ChaiViz
28.10.2025
The Swiss-format Group Stage at FISSURE Playground 2 has concluded in Belgrade, Serbia, delivering exactly what fans expected from the reigning world champions while producing some genuine surprises along the way. Team Falcons secured their Playoffs berth first after defeating MOUZ, Team Liquid, and BetBoom Team, demonstrating the championship form that carried them to TI14 glory just months ago.
Team Falcons started their tournament run by defeating MOUZ in a best-of-three series where Artem "lorenof" Melnyk's impressive 15-0 performance on Ember Spirit won MOUZ their only game, but Falcons dominated the deciding map through superior laning. The TI14 champions showed no signs of complacency, maintaining the aggressive, coordinated playstyle that has made them the team to beat in competitive Dota 2.
Team Spirit finished the Group Stage in second position with three consecutive victories against Team Yandex, HEROIC, and Aurora Gaming. The Eastern European powerhouse adapted well to their roster change, with new position 5 player Nikita "Panto" Balaganin fitting seamlessly into their system after the departure of longtime captain Yaroslav "Miposhka" Naidenov.
The hero statistics from the Group Stage reveal fascinating trends about the current competitive meta. According to the provided tournament data, five heroes dominated pick rates across 84 games played with an even 42W-42L split on both Radiant and Dire sides.
Jakiro emerged as the most contested hero with 42 picks, achieving a 47.62% win rate on Radiant and 33.33% on Dire. The hero's versatility in lane control and teamfight presence made it a priority pick for teams looking to establish early map dominance. Hoodwink followed closely with 35 picks and a remarkable 53.33% win rate on Radiant side, demonstrating the hero's effectiveness when played with proper farm priority and positioning.
Gyrocopter secured 27 picks with contrasting performance between sides, posting 60% on Radiant but dropping to just 41.67% on Dire. This disparity suggests teams found greater success leveraging Gyrocopter's farming patterns and teamfight positioning from the bottom-side jungle advantage. Aurora Gaming's Egor "Nightfall" Grigorenko showcased Gyrocopter's late-game potential in their upset victory over PARIVISION, where his performance proved unstoppable.
Snapfire matched Gyrocopter's 27 picks but showed reversed tendencies, performing better from Dire side at 42.86% compared to 35% on Radiant. Beastmaster rounded out the top five with 24 picks and relatively poor win rates on both sides, suggesting teams valued the hero's scouting and lockdown utility even when struggling to convert that advantage into victories.
The Dota 2 hero tier list that's emerging from this tournament data places Hoodwink firmly at the top with the strongest win rate among heavily contested picks, while Beastmaster's low conversion rate despite high priority suggests teams may need to reconsider their valuation of the hero in the current patch.
BetBoom Team advanced to the Playoffs after defeating Virtus.Pro, Tundra Esports, and PARIVISION, with their only loss coming against Team Falcons. The CIS squad demonstrated resilience and adaptability throughout the Swiss format, capitalizing on their opponents' mistakes while maintaining composure in high-pressure situations.
Tundra Esports also secured their Playoffs spot with victories over Vici Gaming, Nigma Galaxy, and Team Liquid after suffering just one series loss. The reigning FISSURE Playground 1 champions showed they remain dangerous contenders despite the competitive roster shuffles that defined the post-TI14 period.
Team Yandex emerged as one of the tournament's biggest surprises, securing enough victories to advance despite entering as relative underdogs. HEROIC, Team Liquid, and MOUZ also qualified for the Playoffs after winning crucial series in the final rounds, setting up an eight-team bracket loaded with championship potential.
The Group Stage produced several shocking eliminations that will reverberate through the competitive scene. Virtus.Pro crashed out after losing three consecutive series to BetBoom Team, Vici Gaming, and Runa Team, failing to translate their star-studded roster featuring former Evil Geniuses players Tal "Fly" Aizik and Abed Azel "Abed" Yusop into results.
Nigma Galaxy became one of the tournament's biggest disappointments, particularly given their legacy and the anticipation surrounding their performance. The organization competed with substitutes after visa issues prevented their Lebanese duo from traveling to Serbia, and the disruption proved too significant to overcome.
PARIVISION, Vici Gaming, and Aurora Gaming were eliminated after failing to win their final matches. For TI14 bronze medalists PARIVISION, the early exit represents a concerning start to the new competitive season, especially after they opted to rest during BLAST Slam IV.
Yakutou Brothers also departed early after losses to HEROIC, Team Yandex, and MOUZ, while Runa Team managed only a single victory against Virtus.Pro before their elimination following defeats to Aurora Gaming, Nigma Galaxy, and HEROIC.
The double-elimination Playoffs bracket will determine which squad claims the $350,000 first-place prize and the title of the 2025/2026 season's first major champion. Team Falcons enter as favorites based on their dominant Group Stage performance and championship pedigree, but the format provides opportunities for underdogs to make deep runs through the lower bracket.
Team Spirit, BetBoom Team, and Tundra Esports all possess the firepower and tactical depth to challenge for the title. Meanwhile, HEROIC's recent hot streak and Team Yandex's surprising resilience add wild-card elements that could disrupt bracket predictions.
The Dota 2 hero tier list established during the Group Stage will likely evolve as teams adapt their drafting strategies for best-of-three series and the crucial best-of-five Grand Final. Whether Jakiro and Hoodwink maintain their contested status or teams pivot toward countering these priority picks will shape the championship race. Fans tracking Dota 2 live stats during the Playoffs should watch for meta shifts as elimination pressure mounts.
Also of note in recent Dota 2 news, Team Falcons' midlaner Stanislav "Malr1ne" Potorak regained access to Dota 2 matchmaking after his ban was lifted on October 27. The official reasons for the unban remain undisclosed, but the development comes at a fortuitous time with his team advancing deep into FISSURE Playground 2.
The FISSURE Playground 2 Playoffs begin October 28 at the Sava Center in Belgrade, with the Grand Final scheduled for November 2. All matches will be best-of-three format until the final series expands to best-of-five, giving fans the extended Dota 2 they crave when championships hang in the balance. Those interested in following along can track live updates on any major Dota 2 betting site that covers professional tournaments.
ChaiViz
28.10.2025
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