Team Spirit turned a game-one stumble into a 2-1 reverse sweep of PARIVISION in the BLAST Slam VIII lower-bracket final on October 11. The win sends Spirit into the grand final, while PARIVISION are out in third: another painful ending to a rivalry that already produced a five-game The International 2026 final won by Spirit.
The best-of-three, reported by GosuGamers, had a sharp change of direction after PARIVISION looked firmly in control. Spirit’s comeback secures them at least second place and US$135,000; PARIVISION leave with US$95,000. The deciding match against Team Yandex now has US$270,000 on the line.
PARIVISION struck first, but Spirit found the answer
PARIVISION took the opener in 38 minutes, finishing with a 33-17 kill advantage. None led the charge with 15 kills, 12 assists and one death, while Satanic added nine kills and six assists. Spirit’s Phantom Lancer plan, played by Yatoro, could not stop PARIVISION from converting its early advantage into a series lead.
Game two stretched to 40 minutes, but this time Spirit’s teamfighting turned the contest around. They won 26-15 in kills and forced a decider, with Yatoro’s Kez posting 11 kills and seven assists against two deaths. Larl also supplied eight kills and 12 assists, helping Spirit level the series rather than let PARIVISION close it out.
Spirit finished the reverse sweep in a 42-minute third game. Yatoro’s Anti-Mage ended on 10 kills and 10 assists with only one death, while Larl contributed eight kills and 11 assists on Earth Spirit. Batyuk’s Lycan was part of the space-making setup that gave Yatoro room to come online, and Spirit’s early pressure disrupted PARIVISION’s mid-game plans.
Yatoro delivered when the series tightened
Yatoro’s three-game hero sequence tells the story of Spirit’s adjustment: Phantom Lancer in the loss, Kez in the equalizer and Anti-Mage in the closer. The game-two and game-three numbers underline his role in the turnaround, but the final win was not a solo act. Larl’s contributions in the decider and the space created around Spirit’s carry helped turn the last map into a 42-minute rout.
| Series detail | Result |
|---|---|
| Round | BLAST Slam VIII lower-bracket final, best of three |
| Series score | Team Spirit 2-1 PARIVISION |
| Spirit’s minimum prize | US$135,000 |
| PARIVISION’s finish and prize | Third place, US$95,000 |
One last series stands between Spirit and the title
Spirit became the second team to reach the tournament’s grand final and will face Yandex for the third time at BLAST Slam VIII. It is also Spirit’s first grand-final appearance of the new season after an offseason roster change, making the title match an early milestone for the reshaped squad. Their opponent’s route into the final sets up a meeting between the two teams on the other side of the bracket.
The stakes are straightforward: the winner claims the US$270,000 grand prize, while Spirit have already guaranteed themselves second place. PARIVISION, meanwhile, finish third after once again falling to the team that denied them the TI 2026 trophy. For Spirit, the reverse sweep means the season’s first final comes with a familiar rival already dealt with.
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