Team Liquid has defeated Natus Vincere (NAVI) in the Grand Finals of BLAST Slam VI, winning the first major Dota 2 event of 2026. The European squad lifted the trophy after beating NAVI 3-1 in a close-fought finals.
In a back-and-forth series on Feb. 15, TL were able to utilize their more disciplined macro-play to defeat a young and hungry Natus Vincere team. Despite amazing drafts from both teams, preying on the weaknesses of their opponents, ultimately it was the consistency of Team Liquid that helped claim victory. Here’s how it went down:
Team Liquid had a long road to make it to the finals, having fallen narrowly out of direct Playoff qualification, and battling through the play-ins. Despite this, they took on all comers, defeating GamerLegion, Team Falcons, and OG on their way to the finals. With their extended bye, many thought that NAVI might be an unprepared opponent. But after a thorough defeat of Team Yandex on Saturday, NAVI seemed poised for potential victory.
Unfortunately for the storied Ukrainian organization, the first game would start out disastrously, with Michael “miCKe” Vu dominating on a Windranger pick. The quick victory, just 33 minutes, embodied the pacing and talent of Team Liquid, who were able to win lanes and secure victory. Of special note was Samuel “Boxi” Svahn, whose sacrificial gameplay on Tusk, one of his signature heroes, helped propel his team to victory.
Blast Slam VI Winners Team Liquid: Image Credit: BLAST
Heading into the second game, NAVI would need something special to keep them in the series, and they delivered. In our BLAST Slam VI Finals betting preview, we pointed to the fact that super late game with hyper-carries could be an issue for Team Liquid, and here NAVI proved our point. With a fed Templar Assassin, Ivoker, and deadly Batrider, NAVI stalled out the game long enough until Team Liquid finally made a mistake.
With the formula set for NAVI’s victory, Team Liquid decided to put their opponent’s to bed. For the rest of the series, games wouldn’t make it past 35 minutes. Early pressure with aggressive heroes, and taking away Yurii “PMA” Prots’ Batrider, so he couldn’t replicate his game two dominance, secured Team Liquid’s win, with them raising the trophy after a 3-1 series.
Team Liquid heads home with $300,000 of the prize pool for players, and a $100,000 team payout. NAVI take home a more modest $150,000 and $50,000 team payout.
But while BLAST is in the books, and the next edition isn’t until May, we still have plenty of Dota 2 action on the horizon. DreamLeague Season 28 kicks off on Feb. 16, and PGL Wallachia S7 starts just a few weeks after. See our Dota 2 2026 esports calendar for more info.
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Feature Image Credit: BLAST
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