Team Yandex staged a comeback to defeat LGD and advance to the quarterfinals of TI 2026.

In a crucial match of the 2026 Dota 2 International (TI 2026) qualifying rounds, Eastern European powerhouse Team Yandex staged a thrilling comeback victory.

Despite losing the first game, Yandex rallied to win the next two, defeating South American dark horse LGD Gaming 2-1 and securing the final ticket to the TI 2026 main event playoffs.

With this victory, Yandex not only completely dispelled the gloom of their 2-3 record in the group stage, but also secured a top-eight finish in the tournament and a substantial prize pool of at least $121,885. They will join forces with powerhouses like Team Liquid and Team Spirit to challenge for the ultimate Aegis of Champions.

This do-or-die match was full of twists and turns. In the first game, Yandex was on the back foot against LGD's aggressive multi-control lineup and suffered a crushing defeat in 24 minutes. However, this strong Eastern European team demonstrated exceptional adaptability and mental resilience.

In the second game, Yandex fielded an extremely tanky lineup centered around Watson's carry Io. With solid team fights and damage mitigation capabilities in the mid-game, they quickly took control of the game and tied the score at 38 minutes.

In the decisive game, the two sides fought for 68 minutes. Yandex selected Lina and Ember Spirit as their dual ranged high-burst cores. After a close early game, they seized on a fatal positioning mistake by their opponent near the Dire's bottom tower, instantly killing the enemy's core and completing the comeback.

The two core players, CHIRA_JUNIOR (17 kills, 2 deaths, 21 assists) and Watson (13 kills, 2 deaths, 12 assists), played exceptionally well, leading the team to a steady victory.

From a difficult group stage to a comeback in the knockout stage, Yandex demonstrated their strength and declared their return to being a top team, officially entering the main tournament knockout stage with high spirits.

Image source: Internet