Following Team Yandex`s conclusion of their run at the Riyadh Masters 2025 Dota 2 tournament, player Alexey “PRBLMS” Parshukov has offered his reflections on the team`s performance, sharing his thoughts via Telegram.
Team Yandex`s path in the tournament was halted in the second round of the Elimination Phase, where they faced a formidable opponent in Gaimin Gladiators. The series concluded with a 0-2 scoreline in favor of the Gladiators, resulting in Team Yandex`s elimination from the event.
This result placed Team Yandex in the 9th-12th position overall in the prestigious tournament, securing a prize of $75,000. While certainly a significant sum, it places them outside the top tier of earners in this multi-million dollar event.
Speaking on the team`s exit, PRBLMS framed the Riyadh Masters 2025 as a significant personal milestone, noting it was his “first tournament overall, and immediately such a major one.” He adopted a pragmatic view regarding the team`s final standing, acknowledging that a 9th-12th finish meant they were “not the last place, and that`s already good” – a perspective perhaps born from the sheer scale and competition level of the tournament.
However, this realistic outlook was quickly juxtaposed with his personal aspirations for the team`s potential. PRBLMS stated he “could imagine that at least top 8 was possible,” and even felt “top 6 too” was a reachable goal for the squad. This discrepancy between the actual outcome and his internal assessment of possibilities understandably left him “slightly disappointed.”
Despite the tournament result, PRBLMS expressed gratitude for the support received throughout their participation from fans. Looking ahead, he concluded his remarks with a simple yet determined statement: “onwards and upwards,” signaling the team`s intention to learn from this experience and strive for better results in future competitions.
For a player making their debut on such a grand stage as the Riyadh Masters, a 9th-12th finish, while potentially falling short of personal highest hopes, undoubtedly represents valuable experience gained by competing directly against some of the world`s absolute elite Dota 2 teams. The immediate focus for Team Yandex will now shift towards analyzing the matches, identifying areas for improvement, and preparing for the next challenges on the competitive circuit.
Finley Holt