DreamLeague Season 28 enters Playoffs with Team Liquid, Tundra Esports, Aurora Gaming, and Xtreme Gaming as the final four.
The ongoing US$1 million Dota 2 tournament, DreamLeague Season 28, is nearing its conclusion. Of the 16 participating teams, eight were eliminated in the first Group Stage, with four more knocked out in Group Stage 2, which concluded last night. The competition is now down to its final four teams, all of whom advance to the Playoffs–the decisive stage that will determine the champions.
Team Liquid have been utterly dominant, finishing Group Stage 2 with a commanding 7-0 win streak. Close behind in second place are 
Tundra Esports, posting a 5-2 record. Both teams secure an Upper Bracket advantage heading into the Playoffs courtesy of their top-two finishes.
Meanwhile, third- and fourth-placed 
Aurora Gaming and 
Xtreme Gaming, who both finished with a 4–3 score, also progressed to the Playoffs but will begin their campaigns in the Lower Bracket.
As a result, four teams bow out of the event placing 5th-8th in the following order: 
Team Falcons, 
PARIVISION, 
BetBoom Team, and 
MOUZ.
Team Liquid on track for back-to-back titles
Team Liquid stormed through Group Stage 2 with an undefeated 7-0 record, ending Aurora Gaming’s remarkable 31-series win streak along the way, which was accumulated across several recent tournaments.
This dominant run follows a slightly shakier Group Stage 1, where Liquid placed third with a 10-4 record. However, the squad quickly regained momentum and now stand as tournament favourites, bolstered by their victory at BLAST Slam VI just two weeks ago.
Tundra Esports eye a resurgence
Finishing second in Group Stage 2, Tundra Esports once again demonstrate their trademark consistency. Their dominance is rarely a surprise, though the team had stumbled in their two most recent events–placing 5th-6th in the previous DreamLeague and 7th-10th at BLAST Slam VI, where they lost a title they had held since February last year.
This current showing could signal a definitive return to form, but with formidable dark horses in the fray, it’s hard to guarantee Tundra’s capabilities in the incoming Playoffs.
Aurora Gaming's momentum disrupted
Despite finishing third overall, Aurora Gaming arguably drew the most attention throughout the tournament so far. Their impressive 31-series win streak–achieved with 
Artem “Lorenof” Melnick standing in as a substitute–established them as one of the biggest contenders in current times.
However, after their streak was snapped by Liquid, Aurora suffered consecutive series losses to MOUZ and Xtreme Gaming. The Playoffs will reveal whether opponents have deciphered their strategies or if Aurora can swiftly regain their earlier dominance.
Xtreme Gaming’s surprise surge
The fourth and final Playoff contender, Xtreme Gaming, entered as a relative surprise. The International 2025 runners-up endured a turbulent start to the season while adjusting to roster changes. With inconsistent results at times, the Chinese squad now appear to have found stability at the right time, securing a top-four finish and positioning themselves as potential upset contenders.
Big names sent home
On the other side of the bracket, several high-profile teams have been eliminated. Team Falcons, who were forced to compete without ATF in the closing matches due to health reasons, were unable to secure enough wins to advance. This marks another below-par showing from the reigning TI champions.
PARIVISION’s decline since their dominant run last season has also been hard to watch. Five losses in Group Stage 2 sealed their relatively early exit. The squad have struggled for consistency this season, with their only notable result being a third-place finish at the previous DreamLeague. Though this could be a result of their adjustment period following the replacement of 
Dmitry “DM” Dorokhin with Valery “SSS” Lazarev–alongside the arrival of new coach 
Clement “Puppey” Ivanov.
With the Playoffs set, DreamLeague Season 28 now enters its most decisive stage. The round will begin with Aurora Gaming facing Xtreme Gaming in the Lower Bracket, with the winner advancing to meet the loser of Team Liquid vs Tundra Esports.
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