Xtreme Gaming defeated Tidebound and became the first team to advance to The International 2025 playoffs

Xtreme Gaming became the first team to qualify for the playoffs of The International 2025. The team defeated Tidebound 2-0 and finished the group stage without a single loss. Tidebound, on the other hand, hold a 3-1 record and still have a chance to advance directly to the playoffs if they win their next match.

Match Progress

Xtreme Gaming secured victory on the first map with a score of 25-10, with strong performances from Xm and Ame, who dominated their lanes. Effective team coordination and support in boosting their cores’ levels allowed Xtreme Gaming to pull ahead in the mid game and claim the first map.

On the second map, Tidebound looked better at the start. The team drafted better than in the first game, with Disruptor and Pangolier fitting particularly well. By the 23rd minute, the situation had evened out, with both teams having 12 kills each and nearly equal net worth. Then came the turning point: Xtreme Gaming secured Roshan, with Ame picking up the Aegis while playing Sven. The team gradually built up momentum and gained the advantage.

However, Tidebound proved to be a tough nut to crack. The team defended skillfully and dragged the game out for over an hour. The most dramatic moment came at the 64th minute, when Xtreme Gaming broke into the enemy high ground. During the teamfight, Shadow Shaman placed two Mass Serpent Wards, which ultimately destroyed Tidebound’s throne.

Xtreme Gaming unexpectedly become the team with a 4-0 record and the first to advance to the playoff stage of The International 2025. Here are the current team standings as of September 6.

The International 2025 is the main tournament in the Dota 2 discipline, organized by Valve. The initial prize pool of The International amounts to $1,600,000, with the remaining funds being raised through in-game transactions. As of this match, the TI 2025 prize pool stands at approximately $2.45 million.