PGL Wallachia Season 4 Playoffs are set, here's what to expect

Can PARIVISION cement themselves as the world's top team in PGL Wallachia Season 4?

PGL Wallachia Season 4 picks up the torch from ESL One Raleigh 2025, offering a fresh look at what Dota 2 pros have up their sleeves following a climactic tournament in the United States. And indeed, this fourth edition of PGL’s tournament series unfolded with plenty of twists and surprises as we move into the Playoffs.

The Group Stage, which used a grueling Swiss-system format, saw eight teams advance to the next stage. Team Spirit and PARIVISION, the finalists of ESL One Raleigh, lead the charge with no losses. They are followed by BetBoom Team, Tundra Esports, Team Liquid, Aurora Gaming, Team Tidebound, and Natus Vincere Junior (NAVI Jr).

Meanwhile, eight more teams are eliminated as they suffered three or more series losses. AVULUS, and Talon Esports were the first to exit the tournament, followed by Shopify Rebellion, Nigma Galaxy, Edge, Xtreme Gaming, HEROIC, and Team Falcons.

Massive Group Stage upsets in PGL Wallachia Season 4

PGL Wallachia Season 4 marks a first for Western European powerhouse Falcons, and not in a good way. For the first time in the team’s history, they placed outside the Top 8 in a tournament. It’s their lowest finish since forming, and it’s starting to feel like a wake-up call. In the Group Stage, Falcons lost to PARIVISION, Tundra Esports, and NAVI Jr, which knocked them out of a spot in the Playoffs.

Fans also had high hopes for the reassembled Chinese all-star lineup of Xtreme. The team rebuilt its roster in the first quarter of the year, even giving up its ESL One Raleigh slot in the process. With plenty of time before their debut, expectations were high. But after three series losses to reigning The International (TI) champions Liquid, underdog South American squad Edge, and regional rivals Tidebound, Xtreme bowed out of the event much earlier than many hoped.

The biggest stories in the PGL Wallachia Season 4 Playoffs

Spirit and PARIVISION are arguably the two strongest Dota 2 teams in the world right now, and their intense rivalry is always a treat for fans.

Spirit’s two-time TI-winning lineup is known for its consistency and ability to adapt quickly. But PARIVISION seems to have Spirit figured out, often shutting down Spirit’s drafts and movements with ease. Adding to their strength is 17-year old prodigy Alan “Satanic” Gallyamov, who has been delivering top-tier carry performances in every match.

After their clash in the ESL One Raleigh grand finals that saw PARIVISION emerge victorious in four games, fans are eagerly awaiting a possible rematch between these two powerhouses. And with both going undefeated in the Group Stage, it’s looking very likely. Should PARIVISION emerge victorious once again in Wallachia, then their position as the best team in the world can be secured. The onus is on Spirit to deny their rivals' ascent and reclaim their spot at the head of the table.

While Spirit and PARIVISION gear up for what could be another big showdown, a Cinderella story is quietly unfolding.

NAVI Jr shocked everyone by edging out Falcons in a decisive 2-0 victory in round five of the Group Stage, earning themselves a spot in the Playoffs. What makes this even more impressive is their incredibly young roster led by veteran Bakyt “Zayac” Emilzhanov. The team includes several teenage talents, including their youngest player in 16-year-old mid laner Artem “Niku” Bachkur. The mix of experience and young talent is proving effective, especially in their victory over Falcons. All eyes are peeled to watch how far the academy team goes from here.

That’s not all. Legendary Malaysian midlaner Nai Zheng “MidOne” Yeik is making his return to the battlefield after six months away from the pro scene. He’ll once again become a stand-in for Tundra, a similar situation that happened in October 2024 during PGL Wallachia Season 2. Although he’s most known for his role in the midlane, he will instead fill in for Neta “33” Shapira in the offlane for this event after also serving as the team's stand-in coach during the Group Stage.