FISSURE Universe Episode 8 was the first significant Dota 2 esports event of the year. It was an online tournament that finished up on 1 February 2026, with a bit of a surprising result. Yes, Aurora Gaming are your FISSURE Universe Episode 8 champions, not the favorites, Team Spirit! Here's how things went down.

The new-look Aurora Gaming squad kept fans on the edge of their seats throughout FISSURE Universe Episode 8. All eight teams were competing for a share of the $250,000 prize pool in this online event, featuring a double-elimination bracket format.

Aurora Gaming got off to a flying start by making a comeback against BetBoom Team, with a 2-1 victory to stay in the Upper Bracket. Against Team Yandex, it was Aurora Gaming who took no prisoners, beating their opponents 2-0.

In the Upper Bracket Final, Aurora Gaming shocked the Dota 2 esports community by smashing the favorites, Team Spirit, with a 2-0 score. While Team Spirit did manage to beat Team Yandex 2-0 in the Lower Bracket Final, they couldn't take revenge on Aurora Gaming.

In a back-and-forth Grand Final, it was Aurora Gaming who won the final two games for a 3-2 score, thereby becoming the FISSURE Universe Episode 8 champions.

In case you couldn't watch the action live and just want a quick overview of where teams ended, we've got you covered with a table below, showcasing the final standings and winnings at FISSURE Universe Episode 8.

Stay tuned to Esports Central as we continue to bring esports fans the latest news on all the biggest Dota 2 tournaments and other major esports events.

Header image via Valve.