Team Yandex delivered one of the biggest results of the Dota 2 Esports World Cup 2026 so far, defeating Team Spirit 2-0 in the quarterfinals on July 16. The result eliminated the defending champions from the tournament and sent Yandex into the semifinals.
The quarterfinal series was played as a best-of-three in Paris. Team Yandex controlled both games despite Team Spirit’s reputation as one of the strongest teams in the tournament.
Team Yandex Take Down Team Spirit
The opening game lasted 44 minutes and 23 seconds. Both teams finished with 23 kills, but Yandex gained the advantage through its economy and objective control.
Watson was particularly influential for Yandex. Playing Nature’s Prophet, he finished the first game with an 8/2/11 KDA and more than 40,000 net worth. CHIRA_JUNIOR also posted an 8/3/11 scoreline, giving Yandex two major sources of damage and pressure.
Team Spirit struggled to convert its kills into a winning position. Yandex destroyed eight towers and three barracks, while Spirit managed five towers and no barracks in the opening game.
Yandex Close Out the Series
Team Yandex continued its momentum in the second game. The map lasted 51 minutes and 19 seconds, with Yandex winning 35-23.
The second victory completed a clean 2-0 series win and ended Team Spirit’s run at EWC 2026. The series lasted more than 95 minutes across the two games.
The result also adds to Yandex’s recent success against Spirit. Before this quarterfinal, Yandex had already beaten Spirit in several recent meetings, including matches at BLAST SLAM VII and ESL One Birmingham 2026.
What Happens Next for Team Yandex?
With the quarterfinal victory, Team Yandex advanced to the EWC 2026 Dota 2 semifinals. The team will now have an opportunity to push further into the tournament after knocking out the defending champions.
For Team Spirit, however, the EWC 2026 campaign is over. Their title defense ends with a 0-2 quarterfinal defeat, while Yandex move forward as one of the tournament’s biggest remaining threats.
The Dota 2 EWC 2026 playoffs continue through July 19, with the remaining teams competing for the tournament title and a share of the $2 million prize pool.
