Natus Vincere First Dota 2 Match of 2025: How the NaVi vs. 9Pandas Clash Unfolded
On Jan 7, 2025, the first day of the DreamLeague Season 25 Eastern Europe Closed Qualifiers took place. Eight teams are participating in the tournament: five were invited directly, while three earned their spots through open qualifiers. The matches follow a double-elimination system and are played in a Bo3 (best-of-three) format. Among the competing teams are the well-known Natus Vincere, for whom this tournament marks both their first competition of 2025 and their return to the professional scene after a period of inactivity.
The Match: NaVi vs. 9Pandas
Natus Vincere faced off against 9Pandas in their opening match. While 9Pandas may not be the outright favorites, they are still regarded as a formidable opponent. The first game began on a cautious note, with both teams carefully observing each other’s strategies. 9Pandas, after suffering a few early deaths, adopted a late-game strategy to capitalize on their heroes' scaling potential—a plan that paid off. The game lasted nearly 48 minutes, and 9Pandas secured the victory.
In the second game, NaVi needed a comeback. Their drafting improved significantly, with Lycan in the offlane and Gyrocopter as their carry—indicating a focus on pushing and farming efficiency. This strategy worked well as NaVi dominated most of the game, securing a convincing win to tie the series 1-1.
The final game was a rollercoaster of action and drama. Lasting 56 minutes, both teams alternated in taking the lead. However, NaVi deviated from their successful strategy in Game 2, which ultimately cost them the match. After a series of costly mistakes and lost fights, they fell to 9Pandas, losing the game and the series 1-2.
What’s Next for NaVi?
With this loss, NaVi dropped to the lower bracket of the DreamLeague Season 25 qualifiers. Their next match will be against 1Win Team on January 8, where they’ll fight for a spot in the Lower Bracket Quarterfinals.
What do you think—does Natus Vincere have what it takes to bounce back and secure a win in their next match? Share your thoughts!
Ostapchuk Dmytro – writer at EGamersWorld, ESports & Gaming Specialist
Dmytro started working at EGamersWorld in 2024 as a writer and later became a blog editor. His main focus is on esports disciplines Dota 2 and CS2. His tasks include finding topics that interest EGamersWorld readers and covering game updates, their features, and major esports tournaments.
Dmytro has recently begun working in this field, so he is learning a lot and making noticeable progress in this direction.
370
A Victorious Day for Natus Vincere in the DreamLeague S25 Closed Qualifiers2 wins for NAVI in DreamLeague S25 Eastern Europe Closed Qualifiers. Can they go further?567Natus Vincere First Dota 2 Match of 2025: How the NaVi vs. 9Pandas Clash UnfoldedHow the first Dota 2 Natus Vincere match unfolded in 2025. The result of the match against 9Pandas in the DreamLeague S25 qualifier.108DreamLeague Season 25: Tournament Format and Participating TeamsFull list of participants for DreamLeague Season 25. Tournament start date, format, and prize pool.433Final Featuring NAVI and NAVI Junior: A Unique Story at the Dota 2 PGL Wallachia Season 3 Closed QualifierNatus Vincere vs. NAVI Junior at final of Dota 2 PGL Wallachia Season 3 Eastern Europe Closed Qualifier.378Natus Vincere Final Matches in the DreamLeague S25 Eastern Europe Closed QualifiersDecisive matches for Natus Vincere to qualify for DreamLeague S25370A Victorious Day for Natus Vincere in the DreamLeague S25 Closed Qualifiers2 wins for NAVI in DreamLeague S25 Eastern Europe Closed Qualifiers. Can they go further?275TEAM HRYVNIA RETURNS TO THE ARENA!174LEGION National League of Ukraine with a Prize Pool of ₴600,000: Qualifiers Kick Off on January 11th!
