Team Yandex and Tundra will meet in the ESL One Birmingham upper bracket final.

With the ESL One 2026 Birmingham playoffs reigniting, Team Yandex and Tundra Esports both had breakout performances on the first day of competition, defeating strong rivals Team Spirit and Aurora Gaming respectively, and successfully advancing to the upper bracket final.

These two victories not only secured Team Yandex and Tundra Esports' top three spots in the tournament, but also signaled their strong momentum on the road to the $1 million prize pool.

In a best-of-three series against Team Spirit, a veteran powerhouse in the same region, Team Yandex emerged victorious with a score of 2-1, proving their strength as the new kings of Eastern Europe.

In the first game, Yandex displayed overwhelming dominance. Watson, playing Beastmaster, racked up a game-high 21 kills, while CHIRA_JUNIOR, playing Void Spirit, also delivered a stellar performance. Together, the two secured the first win within 50 minutes.

Despite Spirit's tenacious comeback to tie the score in the second round, Yandex completely took control of the match in the deciding round. In just 34 minutes, Yandex achieved a dominant 40-7 kill ratio, crushing his opponent in an unstoppable manner to advance to the next round.

On the other side, Tundra Esports faced off against top seed Aurora Gaming, who boasted an impressive 13-1 record in the group stage. Against their red-hot opponents, Tundra demonstrated superior strength.

In the first game, Tundra's mid-laner bzm's performance with Stonescale Swordsman was perfect, achieving a luxurious stat line of 9 kills, 9 assists, and 0 deaths, and gaining an absolute lead of over 27,500 gold, leading the team to an easy victory in the first game.

Although Aurora managed to pull one back in a grueling 54-minute second game, Tundra prevailed in the decisive final game. Tundra crushed their opponent in the crucial 44-minute battle, ending Aurora's winning streak with a 2-1 victory.

With both teams advancing strongly, the in-form Team Yandex and Tundra Esports will face off in the winners' bracket final, making a final push for EPT points and ultimate championship glory in the 2026 Esports World Cup.

Image source: Internet