
BLAST Slam VII
Contents
- BLAST Slam VII
- Venue, Competitors’ Structure, and Prize Pool Overview for the BLAST Slam VII
- Participating Teams in the BLAST Slam VII and Qualification Overview
- Structure and Competition Format of the BLAST Slam VII
- Favorites in the BLAST Slam VII, Betting Options, and Where to Watch
- Pros & Cons of Favorites in the BLAST Slam VII
- Frequently Asked Questions
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The tournament, which attracts some of the world’s elite Dota teams, will be held from May 26 to June 7, 2026, in Copenhagen, Denmark, and is known for high-level production and a compact, intense match format.
BLAST Slam VII is organized by BLAST, an eSports media company also prominent in Counter-Strike.
Venue, Competitors’ Structure, and Prize Pool Overview for the BLAST Slam VII
The BLAST Slam VII finals will be held at the BLAST Studio, with the participation of a total of 12 teams.
The tournament uses a hybrid environment. The initial stages are held online, while the final stage is a LAN (offline) event held indoors at the studio.
The total prize pool is $1,000,000 and is split into prize money (totaling $750,000) and team earnings (totaling $250,000).
| Place | Prize money | Team earnings | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | $300,000 | $100,000 | $400,000 |
| 2nd | $150,000 | $50,000 | $200,000 |
| 3rd – 4th | $60,000 | $20,000 | $80,000 |
| 5th – 6th | $35,000 | $15,000 | $50,000 |
| 7th – 10th | $22,500 | $6,250 | $28,750 |
| 11th – 12th | $10,000 | $2,500 | $12,500 |
Participating Teams in the BLAST Slam VII and Qualification Overview
The 12 teams for BLAST Slam VII have been finalized as of April 3, 2026. The roster includes eight direct invites and four regional qualifier winners.











































| Team | Qualification method | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Team Liquid | Direct Invite | Western Europe |
| BetBoom Team | Direct Invite | Eastern Europe |
| Tundra Esports | Direct Invite | Western Europe |
| Team Falcons | Direct Invite | MENA |
| Team Spirit | Direct Invite | Eastern Europe |
| Team Yandex | Direct Invite | Eastern Europe |
| OG | Direct Invite | Western Europe |
| HEROIC | Direct Invite | South America |
| Aurora Gaming | Europe Closed Qualifier | Europe |
| PARIVISION | Europe Closed Qualifier | Europe |
| Xtreme Gaming | China Closed Qualifier | China |
| GLYPH | SEA Closed Qualifier | Southeast Asia |
The qualification structure for the four open slots was updated for the 2026 season to include both Open and Closed stages:
- Open Qualifiers (March 31 – April 1, 2026):
- Unlimited teams competed in a single-elimination bracket.
- The top two teams from each regional Open Qualifier advanced to the Closed stage.
- Closed Qualifiers (April 2 – April 3, 2026):
- Featured eight teams: Four direct qualifier invites and 4 teams from the Open Qualifiers.
- Europe: Used a double-elimination format where the top two teams (Aurora Gaming and PARIVISION) secured spots.
- China & SEA: Used a format where only the winner of each region (Xtreme Gaming and GLYPH) qualified.
Structure and Competition Format of the BLAST Slam VII
BLAST Slam VII consists of three main stages. The tournament uses a hybrid format, with early stages played online and a LAN playoff at the BLAST Studio.
| Stage | Dates | Location | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group stage | May 26 – May 29 | Online | Seeding and initial eliminations |
| Last Chance Qualifier | May 30 | Online | Final spots for the playoff bracket |
| Playoffs (LAN) | June 4 – June 7 | BLAST Studio | Deciding the champion |
The tournament features a progression from quick best-of-one (bo1) matches to high-stakes best-of-three (bo3) and best-of-five (bo5) series.
- Group stage (bo1): All 12 teams compete in a round robin brawl.
- Top 4 teams: Advance directly to the Playoff bracket.
- 5th – 10th place: Proceed to the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ).
- Bottom two teams: They are immediately eliminated.
- Last Chance Qualifier (bo3): A short single-elimination bracket. Six teams battle for the final 2 slots in the Playoffs.
- Playoffs (bo3 & bo5): A single-elimination bracket held in front of a live audience.
- Quarterfinals & semifinals: Played as best-of-three.
- Grand final: A premier best-of-five series to determine the winner.
Favorites in the BLAST Slam VII, Betting Options, and Where to Watch
Heading into BLAST Slam VII, Team Liquid is the primary favorite as the reigning champions of BLAST Slam VI. Tundra Esports and Team Falcons are also high-tier contenders, consistently reaching grand finals and holding strong positions on the ESL Pro Tour Leaderboard. Team Spirit and BetBoom Team remain formidable “dark horses” due to their deep rosters and previous major wins.
You can find competitive odds for Dota 2 on reputable eSports betting sites. Top-rated platforms include:
- bet365: Known for a beginner-friendly interface and extensive match coverage.
- Betway: Offers a dedicated esports vertical with frequent bonuses and high live odds.
- Pinnacle: Preferred by experienced bettors for having some of the highest odds and best value in the industry.
- Thunderpick: A leading choice for those who prefer wagering with cryptocurrency like Bitcoin or Ethereum.
Most popular betting markets:
- Match winner: Predict the overall winner of a series (bo1, bo3, or bo5).
- Map handicap: Betting on a team to win with a map advantage or deficit (e.g., -1.5 maps).
- First blood/first Roshan: Fast-paced “prop” bets on which team secures the first kill or kills the first Roshan.
- Total kills/map duration: Over/under bets on how long a game lasts or the total number of kills recorded.
Official broadcasts for BLAST Slam VII are available across multiple platforms:
- BLAST.tv: The primary hub for the highest quality stream and interactive features.
- YouTube (BLASTDota): For live coverage and full VOD replays.
- Twitch: Live streaming on the official BLAST Dota channels (Stream A and Stream B).
- Kick: Alternative streaming platform providing the official broadcast.
Pros & Cons of Favorites in the BLAST Slam VII
As of April 2026, the competitive landscape for BLAST Slam VII is dominated by a few elite teams with distinct playstyles. Below is a breakdown of the pros and cons for the tournament favorites based on recent performances and the current 2026 meta.
| Team | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Team Liquid | Current champions: Recent winners of BLAST Slam VI. Boast high synergy with core players like “Nisha” and “miCKe” who are peaking in the current mid-game skirmish meta. | Targeted drafting: As defending champions, their strategies are heavily analyzed. They have shown occasional inconsistency in early-game laning against aggressive “dark horse” teams. |
| Tundra Esports | Tournament dominance: Historically, the most successful team in the series, having won 4 BLAST Slam titles. Currently ranked #1 globally due to their extremely stable late-game execution. | Predictability: Tend to favor specific high-scaling heroes (like 33’s offlane pool) which can be exploited by teams with high-tempo, early-pressure drafts. |
| Team Falcons | Mechanical skill: Features the TI 2025 winning roster. They are experts at tri-core dominance, making them nearly unbeatable if they secure a lead in the first 15 minutes. | High risk: Their aggressive playstyle can backfire if they fail to close games early, leading to over-extensions that disciplined teams like Liquid or Spirit can punish. |
| Team Spirit | Clutch factor: Renowned for their “never-say-die” attitude and explosive teamfights. They excel at finding openings in late-game scenarios where other teams crumble under pressure. | Roster transition: Still adjusting to life without “Miposhka”, leading to occasional communication lapses during the mid-game rotation phase. |
| BetBoom Team | Raw potential: One of the most consistent threats in the Tier 1 scene. They have a massive hero pool and can flex picks across multiple positions to confuse opponents. | Mental fortitude: Historically, they struggle in high-stakes LAN grand finals, often falling just short of the trophy despite dominant group stage runs. |




