BLAST Slam VIII opens the 2026-2027 Dota 2 season with 16 teams in a GSL group stage followed by LAN playoffs in Malta. Team Yandex enters with the strongest implied probability at 24.5% after consistent results and a PGL Wallachia title, while PARIVISION sits close behind at 21% despite a post-TI break. Team Liquid, Team Spirit, and 1win Team follow in the 6.5–11.5% range, reflecting roster flux—Spirit’s changes after their TI win, Liquid’s recent synergy gains, and the broader parity among mid-tier squads like BetBoom and Aurora. This tight clustering among the top five stems from uncertain form after the International, variable head-to-head matchups in Bo3 groups, and the potential for any invited side to advance through the double-elimination bracket.