In front of a packed Raleigh Convention Center, PARIVISION proved once again that they are the top dogs of the Dota 2 scene, taking down Team Spirit 3-1 in a thrilling Grand Final at ESL One Raleigh 2025. With this victory, they claim their second consecutive ESL One title, following their win at ESL One Bangkok 2024, and solidify themselves as frontrunners for the upcoming Esports World Cup 2025.
Let’s dive into the Grand Final series, standout performances, and what this win means for the future of international Dota.
The Grand Final: A New Era for PARIVISION
PARIVISION 3-1 Team Spirit
Despite Team Spirit’s legendary track record in best-of-fives, PARIVISION shut down their momentum in four games with tactical precision and unpredictable drafts.
- Game 1: Team Spirit took the early lead, playing their classic control-heavy tempo with Yatoro getting free space.
- Game 2: PARIVISION bounced back—DM’s Bristleback turned out to be unkillable, shredding through Spirit’s frontline.
- Game 3: The surprise of the series: 9Class’s support Slark. Utilizing vision, mobility, and constant pressure, he outplayed the map.
- Game 4: A textbook performance across all lanes from PARIVISION. No[o]ne- was in vintage form, closing out the series with flawless spellcasting.
MVPs and Memorable Moments
This tournament was filled with standout plays, but several players elevated PARIVISION to championship status:
No[o]ne-
After years of near-misses, the veteran midlaner has found his second prime.
9Class
Support Slark, roaming Pangolier, and more—his hero pool was both bizarre and brilliant.
Satanic
Replacing Crystallis after Bangkok 2024, Satanic’s LAN debut as a carry was picture-perfect.
DM and Dukalis
- DM’s Bristleback and Enigma were instrumental in the team’s Lower Bracket and Finals run.
- Dukalis consistently anchored teamfights with game-changing spell usage.
Final Standings and EPT Impact
With the conclusion of ESL One Raleigh 2025, six teams have now secured provisional invites to the Esports World Cup 2025, based on EPT Points.
Top 4 Final Placements:
| Place | Team | Prize | EPT Points | Club Reward |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | PARIVISION | $250,000 | 7,040 | $40,000 |
| 2nd | Team Spirit | $130,000 | 4,800 | $35,000 |
| 3rd | Tundra Esports | $100,000 | 4,000 | $27,500 |
| 4th | BetBoom Team | $70,000 | 3,200 | $22,500 |
These four, along with Team Falcons and Team Liquid, round out the Top 6 on the EPT Leaderboard heading into DreamLeague Season 26.
Meta Highlights: Innovation Meets Execution
The 7.38c patch brought some fascinating trends that shaped the outcome of the tournament:
Emerging Meta Picks
- Offlane Medusa: Undilation + Meteor Hammer turned her into a nearly unkillable lane bully.
- Support Slark (9Class): Vision control, depth charges, and item tempo like Diffusal and Blink made him a game-changer.
- Beastmaster Mid: High farming tempo and Primal Roar utility worked surprisingly well.
- Ancient Apparition: Consistent win-rate and perfect anti-heal against sustain-heavy lineups.
Core Itemization Trends
- Gleipnir saw renewed popularity due to its AoE setup.
- Blade Mail became a go-to pickup for Medusa and Bristleback.
- Lotus Orb regained importance due to high-impact targeted spells.
With back-to-back ESL One titles and a fresh roster firing on all cylinders, PARIVISION enters the final stretch of the season as the team to beat. As the Dota world looks toward DreamLeague and beyond, all eyes are on whether they can turn this streak into a dynasty.
For now? They are kings of Raleigh.
And it wasn’t even close.
FAQs
Q: Who won ESL One Raleigh 2025?
A: PARIVISION, defeating Team Spirit 3-1 in the Grand Final.
Q: Who was the MVP of the tournament?
A: Likely No[o]ne- or 9Class, with strong cases made for both.
Q: Is support Slark viable in pubs?
A: It’s very situational and team-coordination dependent—but the vision control and early tempo are real.
Q: When is the next ESL event?
A: The next stop is DreamLeague Season 26, which will finalize EWC invites.
Q: What is the EPT?
A: ESL Pro Tour—a point-based circuit for Dota teams to qualify for the Esports World Cup 2025.
