BLAST SLAM VIII Tournament Betting Preview & Guide – Team Yandex Can Succeed at BLAST SLAM VIII
BLAST SLAM VIII, set for Malta, expands to 16 teams and introduces a refreshed format, making the competition fiercer. Big names like Team Spirit, PARIVISION, Team Yandex, and Team Liquid headline the event, with Yandex standing out for their consistency. While PARIVISION and Liquid have uncertainties, Xtreme Gaming and BetBoom Team emerge as possible dark horses. For fans and bettors, Stake offers attractive live betting and streaming options. With a stacked field and high stakes, this tournament promises intense action and potential surprises.
- BLAST SLAM VIII will run between September 29 and October 11
- 16 Dota 2 teams clash for the trophy and lion’s share of a US$750,000 prize pool
- PARIVISION are expected to shine and claim their first BLAST SLAM trophy
BLAST SLAM VIII Live StreamWatch live online at bet365 > Esports > BLAST SLAM VIII. T&Cs apply.
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BLAST SLAM returns for the eight time this month, this time with an expanded field and a changed format.
- When Does BLAST SLAM VIII Start?
- BLAST SLAM VIII Format
- Group Stage
- Seeding Matches
- Last Chance
- Playoffs
- BLAST SLAM VIII Favourites & Odds
- Where to Watch BLAST SLAM VIII?
- Where to Bet on BLAST SLAM VIII?
Scheduled to begin on Tuesday, September 29, BLAST SLAM VIII is the eighth iteration of the BLAST SLAM Dota 2 tournament series, and this year, it’s coming back bigger than ever.
For BLAST SLAM VIII, the tournament organisers expanded the field of teams to 16, while adjusting the competitive format, adding a pinch of excitement to one of the biggest and most prestigious Dota 2 events of the year.
Taking place in Malta, BLAST SLAM VIII will welcome 16 teams, including many of the world’s highest-rated teams, including the reigning The International champions Team Spirit, the defending BLAST SLAM champions, Team Yandex, the current no.2 on the ESL Pro Tour standings, PARIVISION, Team Liquid, and many more.
With such a stacked field, the road to the top will be filled with obstacles and will not be an easy one, even for elite rosters. This only adds to the excitement and the betting opportunities Dota 2 punters can explore on the best bookmakers as they look through the available markets.
FreeTips brings you a free BLAST SLAM VIII tournament betting preview and guide, with all the information you’ll need, including the schedule, format, favourites, outright betting picks, and outright odds, from the best Dota 2 betting sites.
When Does BLAST SLAM VIII Start?
ESL Pro League Season 24 is scheduled to start on Thursday, October 3. The tournament will run for nine days and conclude on Sunday, October 11.
BLAST SLAM VIII Format
BLAST SLAM VIII is divided into four stages. The action begins with a 16-team group stage, where all participating squads are divided into four GSL-format groups of four.
Group stage games are played as best-of-three, with only the top two teams per group proceeding deeper into the tournament. The four winners will advance to the Seeding Matches, and runners-up to the Last Chance Stage.
The Seeding Matches will be best-of-three, with winners receiving a semifinal bye and losers advancing to the quarterfinals. The Last Chance Stage will follow the same format, with winners advancing to the quarterfinals and the two losers eliminated from the tournament.
BLAST SLAM VIII playoffs are double-elimination with all games played as best-of-three, except for the grand final, which is best-of-five.
Group Stage
- 16 teams
- Four GSL-format groups
- BO3 games
- Group winners advance to the Seeding Matches
- Runners-up proceed to Last Chance Stage
Seeding Matches
- Four team
- BO3 games
- Winners get a semifinal bye
- Losers proceed to the quarterfinals
Last Chance
- Four teams
- All matches are best-of-three
- Winners proceed to the quarterfinals
- Losers are eliminated from the tournament
Playoffs
- Six teams
- Double-elimination bracket
- BO3 games
- Grand final is BO5
BLAST SLAM VIII Favourites & Odds
There is no surprise that PARIVISION are the favourites to win BLAST SLAM VIII. They are the hottest Dota 2 team in the scene, and came one game short of winning The International in August, just one month after securing the Esports World Cup trophy.
