Nigma Galaxy has secured its place in the top eight of The International 2025 (TI14) after a gritty run through the Swiss stage of Dota 2’s flagship tournament.
With the intense stage coming to a close, the playoff field is officially locked. Of the 16 teams that headed out to Hamburg, only eight will take to the stage at the Barclays Arena.
The International 2025 has thus far provided numerous twists, and it’s anyone’s guess as to who will lift the Aegis of Champions. Several former TI champions have already been sent packing as we head full steam into the playoff stage.
Nigma Galaxy, the people’s favorite, has secured top eight. Image Credit: Valve
The Top Eight at TI14
The following teams have battled hard through the Swiss stage, and continue competing for the Aegis in a double-elimination playoff bracket:
- Xtreme Gaming (4-0 in the Swiss stage)
- Team Tidebound (4-1 in the Swiss stage)
- BetBoom Team (4-1 in the Swiss stage)
- PARIVISION (Defeated Wildcard Gaming)
- Nigma Galaxy (Defeated Aurora)
- Tundra Esports (Defeated Team Liquid)
- Team Falcons (Defeated Team Spirit)
- HEROIC (Defeated Yakutou Brothers)
It’s a diverse lineup featuring two Chinese powerhouses, returning Western favorites, and a couple of dark horses. The teams have been seeded into this bracket:
The International 2025 – Day 1 Schedule – Thursday, September 11#Dota2 #TI2025 pic.twitter.com/sfpjPknvQ8
— The International (@dota2ti) September 7, 2025
Stars Align for Nigma Galaxy
Despite all the action and drama, only a few stories have electrified the event quite like Nigma Galaxy’s run. Since forming the organization in 2019, this is the first time Nigma has qualified for The International, and here they are with a guaranteed top-eight finish.
The squad’s campaign in the Swiss stage was filled with rollercoasters, from pulling off comebacks to throwing monumental leads. Though they faced a formidable opponent in Aurora in the elimination bracket, the squad pulled through for a playoff berth.
Nigma’s presence in the playoffs represents more than just results – they’re the people’s team. The organization’s fans finally have something to cheer for, as millions closely follow the journey of one of the most beloved teams of the tournament so far.
Former TI Winners Miss the Cut
On the other side of the coin was heartbreak for two of the most decorated squads in recent Dota history.
Team Liquid, the reigning TI13 champions, fell to their former captain, Neta “33” Shapira, and Tundra Esports, ending any hopes of a back-to-back title run.
The battle continues in Hamburg. @TundraEsports secures its place at The International 2025, as @teamliquiddota is eliminated from the tournament.#Dota2 #TI2025 pic.twitter.com/Q0UQlGMA9Z
— The International (@dota2ti) September 7, 2025
Meanwhile, Team Spirit, widely considered the favorite to win TI14, was edged out by Team Falcons in a nail-biting elimination series. It felt like an early grand final – two top teams forced to meet far too soon. Spirit ultimately bowed out in one of the most dramatic exits in the event thus far.
Looking Ahead to the Playoffs
The stage is now set for an exhilarating playoff bracket at the Barclays Arena. With Liquid and Spirit gone, one thing is for sure: we’ll have a new team lifting the Aegis in 2025.
Whether it’s the Eastern European titans of BetBoom or PARIVISION, the resurgence of Chinese Dota through Xtreme Gaming and Tidebound, or the Western powerhouses of Tundra or Falcons, the road to the Grand Finals has never been so open.