Astini has compiled a tier list of teams for BLAST SLAM VIII: Team Yandex and Aurora Gaming are in the top tier

Former PARIVISION and Team Nemesis coach Filipe “Astini” Astini Ribeiro categorized the BLAST SLAM VIII participants during a livestream based on his expectations for their performance.

The coach explained that he did not place PVISION in the top tier due to a hiatus: the team missed PGL Wallachia Season 9, and it is unclear what form they are currently in. However, he has already placed PVISION in Tier S for BLAST SLAM IX and DreamLeague Season 30, regardless of their results at the Maltese championship. Initially, Astini placed the runners-up of The International 2026 in Tier B, but he later clarified that they could be placed in either the second or third tier.

Another team that could have ended up in Tier S is Team Spirit. In this case, the lowered expectations are due to roster changes—replacing three-time TI champions Magomed “Collapse” Khalilov and Yaroslav “Miposhka” Naidenov, the organization will be represented by Bogdan “Batyuk” Batyuk and Ilya “Illidan” Pivtsaev.

Filipe named “Aurora” as the favorite and highlighted the strength of that team’s mid laner. Astini attributed the team’s 5th–6th place finish at PGL to his absence. The coach attributed Xtreme’s placement in the third tier to their poor performance in the playoffs of the previous tournament—he admitted that he had expected to see the Chinese-Malaysian team in the grand final against Yandex.

BLAST SLAM VIII will take place from September 29 to October 11, with a total prize pool of $750,000, of which $200,000 will go to the organizations. The main stage of the event will be held in Malta—the second time in the history of this tournament series.

Photo: Esports Foundation.