BLAST Slam II concluded yesterday, marking the end of the second tier-one event of 2025. This million-dollar tournament featured a unique format that captivated the audience with fast-paced, intense competition. If you missed this epic showdown or want to revisit the event's key storylines, we've got you covered! Below are the biggest surprises and upsets from BLAST Slam II.

Biggest Surprises at BLAST Slam II

Gaimin Gladiators Finds Their Footing

Although BLAST Slam II occured just a few days after FISSURE Playground #1 ended, the first tier one event of the year, we saw some drastic improvements from teams. One of them was Gaimin Gladiators' great performance, which saw them grab the runner-up placement.

This achievement follows their underwhelming results at the FISSURE event, which witnessed them bow out at 9th-11th place. While this may not be a significant milestone compared to GG's dominant status in 2023/2024, it marks a clear improvement after their extended struggles following The International, particularly after the team replaced dyrachyo with watson.

Gaimin's team captain, Seleri, posted after the event: "Rough end to a nice tournament, happy with all improvements we made, and will keep working forward."

Nigma Galaxy Is Back? 

Another huge surprise at BLAST Slam II was Nigma Galaxy's performance! Despite featuring one of the most popular lineups in any tournament, Nigma has often been considered an underdog. The team has had flashes of brilliance, but has long struggled to find consistency. However, BLAST Slam II provided the perfect stage for the Middle Eastern squad to shine.

With Ghost standing in for Miracle-, Nigma pulled off impressive victories against formidable opponents, including Team Falcons, PARIVISION, and Xtreme Gaming. In the playoffs, they even managed to take a map off Tundra Esports, the eventual champions of the event. Nigma Galaxy's performance at BLAST Slam II will undoubtedly position them as a stronger contender in upcoming tournaments.

Biggest Upsets at BLAST Slam II

Team Liquid Struggles in Another Event

The current The International (TI) champions are going through a challenging phase, with lackluster performances and disappointing results. After replacing 33 with SabeRLight-, Liquid has struggled to regain their footing in tournaments. Although they impressed at ESL One Bangkok, securing a runner-up finish, the team has been unable to maintain consistency.

In the Group Stage of BLAST Slam II, Liquid suffered defeats to BetBoom Team and Yakult Brothers. Their Playoffs run was short-lived, as they were knocked out by PARIVISION with a 2-1 loss. Team Liquid ultimately finished in 7th-8th place, mirroring their placement in the previous tournament, FISSURE Playground #1.

BetBoom Team's Lackluster Performance

BetBoom Team entered this event as the defending champions, having won the first edition of BLAST Slam just two months ago—marking their first-ever tier-one victory. However, they were unable to replicate that success in the second edition, delivering underwhelming performances throughout.

In the Group Stage, BetBoom suffered losses to Tundra Esports, Yakult Brothers, and Talon Esports. Their playoff run ended with an elimination at the hands of Team Falcons, resulting in a 7th-8th place finish.