed an ESL event in over five years. Coupled with underwhelming results at year-end tournaments in 2025, expectations for Liquid are pretty low heading into this event.

BetBoom Team and Aurora Gaming share similar profiles. Both show occasional flashes of brilliance, but these are often offset by equally disappointing performances. Highly unpredictable by nature, their recent results have trended downward, suggesting they may need more time to stabilise.

Finally, two qualifier teams–StrongBoys and Power Rangers–enter the fray as surprise additions. These seemingly random stacks managed to overcome more established squads like Nigma Galaxy and Virtus.pro during the Play-In rounds. While a strong run appears unlikely, they could still steal a few wins and disrupt the momentum of other teams.

FISSURE Universe Eps 8 will kick off soon with all eight teams nestling in the Upper Bracket Playoffs, then set off to a double-elimination format. The pairings of the first round are: