Yandex Secure Top-Three Finish With PARIVISION Reverse Sweep

Team Yandex have reached the BLAST Slam VIII upper-bracket final after a 2-1 reverse sweep of PARIVISION, securing at least a Top 3 finish, US$135,000 and a day of rest.

Yandex advance after two series wins

According to GosuGamers, Yandex began the playoff run by beating LGD Gaming 2-1 in the upper-bracket quarterfinals, then overcame PARIVISION by the same score in the semifinals. The latter result made Yandex the first team to book a place in the upper-bracket final.

Yandex had to recover after LGD took the second game to force a decider. The team closed out game three in 31 minutes, with CHIRA_JUNIOR recording eight kills and eight assists on Earth Spirit and Watson adding 10 kills and four assists on Templar Assassin.

The other upper-bracket quarterfinal saw Aurora Gaming sweep 1W Team 2-0. The series lasted 131 minutes in total, including a 77-minute opening game, before Aurora secured its place in the semifinals.

Against PARIVISION, Yandex responded after losing the opener, which lasted 55 minutes. Yandex levelled the series just before the 52-minute mark, then completed the reverse sweep with a 63-minute win in the decider; each game in the series lasted at least 51 minutes.

Watson led the deciding game with 21 kills and 15 assists against two deaths. CHIRA_JUNIOR contributed 12 kills and 27 assists, while ATF finished with 11 kills and 23 assists as Yandex denied PARIVISION a place in the upper-bracket final.

Upper-bracket result reshapes the playoff picture

The win guarantees Yandex a Top 3 finish and US$135,000 in winnings, according to the source. It also leaves the team on the upper-bracket route to the title, with its next opponent to be decided by the remaining semifinal.

Yandex’s progression follows a loss to Team Spirit in the seeding matches, making the two playoff victories a quick recovery from that setback. The BLAST Slam VIII playoff bracket sets out the route through the upper and lower brackets.

What comes next?

Yandex will have a day of rest while awaiting the winner of Team Spirit versus Aurora Gaming in the other upper-bracket semifinal. The winner of that match will face Yandex in the upper-bracket final.

The confirmed lower-bracket quarterfinals are PARIVISION versus 1W Team and LGD Gaming against the loser of Team Spirit versus Aurora Gaming. Those matches give the three teams that fell from the upper bracket a chance to stay alive, while Yandex waits for its next opponent with a guaranteed podium finish already secured.