Team Secret knock out Gaimin Gladiators from PGL Wallachia Season 4 qualifiers

Image: Valve Software

Team Secret moves a step closer to qualify for PGL Wallachia Season 4.

Western European Dota 2 stalwarts Team Secret surprised everyone when they knocked out Gaimin Gladiators from the PGL Wallachia Season 4: Western European qualifier on Thursday (February 13). This upset came just four days after Gaimin Gladiators achieved a runner-up placement in BLAST Slam II.

With their 2-1 victory over Gaimin Gladiators, Team Secret advanced further in the Closed Qualifier. In the following round, Secret secured another win by defeating Zero Tenacity to face Yakult Brothers in the qualifier's lower bracket finals. A victory in this upcoming series will send Secret to the qualifier finals against Nigma Galaxy, with the winner earning a coveted slot in PGL Wallachia Season 4.

Gaimin Gladiators is out of PGL Wallachia S4 quals

Dota 2's Western Europe region is known for its intense competition, where any team can rise to the occasion at any time. In the ongoing PGL Wallachia S4 Closed Qualifier, Team Secret stunned the community with an impressive performance, defeating Gaimin Gladiators 2-1 in the lower bracket.

This victory was particularly surprising as Gaimin Gladiators had just finished in 2nd place at BLAST Slam II, which concluded on February 9th. During that tournament, Gaimin Gladiators defeated Nigma Galaxy, who are now in the finals of the PGL Wallachia S4 Closed Qualifier.

Gaimin Gladiators have faced a rocky start to the season, especially after swapping their longtime carry player Anton “dyrachyo” Shkredov for Alimzhan “Watson” Islambekov. While they've had some bright moments, such as their recent performance at BLAST Slam II, the team has struggled to maintain stability. The PGL Wallachia S4 marks the third tournament they have failed to qualify for since the roster change.

Team Secret’s road to redemption?

With Gaimin Gladiators eliminated, all eyes are now on Team Secret. Led by The International (TI) 2011 champion Clement “Puppey” Ivanov, the legendary organisation has gone through a lengthy struggle. After finishing 2nd in TI 2022, Team Secret’s performance significantly dropped, and they’ve faced continuous roster shuffles without finding their footing.

However, with the recent addition of Peruvian star carry David Nicho “Parker” Flores as a stand-in, Team Secret seems to be back on track. Their victory over Gaimin Gladiators shows that the team now has the potential to go much further. The real test will come in their upcoming matchup against Nigma Galaxy, who has been on fire lately. If Team Secret qualifies, they will head to their first Tier 1 tournament in almost a year.