BLAST Slam V Goes to China: Season 5 Will Happen in Chengdu

BLAST Slam V is this year’s final edition of one of the most exciting new tournaments in the Dota 2 professional circuit. After innovating with a “King of the Hill” approach to the Group Stage and seeding Playoffs teams according to performance, BLAST is now heading east. And there’s no better place to begin than China.

According to their official blog, this marks the start of a three-year partnership with the Chengdu Broadcasting Film and Television Group. The event will be held in Chengdu from December 5th to December 7th, hosted at the Wuliangye Chengdu Performing Arts Centre.

Getting a partnership and establishing a presence in the Chinese market is a big milestone for BLAST. — Credit: blast.tv

BLAST Slam V: New Season, New Venue

According to blast.tv, this collaboration intends to bring the tournament to Chengdu and is a major milestone in the city’s esports development. The move aligns with Chengdu’s ambition to position itself as a hub for live entertainment and competitive gaming in Asia — much like Riyadh’s growing influence in esports.

Beyond the business impact, this is also great news for Dota 2 itself. Chinese Dota 2 was hit hard by the DPC match-fixing scandals, which wiped out an entire generation of new talent. Since then, the scene has largely been relying on reshuffled veterans.

Now, with BLAST stepping in, there’s clear intent to invest in Chinese Dota 2. This could spark a new era of growth. Adding to the momentum, the Yakutou Brothers secured a third Chinese slot for The International 2025 just one week before the tournament.

With all these developments happening in quick succession, it almost feels like fate. China has a chance to reclaim the Aegis of Champions, while also revitalizing its local Dota 2 market with one of the most exciting esports events in recent memory.

What the Organizers Said

BLAST’s announcement included statements from James Woollard, Director of Market Development at BLAST, and Zhou Wenwen, General Manager of Chengdu Broadcasting Film and Television Group, outlining the vision behind the partnership:

“We are incredibly proud to bring BLAST’s first ever event in mainland China to Chengdu; a city with rich culture, cutting-edge infrastructure, a history of live entertainment and a growing reputation for gaming and esports. Entering the buoyant and growing Chinese esports and gaming space - one of our fastest growing viewership markets - is hugely important, and partnering with Chengdu Television and Media Company allows us to combine our global competitive entertainment pedigree with trusted local expertise to deliver something truly special. The Wuliangye Chengdu Performing Arts Centre is a phenomenal venue, and we can’t wait to create landmark esports moments there this December as part of a multi-year partnership.” — James Woollard

One striking thing about China is how many fast-growing cities it introduces to the global stage through esports events. Many Western fans had never even heard of Chengdu, yet it is now set to host the BLAST Slam V, showcasing China’s world-class infrastructure.

"We are very glad to cooperate with BLAST and bring a world-class esports experience to Chengdu. The BLAST Slam is not only a competitive feast for fans all over the world, but also an important opportunity to showcase Chengdu as an international cultural, sports and entertainment destination. We believe that the cooperation between the two sides in the next three years will surely inject strong fuel into the development of the esports industry in Chengdu and make significant contributions." — Zhou Wenwen

These are bold promises, and while exciting, they come with challenges. Dota 2 events often face unexpected production hurdles, even in well-established European countries. The Chengdu Broadcasting Film and Television Group will need to deliver flawlessly. After all, Dota fans are notoriously unforgiving when it comes to production issues.

Direct Invites for BLAST Slam IV

Before we dive deeper into Chengdu’s role in esports, let’s rewind to the BLAST Slam IV in Singapore. The event is scheduled for October 28th to November 9th at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. The first wave of direct invites was announced on their official Twitter account @BLASTDota:

• Team Liquid
• Team Falcons
• PARIVISION
• Tundra Esports
• Team Spirit
• Heroic (Americas Invite)
• Flipster Talon Esports (Local Region Hero Invite)

These teams are already locked in for the tournament. This time, fans will also get their first taste of BLAST’s new qualification system. Besides the Regional Invite and Local Region Hero, there will be European, Chinese, and Southeast Asian Qualifiers. These qualifiers will determine the five remaining slots.

BLAST’s new structure ensures a balanced yet competitive lineup. — Credit: blast.tv

There are great news, interesting changes and battles of epic proportions ahead of us on the BLAST Slam. If you want to stay informed about the metagame shifts, tournament schedules, hero guides and much more, take a look at the news section on the Strafe website and learn all you can about everything Dota 2 related!

Featured Image Source: BLAST.tv