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| PARIVISION | 2.90 |
| Team Yandex | 4.80 |
| Team Spirit | 5.00 |
| Team Liquid | 7.00 |
| 1win | 7.50 |
| BetBoom Team | 9.00 |
| Aurora Gaming | 11.00 |
| Natus Vincere | 13.00 |
| LGD Gaming | 15.00 |
| Xtreme Gaming | 15.00 |
| OG | 17.00 |
| Yakult's Brothers | 75.00 |
| GamerLegion | 75.00 |
| Team Nemesis | 100.00 |
| MOUZ | 100.00 |
| LevelUP | 100.00 |
The loss at TI has left a bittersweet taste in PARIVISION’s mouth, so it is fair to question whether they still have the motivation to perform.
However, they’ve had a month to reset, suggesting PARIVISION are still a serious threat to win BLAST SLAM VIII.
Team Spirit, who spoiled PARIVISION’s plans in August, join the list of serious BLAST SLAM VIII title contenders, despite making a roster change, adding Bohdan “Batyuk” Batiuk as a replacement for Magomed "Collapse" Khalilov earlier this month.
This change doesn't move the needle much, and if it does, it might not be a positive move, since replacing Collapse won’t be easy.
Team Yandex are one of the scariest teams in the scene, and easily the most consistent team of the last three months. The defending BLAST SLAM champions won the last event in June, and have since placed third at the Esports World Cup and The International.
Team Liquid made a massive roster change this month, adding Adrián "Wisper" Dobles, thus bolstering their roster. With Wisper, Team Liquid gained much-needed aggression, which could elevate their game to the level needed to compete for the trophy. However, as with any fresh roster changes, there are questions about chemistry.
BetBoom Team are one of the more exciting teams to follow at BLAST SLAM VIII, largely due to the many lineup changes they’ve made. Vitalie "Save-" Melnic will move to the mid lane, Danil "gpk" Skutin has taken a break from play, with Georgii "swedenstrong" Zainalabidov added to fill in the gap.
Additionally, Alexander "TORONTOTOKYO" Khertek was added as a new coach earlier this month.
With so many changes, BetBoom will be an entirely different team. This could work both ways, adding a pinch of excitement and slight potential that BB Team can surprise.
Where to Watch BLAST SLAM VIII?
To follow the action at BLAST SLAM VIII, visit any online streaming platform and look for official BLAST channels. Alternatively, set up an account with Stake or any popular esports bookmaker with in-play markets for Dota 2, and access free streaming options directly from their platform.
- Visit Stake
- Log in or register with Stake code NEWBONUS to claim your welcome offer
- Find BLAST SLAM VIII markets under the Dota 2 tab
- Watch the live stream and place in-play bets
Where to Bet on BLAST SLAM VIII?
Esports punters do not have to look far to find a platform with BLAST SLAM VIII markets, thanks to the excellent coverage of the event. This makes it easy to start betting on BLAST SLAM VIII, letting you sign up and use most available bookmakers.
Among all the options, however, Stake stands out as one of the top choices, offering highly competitive odds, great market coverage, generous bonuses and promotions, as well as in-play betting and live streaming.
Verdict
When picking out a winner, it is hard not to look at PARIVISION, Team Yandex, and Team Liquid as the top contenders. Of the three, however, PARIVISION might lack motivation, and Liquid could struggle with synergy, making Team Yandex an appealing pick.
They’ve been extremely consistent this season, especially in recent months, and have shown they have the tools to make a run for big events. While Yandex still have to prove they can handle other top dogs, they are very difficult to doubt.
An outsider that can surprise are Xtreme Gaming. They enter BLAST SLAM VIII as outsiders; however, with the major roster overhaul which happened on September 11, they are very hard to ignore.
Xtreme Gaming already left a very positive impression at PGL Wallachia Season 9 earlier this week, and if their performances in the event are any indication, we could be seeing more of Xtreme Gaming in the latter stages of big events.
They’ve been extremely consistent this season, especially in recent months, and have shown they have the tools to make a run for big events. While Yandex still have to prove they can handle other top dogs, they are very difficult to doubt.
An outsider that can surprise are Xtreme Gaming. They enter BLAST SLAM VIII as outsiders; however, with the major roster overhaul which happened on September 11, they are very hard to ignore.
Xtreme Gaming already left a very positive impression at PGL Wallachia Season 9 earlier this week, and if their performances in the event are any indication, we could be seeing more of Xtreme Gaming in the latter stages of big events.
Team Yandex To Win
Outright
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Xtreme To Reach Final
To Reach Finals
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Kicking off his writing career way back in high school, he covers various esports titles, including Counter Strike, Valorant and League of Legends.
He shares the knowledge he has accumulated while being involved in the betting industry for the last 10+ years and you can follow more of TK's work at Muckrack and LinkedIn.
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