BLAST has revealed significant updates to its BLAST Slam Dota 2 tournament series, including changes to the tournament format, qualifier system, schedule, and the introduction of a live audience for the Playoff stage. The changes, announced on Friday, mark a major expansion for the tournament series after its initial online debut in late 2023.
Live Audience for Playoff Stage
One of the most exciting updates is the introduction of a live audience at BLAST Slam events. While the first week of each tournament will remain online, the second week—featuring the Playoffs—will include both a studio and arena audience. This move reflects BLAST's efforts to bring the event to life in front of live spectators, providing fans with an immersive tournament experience.
Revised Qualifier System
The BLAST Slam qualifier system is also undergoing a transformation. The previous model, which featured 10 directly invited teams, will now include 12 total participants. Among the 12 teams, only six will be invited directly, while the remaining spots will be filled through regional qualifiers and performance-based invites.
The new participant breakdown for each BLAST Slam event is as follows:
6 directly invited teams
1 host region hero invite (fan-favorite team from the region hosting the LAN finals)
2 European qualifier teams
1 China qualifier team
1 Southeast Asia (SEA) qualifier team
1 Americas invite (based on recent performance at Tier 1 events)
Regional Qualifiers Announced
BLAST Slam will now host three regional qualifiers—Southeast Asia, China, and Europe—each featuring both open and closed qualifiers. The specific dates for the qualifiers for the 2025 tournaments are as follows:
BLAST Slam IV: Singapore
Open Qualifier 1: September 29 - 30
Open Qualifier 2: October 1 - 2
Closed Qualifier: October 3 - 5
BLAST Slam V
Open Qualifier 1: October 6 - 7
Open Qualifier 2: October 8 - 9
Closed Qualifier: October 10 - 12
New Tournament Structure
The tournament format has also been revamped to include more competitive action and greater audience engagement. The event will span two weeks, with the first week being held online and the second week taking place as a LAN event.
Here’s how the new format works:
Week 1 (Online Phase):
Group Stage (Tuesday to Saturday)
Last Chance Playoffs (Sunday)
LAN Play-In (Sunday)
Based on their Group Stage results:
The top 2 teams automatically advance to the Semi-Finals.
Teams finishing 3rd to 8th will move on to the LAN Play-In for a chance to secure a spot in the Quarter Finals.
Teams finishing 9th to 12th will compete in the Last Chance Playoffs, where two teams will advance to the LAN Play-In and the others are eliminated.
Week 2 (LAN Phase):
Quarterfinals: Best-of-three matches (Friday)
Semifinals: Best-of-three matches (Saturday)
Grand Finals: Best-of-five match (Sunday)
Updated Tournament Dates
With the changes to the tournament structure, BLAST has also adjusted its Dota 2 calendar. Below are the new dates for the upcoming BLAST Slam tournaments:
BLAST Slam IV: October 27 - November 9, 2025
BLAST Slam V: November 25 - December 7, 2025
BLAST Slam VI: February 3 - 15, 2026
BLAST Slam VII: May 26 - June 7, 2026
BLAST Slam VIII: September 29 - October 11, 2026
BLAST Slam IX: November 17 - 29, 2026
Tickets for the upcoming BLAST Slam IV, set to take place at the Singapore Indoor Stadium from October 27 to November 9, are already on sale. This will be BLAST's first Dota 2 LAN event following several online editions and is expected to be one of the major events in the Dota 2 competitive scene, joining other high-profile tournaments such as PGL Wallachia, ESL One, and DreamLeague.
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