Team Spirit has ended their run at the BLAST Slam I Dota 2 tournament, falling to Heroic in the first round of the playoffs. The match concluded with a 1-2 scoreline, earning the team a 9th–10th place finish and a prize of $30,000.
The loss was unexpected, especially given recent changes in Heroic’s roster following the departure of their star player Parker. However, this did not stop the team, led by Cédric "Davai Lama" Deckmyn, from showcasing a strong performance and eliminating Spirit.
Heroic’s next match promises to be a heated one—they will face PARIVISION. Tensions are high after DM, PARIVISION’s off-laner, posted a provocative message, "4Parker," following their earlier group-stage victory over Heroic.
The BLAST Slam I tournament is taking place in Copenhagen from 26 November to 1 December, with 10 invited teams competing for a $1 million prize pool.
Team Spirit’s exit from the tournament coincides with uncertainty surrounding their roster. Abdimalik "Malik" Sailau, who temporarily replaced Magomed "Collapse" Khalilov as the team’s off-laner, commented on his future with the team:
"I’m planning to stay in competitive Dota, so I’ll start looking for a new team. Of course, if Team Spirit offers me a permanent spot, I’d be happy to stay. But for now, it’s hard to say—let’s see how things unfold."
Malik joined Team Spirit as a stand-in in September, stepping in for Collapse, who is on a break until January 2025. The team’s manager, Dmitry "Korb3n" Belov, confirmed that Malik’s contract is set to expire upon Collapse’s return.
For Team Spirit, the conclusion of BLAST Slam I marked not only a disappointing tournament finish, but also a transitional period that could reshape the future of their roster.