2025 seems like an amazing year for Dota 2 fans worldwide because we have access to another epic event called FISSURE Universe: Episode 4. Taking place between March 22-30, the competition will include a lot of big names from our favorite game.
Unlike other tournaments, such as the PGL Wallachia Season 3, which is held in a LAN format, FISSURE Universe: Episode 4 will be online. Despite that, the competition has a lot ot offer, and we are about to learn everything that makes it stand out.
Contents
General Information, Format & Prize Pool
As the tournament’s name suggests, FISSURE Universe: Episode 4 is a part of the FISSURE Universe series organized by FISSURE. The event will take place online and will include 16 teams. Unlike some of the other tournaments from this company, however, this one will have a $500,000 prize pool. Here’s what it will look like:
- 1st Place – $250K
- 2nd Place – $100K
- 3rd Place – $60K
- 4th Place – $30K
- 5th-6th Place – $20K
- 7th-8th Place – $10K
Interestingly, only the top 8 teams will receive a portion of the prize money. This should give the teams some extra motivation because those who fail to make it will not get anything.
In terms of the FISSURE Universe: Episode 4 format, the competition will have a Group Stage and Playoffs. There will be one Swiss-system group that will include all 16 teams. The top 8 will secure a slot for the event’s next stage, whereas the other 8 will not be able to advance to the Playoffs.
Speaking of the latter, the playoffs will have a double-elimination bracket with Bo3 matches and a Bo5 Grand Final.
Thanks to the official live streams, those wishing to watch the FISSURE Universe: Episode 4 games in real time can do that. Similar to previous FISSURE tournaments, there will be streams in both Russian and English.
Participants & Favorites
As mentioned, FISSURE Universe: Episode 4 will have 16 teams in total. Eight of them received a direct invitation, but the other 8 had to play in the qualifiers. Not that everything is over, here is a list of all teams that we can see in just one week from now:
- Tundra Esports – Direct Invitation
- Team Falcons – Direct Invitation
- Aurora Gaming – Direct Invitation
- Talon Esports – Direct Invitation
- Team Spirit – Direct Invitation
- PARIVISION – Direct Invitation
- Team Liquid – Direct Invitation
- BetBoom Team – Direct Invitation
- Night Pulse – Western Europe Qualifiers
- Gaimin Gladiators – Western Europe Qualifiers
- One Move – Eastern Europe Qualifiers
- 1win Team – Eastern Europe Qualifiers
- Wildcard – NA Qualifiers
- M80 – SA Qualifiers
- BOOM Esports – SEA Qualifiers
- Team Tidebound – China Qualifiers
Although we can clearly spot some of the underdogs, we can also find pretty much all big names in Dota 2 right now. Those of you who haven’t followed the professional scene recently may want to know more about some of the potential favorites, so let’s share a few words about each one.
Team Falcons
Judging by the team’s performance at PGL Wallachia Season 3, Team Falcons is back on track. The most successful Dota 2 team in 2024 had a slow start after 2025 arrived, but it is back. Falcons play incredibly well, and they seem to have a good understanding of the new meta following the Dota 2 Patch 7.38.
Tundra Esports
There are a few Dota 2 teams that have been on another level in 2025, and Tundra is among them. Led by bzm, the Western Europeans achieved impressive results and won the last 2 big tournaments. Like Falcons, this team also understands the current meta well, so we expect it to achieve impressive results.
Team Spirit
Considering that Team Spirit won DreamLeague Season 25, it’s no surprise that it is one of the favorites for the FISSURE Universe: Episode 4. Despite the roster change that led to the removal of one of their most important players, Spirit continues to dominate and is one of the best teams in the world.
Team Liquid
The last favorite for the FISSURE Universe: Episode 4 is Team Liquid, and this is probably not surprising to anyone. Liquid is one of those Dota 2 teams consistently among the favorites when they participate in a given competition. It is arguably the team with the most consistent results in the game, so we would not be surprised if it lives up to the expectations.
Underdogs
Aside from the favorites, we must mention a few words about the underdogs. Perhaps the team that deserves more attention in this category is Team Tidebound. The newly formed Chinese stack has some of the best players in the region and has proven that it can bring down pretty much anyone.
Gaimin Gladiators is another underdog that deserves more attention. Even though the team hasn’t had the same success as in 2023, it has world-class players that can explode at any minute.
Lastly, we have PARIVISION. The team from Eastern Europe has had some problems, but let’s not forget that it is the only team outside the usual suspects that won a big international event. Consequently, we would not be surprised if it upsets some of the big names at FISSURE Universe: Episode 4.
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