HEROIC shocked the Dota 2 community with a stunning 2-0 victory over Tundra Esports in the lower bracket of The International 2025, ending the run of one of the tournament’s top contenders and securing the best South American finish at TI since 2022.
The series quickly turned into the Yuma show, as Yuma Langlet delivered two carry masterclasses that will be remembered as defining moments of the event. In game one, HEROIC wasted no time setting the tone. Yuma’s Ursa was unstoppable, finishing with an 11-1-9 scoreline in a match that lasted just under 34 minutes. His relentless aggression dismantled Tundra’s defenses, giving HEROIC the early lead in commanding fashion.
Yuma carried the momentum into game two, where HEROIC doubled down on creativity with an unorthodox Pudge carry pick. What seemed risky on paper became the highlight of the series, as Yuma put up near-perfect numbers of 7-1-22 in a tense 46-minute battle, leaving Tundra with no answers.
The win secured HEROIC at least a top-six finish and roughly $130,000 in prize earnings. It also stands as the most successful South American performance at The International since Thunder Awaken’s top-six result at TI 2022, underlining just how monumental this run is for the region. Tournament coverage emphasized its significance, calling it a historic milestone for South American Dota.
For Tundra Esports, the result was nothing short of devastating. The defending champions bowed out in 7th-8th place, an abrupt ending to what many expected to be another deep run. Their campaign had already been disrupted by roster issues, with Tobias “Tobi” Buchner stepping in after Whitemon was sidelined by visa complications just weeks before the event.
Despite showing resilience by eliminating Team Liquid earlier, they couldn’t withstand HEROIC’s fearless approach. Tundra leaves with more than $104,000 in prize money but without the legacy-defining repeat they were aiming for.
HEROIC’s journey is quickly becoming the Cinderella story of TI 2025. From battling through the South American qualifiers to knocking out a defending champion, they’ve proven that regional underdogs can topple the giants when armed with skill and innovation.
This run also reinforces their reputation as South America’s strongest squad, following up on their PGL Wallachia Season 2 championship, the first major international title ever won by a team from the region. No matter how far they go from here, HEROIC has already etched its name in Dota 2 history.
By ending Tundra’s run and reigniting South American pride on the biggest stage, they’ve shown that the gap between regions isn’t as wide as many believed. Their next match in the lower bracket quarterfinals will determine how much further this dream can go, but one thing is certain: HEROIC have already secured its legacy at The International.
