As the Riyadh Masters 2025 tournament marches into its highly anticipated playoff stage, expert analysis becomes paramount. Weighing in on the potential trajectories of the elite teams battling for the substantial $3 million prize pool is Dota 2 caster Vladislav “BLACKARXANGEL” Ivashchenko. His recent comments offer a direct and, for one team, a particularly blunt assessment of their prospects.
Sharing his thoughts via Telegram, BLACKARXANGEL provided concise snapshots of several playoff contenders. While teams like Team Spirit were noted for having a “weak laning phase” but potentially good drafts with specific heroes, and Gaimin Gladiators highlighted for their midlaner`s 1v9 potential, his focus sharpened considerably when discussing Team Falcons.
In a notably direct statement, BLACKARXANGEL expressed significant doubts about Team Falcons` ability to perform optimally in the critical playoff matches. His assessment didn`t pull any punches, suggesting a specific change is necessary for the team to unlock its potential. Regarding Team Falcons, he stated:
They won`t play well until they change Cr1t-
This stark prediction singles out player Cr1t- as a central factor hindering Team Falcons` performance. Such a pointed critique from an analyst offers a clear, albeit potentially controversial, perspective on one of the tournament`s prominent teams.
BLACKARXANGEL also touched upon other teams, albeit with less pointed criticism. Aurora Gaming was labelled as capable of providing surprises, while PARIVISION, despite facing a collective slump, showed resilience and possesses a strong mid-support synergy. BetBoom Team earned praise for their strong laning and ranking their midlaner, gpk, as currently the top in that role. Tundra Esports, conversely, didn`t seem to impress the caster much beyond specific hero picks, and Team Liquid was described as “the strangest team” – looking like a favorite yet potentially vulnerable in a semi-final matchup against BetBoom.
The Riyadh Masters 2025 tournament, part of the larger Esports World Cup 2025 event, is taking place in Saudi Arabia from July 8th to 19th. The playoff bracket, featuring the top eight teams, commenced on July 16th. As these teams compete for glory and a significant portion of the prize pool, expert opinions like BLACKARXANGEL`s add an intriguing layer to the narrative, highlighting potential strengths, weaknesses, and perceived necessary adjustments for success.
Jasper Hawthorne