PTG Database Analysis
BLAST Slam IX is the ninth numbered edition of BLAST’s Dota 2 series. BLAST’s August update moves the 16-team, USD 750,000 event fully online for November 20–29 and says it will use the same format as Slam VIII. The September rulebook appendix still lists an earlier 12-team, USD 1 million format with LAN playoffs; those details conflict with BLAST’s revised event page and online announcement. The current phase calendar lists GSL groups November 20–23, seeding and Last Chance matches November 24, and playoffs November 27–29.[1][3][4][9][10]
Four qualifiers are confirmed: Natus Vincere and Dawn Bulls from Europe, Team Nemesis from Southeast Asia, and Xtreme Gaming from China. BLAST’s Slam VIII allocation used 11 direct invites, one Americas invite, and four regional qualifier places; its IX announcement says IX will use the same format, though no IX-specific slot table has been published. Public rosters are scheduled for announcement on November 3; the remaining 12 teams are not yet named. BLAST named Polymarket its official prediction partner across the 2026 SLAM circuit, but did not detail an IX-specific activation. The 2026 regional broadcast arrangement also makes BetBoom the licensed media rights holder and exclusive betting partner for Brazil and Latin America, covering BLAST Slam broadcasts.[5][6][7][8][9][11]