BLAST Slam IV: Format, Schedule, Fixtures and More

The BLAST Slam IV is about to begin, and we’re bringing you a complete tournament preview. We’ll break down the lineup, explain how the tournament structure has changed for each stage, and tell you where to watch the matches live.

At the same time, we’ll provide a full schedule for the Group Stage and highlight the most exciting matchups to keep an eye on. Finally, we’ll add some context behind each key encounter, including roster changes and past results that make these matches so compelling.

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This is the beginning of a new event organization pattern for the BLAST Slam. — Credit: Twitter (@BLASTDota)

BLAST Slam IV: Lineup

Starting from the top, the BLAST Slam IV will feature a slightly larger lineup, with 12 teams instead of the 10 we saw in the third edition. These teams are divided into categories based on how they qualified. Here’s the full list and how they made it:

• Execration (Host Region Representative — replacing Flipster Talon Esports)
• Team Liquid (Direct Invite)
• Team Falcons (Direct Invite)
• Tundra Esports (Direct Invite)
• Team Spirit (Direct Invite)
• BetBoom Team (Direct Invite)
• MOUZ (Direct Invite — replacing PARIVISION)
• Heroic (Invited based on Tier 1 performance)
• Natus Vincere (European Qualifiers)
• Aurora Gaming (European Qualifiers)
• Yakult Brothers (Chinese Qualifiers)
• Team Aureus (Southeast Asian Qualifiers)

These changes were announced months ago, back in June. — Credit: blast.tv

BLAST Slam IV: Organization

This year brings a new structure to the tournament, featuring four distinct stages.

• Group Stage — A round-robin format with best-of-one matches. The top two teams advance directly to the Playoff Semifinals.
• Last Chance Playoff — Teams that placed 9th to 12th in groups will battle for a spot at the Play-In. Two matchups. Winner goes forward, loser is eliminated. All matches are best-of-three from this point on.
• Play-In Stage — Teams that finished 3rd to 8th get one more shot at advancing to the playoffs. Four matchups. Winner goes to Playoffs Quarterfinals, loser is eliminated.
• Playoffs & Grand Finals — Single elimination, best-of-three matches, except the Grand Finals, which will be best-of-five.

The Group Stage will run from October 14 to 18, with 12 to 14 matches per day across two streams (A and B). Both the Play-In and Last Chance stages take place on October 19. After a break, the tournament resumes with the Playoffs from November 7 to 9.

BLAST Slam IV: Talent

As usual, the broadcast lineup is packed with familiar faces both on and off camera. The main host will be Natalie "NatTea" Mahoney, and BLAST has already shared a promotional video introducing the full talent roster.

One of the most exciting new additions is Quinn "Quinn" Callahan. The former midlaner for Gaimin Gladiators will come in as an analyst for this event, adding valuable insight to the desk.

Group Stage Schedule

The Group Stage will be a nonstop week of action. With so many matches packed into five days, here’s a chronological schedule (GMT) to keep you on track.

BLAST Slam IV - October 14th

• 13:00 — Team Falcons vs. Yakult Brothers
• 13:00 — Aurora Gaming vs. Natus Vincere
• 14:00 — Team Liquid vs. BetBoom Team
• 14:00 — Team Spirit vs. Execration
• 15:00 — Heroic vs. Yakult Brothers
• 15:00 — Natus Vincere vs. MOUZ
• 16:00 — Team Liquid vs. Tundra Esports
• 16:00 — Team Falcons vs. BetBoom Team
• 17:00 — MOUZ vs. Team Aureus
• 17:00 — Heroic vs. Execration
• 18:00 — Team Spirit vs. Aurora Gaming
• 18:00 — Tundra Esports vs. Natus Vincere
• 19:00 — Team Falcons vs. MOUZ
• 19:00 — Team Aureus vs. Execration

BLAST Slam IV - October 15th

• 13:00 — Tundra Esports vs. Heroic
• 13:00 — BetBoom Team vs. Aurora Gaming
• 14:00 — Team Spirit vs. Natus Vincere
• 14:00 — MOUZ vs. Execration
• 15:00 — Team Falcons vs. Heroic
• 15:00 — Aurora Gaming vs. Team Aureus
• 16:00 — Tundra Esports vs. BetBoom Team
• 16:00 — Team Liquid vs. Execration
• 17:00 — Yakult Brothers vs. Team Aureus
• 17:00 - Heroic vs. MOUZ
• 18:00 — Team Falcons vs. Team Liquid
• 18:00 — Tundra Esports vs. Aurora Gaming
• 19:00 — Team Spirit vs. Team Aureus
• 19:00 — Natus Vincere vs. Yakult Brothers

