HEROIC bow out of The International 2025 with their heads held high, securing a 5th–6th place finish and taking home over US$130,000 in prize money.

Eastern European Dota 2 powerhouse BetBoom Team have knocked South American underdogs HEROIC out of The International 2025 with a 2-1 victory in the lower bracket. While BetBoom edge closer to the championship, HEROIC bow out gracefully in 5th–6th place, taking home over US$130,000 in consolation.

HEROIC’s deep run in the bracket is already a pleasant surprise to many. Coming from the traditionally weaker South American region, they typically struggle at international events—occasionally placing in the Top 8 at best. So, seeing them finish in the Top 6 at TI 2025 has far exceeded expectations.

Early on at TI, HEROIC had a rough start, losing two series during the Group Stage. But they locked in when it mattered most, securing eight straight match wins, including a major upset over Tundra Esports. They silenced any claims of flukes by defeating Tundra again in the TI Playoffs lower bracket, handing them a crushing elimination. HEROIC showed real guts and resilience—making daring plays and doubling down on comfort picks, often with great success.

Meanwhile, BetBoom Team have long been a powerhouse. The Eastern European squad have consistently performed at a high level over the past few years, placing in the Top 6 at TI 2023 and Top 8 at TI 2024. It’s safe to say many expected them to once again be among the top half at TI this year.

However this season, BetBoom visibly improved. They claimed their first-ever LAN victory at BLAST Slam I last December. They followed that up with more success throughout the year, winning FISSURE Universe: Episode 4 and PGL Wallachia Season 5.

Now at TI 2025, they continue to ride that momentum. BetBoom finished Top 3 in the Group Stage, notably defeating the season’s juggernaut, PARIVISION, in the final group match. However, they were knocked down to the lower bracket after losing to Team Falcons in their opening Playoffs series.

Embarking with elimination close beneath them, BetBoom Team claimed this crucial win over HEROIC. Although HEROIC put up an incredibly strong fight, they ultimately lost the long game. The team exit the tournament with their heads held high, claiming more than many anticipated and ready to return stronger in the next season.

BetBoom Team edged out HEROIC in a toe to toe battle

The series was praised as the most intense showdown on The International 2025 Main Stage so far, with neither side clearly outshining the other.

The opening match panned out into a back-and-forth brawl. HEROIC relentlessly hunted Ivan “Pure” Moskalenko’s Anti-Mage, leaving him no space to farm. But in classic BetBoom fashion, his team created room for recovery, allowing him to catch up. Danil “gpk” Skutin’s Void Spirit stood out in this match, delivering multiple game-changing plays.

In the final fight, HEROIC won an engagement thanks to Yuma “Yuma” Langlet’s Marci, who committed his buyback to secure the win. Confident they'd claimed control, HEROIC went for Roshan. But BetBoom responded with buybacks of their own. As the team teleported to the outpost, gpk’s Void Spirit dove into the pit, securing both the Roshan kill and snatching the Aegis. That critical moment shifted the game, handing BetBoom their first win of the series.

In the second game, HEROIC dominated the map, constantly finding key pickoffs. They committed big ultimates without hesitation to secure kills and snowball their advantage. By the late game, they had more than enough control with double Echoslams and a Global Silence. Yuma’s Templar Assassin was fully farmed and holding the Aegis, BetBoom were forced to play defensively.

Pure's Nature's Prophet, meanwhile, picked the rarely-seen Nature’s Profit Facet–becoming the first player to do so this TI. But the gamble didn’t pay off. In the late game, Pure struggled to find farm, even teleporting to the map’s far edges. But HEROIC were prepared, having vision in nearly every corner, allowing them to quickly take out Pure from the game. At 34 minutes, HEROIC stormed BetBoom’s high ground, diving into their fountain to force the GG.

The third and final game unfolded into a chaotic brawl as both teams fought tooth and nail. HEROIC drafted a risky but high-reward Enigma for Matheus Santos Jungles “KJ” Diniz, while BetBoom answered with massive crowd control, fielding Disruptor on Vladislav “Kataomi`” Semenov and Sand King on Matvey “MieRo” Vasyunin.

BetBoom gained a slight early advantage with pickoffs and efficient map movements. But HEROIC refused to back down, continuously forcing fights and hunting for comeback opportunities–and they found them. Around the 30-minute mark, they began racking up high-value kills. Yuma’s Templar Assassin snowballed into an unstoppable force, stacked with kill streaks and a fully loaded inventory. HEROIC looked poised to close out the game.

But in a crucial late-game fight, Pure’s Gyrocopter revealed a well-timed Satanic, giving him the sustain to survive HEROIC’s Black Hole and spell barrage. With their inability to burst down BetBoom’s core, HEROIC’s momentum slipped. BetBoom capitalized and charged into HEROIC’s base, landing the final blow after a dramatic 47-minute slugfest.

With the win, BetBoom remain in the final four of the championship, marking their best TI performance to date—while still very much in contention for the champion title. BetBoom now advance to the lower bracket semifinal, where they’ll face a formidable opponent, Xtreme Gaming. 

It’s anticipated to be a tough challenge for BetBoom as Xtreme boast a 6–1 win-loss record so far, with their only loss coming from PARIVISION in the upper bracket. The Chinese team is also widely expected to claim the Aegis this year after an impressive undefeated streak at this TI.

Tensions grow higher as The International 2025 head for another two pivotal matchups. First, an upper bracket clash between PARIVISION and Team Falcons will determine who secures the first spot in the Grand Finals. Then, we’ll witness another elimination showdown, as BetBoom Team take on Xtreme Gaming in the lower bracket semifinals.

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