Third time’s the charm – But for whom? Team Spirit vs Chimera

DreamLeague Season 25 is nearing its conclusion, with Team Spirit set to face Chimera Esports in the Lower Bracket semifinals. Both teams were in Group B and finished as the top two in their group. They also clashed in the second group stage, making them well-acquainted with each other’s drafts and playstyles.

Chimera’s first match of the tournament was against Team Spirit. The opening series resulted in a 0-2 loss for Chimera, partly because they struggled to contain Spirit’s core players. Both Yatoro and Larl had relatively free farm and early XP, allowing them to secure a dominant mid-game.

Despite picking resource-intensive heroes in terms of XP and gold, Team Spirit managed to create enough space for their cores to thrive. Chimera’s draft and playstyle were not in sync, contributing to their struggles in the series.

Fortunately for Chimera fans, that was the team’s only 0-2 loss in the group stage. They secured multiple 1-1 draws and three series wins, including victories over Team Liquid, Yakult Brothers, and BOOM Esports. This performance propelled them to second place in the group standings, just behind Team Spirit. For context, Spirit finished with five 2-0 victories and two draws, totaling twelve game wins.

Chimera rebounded in the second group stage, largely due to improved synergy between their draft and gameplay. Although Team Spirit took the first game, Chimera won the next two to complete the comeback. A key factor in their success was limiting Yatoro’s farming space. Unlike in their previous encounter, Yatoro struggled to secure key items—neither his Lifestealer in Game 2 nor his Terrorblade in Game 3 posed a significant threat to Chimera.

The upcoming playoffs match will mark the third time these teams face off in the tournament. With elimination on the line, this series carries even greater stakes.

The loser faces elimination, and the familiarity of both the teams with each other’s playstyle makes this for an interesting series, right from the draft to the throne crashing. 

Here are the rosters for both teams as they prepare for their Lower Bracket semifinal clash. The loser will be eliminated from the tournament.

DreamLeague Season 25 is a million-dollar Dota 2 tournament featuring some of the biggest organizations in the scene. The event began on Feb. 16 and included two group stages, where teams battled in a round-robin format. Now, only four teams remain: Team Spirit, Chimera Esports, PARIVISION, and Tundra Esports. With just a few days left until the grand finale, Dota 2 fans can look forward to an intense conclusion. The match will broadcast live on Twitch here.

Stay tuned to esports.gg for the latest Dota 2 news and updates.