BLAST Slam IV - October 16th

• 13:00 — Team Spirit vs. BetBoom Team
• 13:00 — Team Liquid vs. Natus Vincere
• 14:00 — Aurora Gaming vs. Yakult Brothers
• 14:00 — Tundra Esports vs. MOUZ
• 15:00 — Team Liquid vs. Team Aureus
• 15:00 — BetBoom Team vs. Execration
• 16:00 — Team Falcons vs. Team Spirit
• 16:00 — Aurora Gaming vs. MOUZ
• 17:00 — Team Liquid vs. Heroic
• 17:00 — BetBoom Team vs. Yakult Brothers
• 18:00 — Team Spirit vs. Tundra Esports
• 18:00 — Team Falcons vs. Natus Vincere
• 19:00 — Heroic vs. Team Aureus
• 19:00 — Yakult Brothers vs. Execration

BLAST Slam IV - October 17th

• 13:00 — Team Falcons vs. Execration
• 13:00 — Team Spirit vs. Team Liquid
• 14:00 — BetBoom Team vs. MOUZ
• 14:00 — Aurora Gaming vs. Heroic
• 15:00 — Tundra Esports vs. Execration
• 15:00 — Team Spirit vs. Yakult Brothers
• 16:00 — Heroic vs. Natus Vincere
• 16:00 — BetBoom Team vs. Team Aureus
• 17:00 — Team Falcons vs. Tundra Esports
• 17:00 — Team Liquid vs. Aurora Gaming
• 18:00 — Natus Vincere vs. Team Aureus
• 18:00 — MOUZ  vs. Yakult Brothers

BLAST Slam IV - October 18th

• 13:00 — Team Falcons vs. Aurora Gaming
• 13:00 — Team Spirit vs. MOUZ
• 14:00 — Team Liquid vs. Yakult Brothers
• 14:00 — Tundra Esports vs. Team Aureus
• 15:00 — BetBoom Team vs. Natus Vincere
• 15:00 — Team Spirit vs. Heroic
• 16:00 — Aurora Gaming vs. Execration
• 16:00 — Team Falcons vs. Team Aureus
• 17:00 — Team Liquid vs. MOUZ
• 17:00 — Tundra Esports vs. Yakult Brothers
• 18:00 — BetBoom Team vs. Heroic
• 18:00 — Natus Vincere vs. Execration

Matches to Watch

Liquid vs. Tundra — October 14

Team Liquid’s revamped roster faces another test against Tundra Esports. Liquid showed instability during the FISSURE Universe Episode 7, while Tundra enters the event with both a new carry and soft support.

Time to test Team Liquid's new roster one more time. — Credit: Strafe

Heroic vs. MOUZ

On the second day of the Group Stage we have Heroic and MOUZ reenacting the FISSURE Universe Episode 7 Grand Finals. This will be a chance to see how consistent Heroic is and also where does MOUZ stand when both teams are fresh and in the same conditions going into the match.

Team Falcons vs. Team Spirit

On the 16th, Team Falcons will be back in action against Team Spirit on the BLAST Slam IV Group Stage. While Falcons has predictably kept their roster stable and unchanged, Team Spirit comes in with a new hard support after Yaroslav "Miposhka" Naidenov announced his break.

Aurora vs. Heroic

Next in line is Aurora Gaming versus Heroic. Both teams got invited to the FISSURE Universe but Aurora got defeated by both Grand Finalists by 2-0. This will be another chance to adjust their play and check how their roster performs on a second chance against Heroic.

BetBoom Team vs. Natus Vincere

Finally, the last day puts the new BetBoom Team against Natus Vincere. BetBoom brings Ilya "Kiritych" Ulyanov back to the position one to try and get to another Grand Finals as they did on the DreamLeague 26 while NaVi brings Aske "Cy-" Larsen in as their new coach coming from the Gaimin Gladiators.

Closing Thoughts

That wraps up our preview of the Execration and sets the stage for an explosive Group Stage. This is the first Tier 1 tournament of the 2026 Dota 2 season, and it will set the tone for the months ahead. Will established giants hold their ground, or will an underdog emerge?

For more Dota 2 coverage — including meta recaps, roster news, guides, and tournament results—visit the news section on the Strafe website!

Featured Image Source: Twitter (@BLASTDota)