Malik to replace Noticed for Team Yandex in BLAST Slam VI playoffs

Team Yandex will play the BLAST Slam VI playoffs with a forced roster change. Offlaner Noticed will be unable to take part in the decisive stage of the tournament due to visa issues, prompting the team to use a substitute.

For the duration of the playoffs, Malik will step into the lineup. He had been registered in advance as a substitute for BLAST Slam VI, allowing Team Yandex to compete with a complete roster without making last-minute changes ahead of the knockout matches.

Team Yandex finished the group stage in fifth place, recording six wins and five losses. In the play-in stage, the team secured a convincing 2:0 victory over Spirit to book a spot in the playoffs.

In the quarterfinals on February 13, Team Yandex will face HEROIC. The winner of that matchup will advance to meet NAVI, who qualified directly for the semifinals. In the other quarterfinal, Falcons will take on Liquid.

BLAST Slam VI runs from February 3 to 15, with the final stage of the tournament taking place in Malta. The total prize pool for the event is $1 million.