Team Spirit and Tundra Esports lead Playoff-qualified teams at FISSURE Universe: Episode 4

Eight teams will be battling it out for the lion's share of the tournament's US$500,000 prize pool.

FISSURE Universe: Episode 4 is now rolling into its Playoffs stage, with eight teams qualifying and eight others eliminated. The US$500,000 prize pool tournament features some of the biggest names in the Dota 2 scene, alongside a fair share of underdogs vying for the trophy. While the list of Playoffs-qualified teams is mostly expected, there are a few surprising names that have made it through.

The final eight teams of FISSURE Universe: Episode 4 that have qualified for the Playoffs are led by Eastern European powerhouse Team Spirit and Western Europe’s top performer Tundra Esports. Following after the two are Team Liquid, Team Tidebound, PARIVISION, Gaimin Gladiators, Team Falcons, and BetBoom Team.

While eight teams advance to continue their journey in the tournament, another eight have been eliminated. The grueling Group Stage has knocked out BOOM Esports, Aurora Gaming, 1win Team, Night Pulse, Talon Esports, Wildcard Gaming, One Move, and M80.

We break down what unfolded during the FISSURE Universe: Episode 4 Group Stage below:

Spirit, Tundra lead Playoff-qualified teams at FISSURE Universe: Episode 4

Team Spirit and Tundra Esports, two of the most dominant teams in the Dota 2 scene right now, unsurprisingly lead the charge in the ongoing FISSURE Universe event, both remaining undefeated. The Group Stage, which uses the modified Swiss System format, saw both teams play only three series, fewer than others, as both managed to win every single round.

The two-time The International (TI) winning organization, Team Spirit, defeated Aurora Gaming, BOOM Esports, and Gaimin Gladiators 2-0, not losing a single game. While the score indicates a strong performance, the result should be taken with a pinch of salt, as their opponents were not among the event’s favorites.

Tundra Esports, on the other hand, experienced a bit more turbulence in their run compared to Spirit, suffering a few map losses along the way. The TI 2022-winning organisation secured 2-1 victories against Talon Esports, Night Pulse, and Team Liquid. While their first two series were against more favorable opponents, their win against Team Liquid holds weight, especially considering Tundra’s new lineup, which features a newly added carry player in Remco “Crystallis” Arets and Tal “Fly” Aizik serving as a temporary stand-in.

Team Liquid, the latest TI champion who are also coming off winning PGL Wallachia Season 3, had a performance in line with expectations. However, their one map loss to Tundra was costly, as it pushed Liquid into third place in the rankings. Liquid swept their other three series with 2-0 victories against Wildcard, Team Tidebound, and BetBoom Team.

Close behind Team Liquid is Team Tidebound, China’s rising all-star team. While Tidebound had solid performances leading up to this event, their high placement is still considered impressive, especially as they managed to place above more established teams like Team Falcons and BetBoom Team. This result comes after a strong 2-1 win against Falcons, a 2-0 win against Aurora, and a 2-0 win against One Move. Tidebound’s only loss came at the hands of Team Liquid.

PARIVISION shares the same score as Tidebound, claiming three 2-0 series wins against One Move, BOOM Esports, and Gaimin Gladiators. However, the team suffered a loss to Night Pulse, an Eastern European stack. Despite this 0-2 defeat to one of the tournament’s underdogs, PARIVISION remains a strong contender among the top teams, which is particularly impressive given their 25-day absence from the competitive scene.

Next to qualify is Gaimin Gladiators, a dark horse in the tournament. In the Group Stage, the Gladiators suffered defeats in two series against Spirit and PARIVISION. Fortunately, the team managed to secure three wins to keep their run alive, defeating M80 2-0, 1Win Team 2-0, and grabbing an impressive 2-0 victory against Falcons. Although Gaimin Gladiators faced some struggles earlier in the season, the three-time Major champions have gained momentum in recent times.

It’s no surprise that Team Falcons qualified for the FISSURE Universe Playoffs, but it is concerning to see the team struggle to get there. In the Group Stage, Falcons suffered defeats to Gaimin Gladiators (0-2) and Team Tidebound (1-2). However, the green team managed to secure wins against 1Win, Talon, and BOOM to ensure their survival in the tournament.

BetBoom Team, last on the list, barely clinched the final Playoffs spot. The Eastern European team lost to BOOM Esports in their first match of the tournament but bounced back with victories over M80 and Night Pulse. However, their loss to Liquid meant that BetBoom needed to win their final series, which came down to a decisive 2-1 victory over Aurora Gaming.

The Playoffs teams are set, and the games are ready to kick off. FISSURE Universe Episode 4 will continue its Playoffs. The matchups for the upper bracket quarterfinals are as follows: