DreamLeague Season 29 Aftermath
Welcome back to our usual aftermath of the tournament. DreamLeague Season 29 had everything: favorites dominating, underdogs upsetting favorites, and a few downright trainwrecks.
🏆 YOUR #DREAMLEAGUE SEASON 29 CHAMPIONS ARE @parivisiongg! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/YajAPhJHec
— ESL Dota2 (@ESLDota2) May 24, 2026
My predictions were hit and miss (64.9%)—some teams made me proud, others made me lose my mind. Here’s the blunt rundown of all 16 teams, ordered by where they finished:
PARIVISION
I knew these guys had crazy skill, but holy hell, they surpassed even my best hopes. The team that could never hold their nerve? Yeah, they just won the whole damn thing. Noticed fit like a glove at offlane, and Satanic played out of his mind, out-carrying legends and locking up the MVP conversation. They ditched their tilt demons – instead of crumbling after a bad map, they came back swinging harder. By the grand finals, PARIVISION was closing games in 25 minutes and refusing to let Aurora breathe. If they keep this mental fortitude, they’re about to become everyone’s worst nightmare in 2026.
Aurora Gaming
They came in as a favorite and delivered right up to the finish line. Even with Nightfall’s beloved Lone Druid nerfed, they proved they’re a real deal team – not a one-hero wonder. Their mid-game aggression was on point and ws’s Timbersaw was surgical all tournament long. They tore through the lower bracket, avenging an earlier loss and earning a shot at the trophy. In the finals they gave PARIVISION all they could handle in a 5-game bllodbath, but once again Nightfall ends up with the silver. Heartbreak aside, they showed tremendous adaptability (after they started the group stage with a 0-3) – they’re still an elite contender, and their hunger for a big win is only going to grow.
Team Spirit
A strong comeback to form with Collapse returning, but not quite the championship run I dared to imagine. They looked far more organized than at Wallachia, with Collapse back doing big Collapse things to set the tempo. Yatoro remained the king of the late game – ask BetBoom how that ultra-farmed Drow tastes. Yet Spirit showed cracks: they lost an epic slugfest to Falcons in groups and got run over by PARIVISION’s early aggression in the upper bracket. They’re still one of the most composed and dangerous late-game teams out there. If they add a bit more early bite to their game, another TI-like run could be on the horizon.
Team Falcons
Absolutely dominated Group A (perfect record, baby), proving their late-game style is no joke. Malr1ne and ATF consistently pulled off outrageous plays – that Refresher Doom? Pure filth. They looked prepared for a grand final run, but the playoffs exposed a stubborn streak: you better ban Nightfall’s bear. Aurora punished them for leaving Lone Druid in the pool, and Falcons couldn’t recover from that semifinal misread. Still, they never gave up; even down 20k gold, these guys kept swinging like heavyweights. With a bit more drafting flexibility, they’ll remain a nightmare in long games and a legitimate threat at any LAN.
Tundra Esports
I hyped Tundra to be “one of the most dangerous” teams here, but they barely scraped into the playoffs and settled for a mid-tier finish. Sure, Pure is back, but something’s still off—they are nowhere near their top form. This was the weirdest roller coaster: at one point they lost 0-2 to REKONIX, a literal tier-2 team, then somehow rallied through tiebreakers and won a marathon 107-minute game in the lower bracket. In the end they showed glimpses of vintage Tundra (33 dictating map control, a surprise Phantom Assassin win), but it wasn’t consistent. Underperformance? Absolutely. For a squad of their pedigree, 5th-6th is a facepalm result. They’ve got to sort out this patch or chemistry issue fast—the top 1 DPC team can’t keep looking this vulnerable.
PlayTime
Formerly known as SA Rejects, this band of underdogs just pulled off ANOTHER fairy-tale run. I had a gut feeling these guys would deliver upsets (and boy, did they)—say hello to a top-6 finish and a ticket to the EWC. Wits turned heads with his Shadow Fiend, laying waste to teams that underestimated him; they knocked out NAVI and BetBoom with fearless 5-man Dota. They almost pushed the Falcons to the brink too, until experience caught up at high ground. Considering they nearly disbanded last month and were playing two events at once, this performance is incredible. I don't know what to say other than GOOD JOB BOYS.
Xtreme Gaming
I predicted a Top 8, and they hit it, but wow, it was messy. Xtreme remains the most volatile team in Dota: one moment they’re eliminating Team Liquid in a bloody slugfest, the next they’re getting steamrolled by an all-in rush from PlayTime. Ame had a couple of brilliant carry games, but the consistency and drafts? Still whack. They tried some offbeat lanes (Crystal Maiden + Monkey King? Why?), and their series vs Tundra showcased epic indecision (a 3-game snoozefest where neither side could close). Coach gone, morale shaky—you can sense things aren’t right. Talent alone got them this far, but unless Xtreme fixes their motivation and synergy, they’ll keep hitting a low ceiling.
BetBoom Team
Talk about a letdown. As the reigning Wallachia champs and my no-brainer favorites, BetBoom belly-flopped out in 7th-8th. Sure, Gpk still popped off in a few games, but overall the team lost the plot. They got humbled by underdogs (NAVI smacked them 2-0, and PlayTime sent them packing)—total shock for a squad that only lost 3 maps last tournament. It felt like they went from unstoppable to unstable overnight, whether due to the meta shift or just classic BetBoom tilt? Save and Kataomi tried everything, but the old magic wasn’t there when it mattered. They’re still massively skilled, but they’ll need a serious rethink (and maybe a slice of humble pie) to bounce back as championship contenders for the next event.
Virtus.pro
Same story, different tournament. I had zero faith and they lived down to it, dropping in the first playoff round. VP eked out a couple wins in group stage (beating weaker teams like ex-HEROIC and Vici), but I never believed they’d go far – and neither did they, it seemed. The trio of big names (Timado, Abed, Fly) still can’t translate star power into consistent success. Their greed-first drafts and mid-game brain farts reared up again; even when they had a lead, they found ways to throw it (Timado farming Aghs while an Ursa mauls his team – chef’s kiss). No surprise they fell to Tundra when the pressure rose. If VP doesn’t do some soul-searching soon, they’ll keep being nothing more than a roster of what-ifs.
Team Liquid
From runners-up at TI to out in groups – this one hurt my soul. I had them pegged for Top 4, especially with Boxi back, but Liquid never quite found their rhythm. Nisha and miCKe did their jobs (as always), but the team’s trademark crisp aggression started fizzling against sturdier late-game drafts. Their upper-bracket set vs PARIVISION was an all-timer – Ace’s turtling Underlord nearly salvaged the series, but they still fell short. Then an uncharacteristic collapse in the lower bracket against Xtreme (Liquid got outscaled in a messy brawl and couldn’t close out despite an Aegis advantage). This 9th-12th finish is an alarm bell; they need to adapt to this late-game meta quickly. I wouldn’t bet on Liquid staying down for long, but it’s time to repair the cracks.
Vici Gaming
As expected, Vici’s comeback tour ended in the midpack. They showed flashes of promise, took a map off Aurora, and looked like a proper Tier 1 team in moments (you can thank Xm’s wild Daedalus Ember for that). But without the depth of experience or stable drafts to lean on, they couldn’t string together enough wins. Trying to play hyper-fast each game backfired when they ran into smarter teams—once their early plans fizzled, they had no Plan B (like I feared). Losing to BetBoom in the lower bracket (after a bizarre last-pick Juggernaut) sealed their expected exit. Give them more time—if any team has room to improve for the next event, it’s these guys.
Natus Vincere
NAVI’s consistency remains as shaky as ever. One day they’re 2-0ing BetBoom out of nowhere, looking like the old TongFu Clan; the next, they’re crumbling with goofy mistakes (gotthejuice’s infamous Faceless Void Chrono whiff vs. Aurora cost them a sure win). They did better than I predicted by reaching the playoffs, but let’s be real: a team with this talent should have gone further. When they play fast and loose, they can upset anyone (just ask BetBoom). But the moment a series goes late or pressure hits, they fumble leads and lose composure—a tale as old as time for NAVI fans. Ultimately, they got knocked out by the same PlayTime squad they had obliterated in groups. Until NAVI finds a stable identity (and stops throwing won games), they’ll keep teetering between brilliance and disappointment.
ex-HEROIC
I really wanted this org-less crew to make a splash, but it wasn’t meant to be. They showed flashes of hunger (opening day win vs. GamerLegion), but throwing away leads became their calling card. Even with nothing to lose, they played too safe at times and then too reckless at others—an ugly combo. Yuma’s cheesy Meepo pick against Spirit was a Hail Mary that got stomped, highlighting their desperation. After a promising start, they fell apart with a tilt-filled 20-minute GG in their elimination game—you can’t do that in a tier 1 event, period. ex-HEROIC exits without the upset I hoped for, and they’ll need a massive rebuild (and a stable roster) if they want to keep up in this scene.
Nigma Galaxy
I hyped Nigma as a potential playoff dark horse, and they made me eat those words. They crashed out early, and it wasn’t pretty—the same old one-note playstyle did them in. All gas, no brakes aggression works great against tier-2 teams, but solid squads simply outlasted Nigma and crushed them in late-game. The most damning example: they tried a turtle strategy with Medusa against BetBoom and just ended up neutering their own strengths; it was an act of desperation, and it failed spectacularly. It’s painful to see legends look this lost, but I’m not even shocked. Without a serious strategic overhaul (learning to vary their tempo and win a late game), Nigma’s doomed to repeat this cycle at every big event.
GamerLegion
Welp, so much for my top-6 upset pick—GL finished dead last, and that one’s on me. RCY’s skill is still absurd, and Ghost is a beast carry, but this team has no identity and no direction. They started 0-5 in groups, just constantly shooting themselves in the foot with nonsensical drafts and mid-game throws. They finally snagged a single win at the end (hilariously, over Virtus.pro), but by then it was too little, too late. It’s disappointing because I know what these players can do, but potential means nothing if you flub your drafts and can’t close. They’ve got to fix their synergy and mental game ASAP, or else my trust in them is gone.
REKONIX
No surprises here: I fully expected a group stage exit, and that’s exactly what happened… plus one unforgettable highlight. These SEA newcomers got mostly stomped, but they will forever have the “we beat Tundra 2-0” badge – one of the biggest group stage upsets ever. Outside of that miracle, their fundamentals were obviously lacking (sacrificial offlaners dying alone, chaotic teamfights, you name it). European top teams feasted on their mistakes, as predicted. Still, I respect their no-fear approach – they even nabbed a map off PARIVISION with scrappy play and creative picks. REKONIX leave in last place, but they leave with a story (and lessons) to build on. Keep grinding, and maybe the next upset won’t be your last hurrah.
So, that's a wrap for DreamLeague, next we have BLAST SLAM VII. As usual, I will do the predictions and see you at the next aftermath.