NaVi runners-up at PGL Wallachia Season 9 after 3-0 loss

Natus Vincere finished as runners-up at PGL Wallachia Season 9 in Bucharest after a 3-0 loss in the Best-of-5 Grand Final. The event took place from September 19 to 27, 2026, at the PGL Studio and featured 16 teams competing for a $1,000,000 prize pool on gameplay patch 7.41f.

NaVi began their playoff run in the lower bracket and won four consecutive elimination matches to reach the final. The team eliminated Team Nemesis, Aurora Gaming, Xtreme Gaming and LGD Gaming before facing Team Yandex, which had advanced through the upper bracket. NaVi did not win a map in the Grand Final and received $175,000 for second place; Team Yandex received $300,000 for first.

The tournament used a modified Swiss-system group stage with best-of-three matches, and the top eight teams advanced to a double-elimination playoff bracket. Organizers recorded 80 games across the nine-day event.

Match statistics showed a advantage for Dire side selections, which won 58.75 percent of games compared with 41.25 percent for Radiant. The most frequently picked heroes were Hoodwink (38 picks, 52.63 percent win rate), Dark Willow (36 picks, 52.78 percent), Mirana (35 picks, 62.86 percent), Windranger (31 picks, 64.52 percent) and Techies (29 picks, 44.83 percent).

Prize money for the top eight was distributed as follows: LGD Gaming finished third and received $120,000; Xtreme Gaming placed fourth and received $80,000; Aurora Gaming and GamerLegion tied for fifth-sixth and received $60,000 each; Team Nemesis and 1w Team placed seventh-eighth and received $40,000 each.

The next major Tier 1 Dota 2 event is BLAST SLAM VIII, scheduled to begin September 29 with a $750,000 prize pool.