Prominent Dota 2 caster Vladislav “BLACKARXANGEL” Ivashchenko has shared his unvarnished perspective on the teams advancing to the intense playoff stage of the Riyadh Masters 2025. As the competition heats up with a substantial $3 million prize pool on the line as part of the Esports World Cup 2025, expert analysis provides valuable, albeit sometimes provocative, insight into team dynamics and potential outcomes.
Offering a quick rundown of the contenders via his personal channel, BLACKARXANGEL provided succinct evaluations of several top squads. He noted Team Spirit`s potential despite perceived weak laning, suggesting their success might hinge on securing specific heroes like Shadow Fiend or Terrorblade. BetBoom Team received praise for their strong early game and the standout performance of their midlaner, gpk~, whom BLACKARXANGEL currently ranks as the best in his role.
Other teams also got a brief mention: Gaimin Gladiators were highlighted for their mid player`s carry potential, tempered with a humorous observation about Melady`s early game tendencies. Aurora Gaming was pegged as a potential dark horse capable of surprising opponents with unexpected strategies. PARIVISION, despite facing a general slump, showed resilience against tough competition, credited largely to their mid player and support synergy. Tundra Esports, according to the caster, hadn`t demonstrated much innovation beyond specific hero picks like Visage.
Team Liquid was characterized as the “strangest team,” paradoxically looking like a tournament favorite while simultaneously vulnerable to being caught out, particularly in a potential semifinal clash against BetBoom Team. It seems even the most solid contenders can appear enigmatic under tournament pressure.
However, BLACKARXANGEL reserved his most pointed and unequivocal critique for Team Falcons. Despite their status as a high-profile team in the playoffs, his assessment was stark: he stated plainly that Team Falcons “won`t start playing” effectively until they replace player Andreas “Cr1t-” Nielsen. This is a notable and rather blunt statement regarding a veteran player on a top-tier team, suggesting a fundamental issue the caster believes is holding the roster back.
Such direct commentary from an analyst injects immediate discussion into the community narrative surrounding the tournament. While concise, the critique implies a perceived lack of impact or synergy related to Cr1t-`s role, which BLACKARXANGEL views as a significant impediment to Falcons` playoff aspirations.
The Riyadh Masters 2025 playoffs are scheduled to commence on July 16th, featuring the eight remaining teams vying for the championship title and the lion`s share of the massive prize pool. Analysts` predictions, especially those as sharp and specific as BLACKARXANGEL`s critique of Team Falcons, add compelling storylines for fans to follow as the drama unfolds in Saudi Arabia.
