BLAST Slam III was not just another tournament on the calendar. We witnessed the return of two renowned clubs to the pinnacle of the Dota 2 pro scene. In the spotlight were Tundra Esports, who won the BLAST Slam for the second time in 2025, this time with a different carry. Also, Team Falcons made a surprising breakthrough to the finals from a deep crisis, reminding everyone of their title ambitions.

Replacing the carry is not a problem for Tundra

After a strong start to the year with two titles and two runner-up finishes, Tundra faced a problem—burnout of their carry Anton “dyrachyo” Shkredov. He was replaced by Remco “Crystallis” Aretz, who won ESL One Bangkok with PARIVISION before unexpectedly being benched. However, the first tournament with the new lineup—FISSURE Universe: Episode 4—was a failure, with the team finishing in 5th-6th place. The players honestly admitted they had too little time to gel.

At ESL One Raleigh and PGL Wallachia Season 4, the team showed improved gameplay but still didn't look like favorites. Then came BLAST Slam III. A confident first place in their group (albeit an easier one) gave them a direct slot in the semifinals, which they maximized.

In the semifinals, Tundra faced a motivated Gaimin Gladiators. According to Quinn “Quinn” Callahan, this was GG's chance to qualify directly for TI 2025. But Tundra left no chance. A 2:0 victory secured their spot in the grand final.

There, they faced the Falcons—a team that finally looked capable of competing for titles again. Yet, Tundra displayed cold stability. A quick first map, a prolonged second where they held firm, and only one loss—the third map. The climax came on the fourth map, a true battle from which Tundra emerged victorious thanks to the brilliant form of Crystallis and bzm. This lineup won the BLAST Slam with two different carries. If that's not proof of systemic strength, what is?

It's too early to talk about a disband for Falcons

The year didn't start well for Team Falcons. A loss to Tundra at FISSURE PLAYGROUND #1, then only 3rd-4th place at BLAST Slam II. This was followed by a series of disappointments: 5th place at DreamLeague S25, 3rd at PGL Wallachia 3, and 4th at the FISSURE online tournament. ESL One Raleigh further complicated matters—the absence of Stanislav “Malr1ne” Potorak due to visa issues only extended the streak of failures.

The worst came at PGL Wallachia 4: a 0:2 defeat to NAVI Junior in an elimination match was a shock. Amid these fiascos, rumors began to spread about roster changes or even a complete disband.

But the Falcons didn't fall apart. At BLAST Slam III, we saw a completely different team. They won their much tougher group, defeating PARIVISION and Team Spirit along the way. In the semifinals, they played against Spirit again. A 75-minute epic second map led them to the finals.

There, the Falcons put up a worthy fight, but Tundra proved stronger. However, the fact remains: a team on the brink of crisis is now a tier-1 tournament finalist. With such dynamics, considering the decline of PARIVISION and Team Liquid, the Falcons have real chances to get back in the race for the top spot. Especially considering Tundra is skipping DreamLeague S26.

BLAST Slam III became another crucial tournament in the 2025 season. Tundra sought stability after replacing their carry, while Falcons tried to break their streak of failures. Both teams reached the finals, showing they are moving in the right direction.