The revenge series caps a turnaround for the SumaiL-led roster as Europe's closed qualifier for The International 2026 heats up
Nigma Galaxy swept Natus Vincere 2-0 on June 23 in the Upper Bracket Round 2 of the Europe Closed Qualifier for The International 2026. The win pushes Nigma deeper into the upper bracket of a qualifier where only the top four teams earn a ticket to Dota 2’s most prestigious annual tournament.
The result is especially sweet because Na’Vi had beaten Nigma by the exact same scoreline back on April 12 during the DreamLeague Season 29 Closed Qualifier.
A qualifier format that leaves no room for error
The Europe Closed Qualifier runs from June 21 to June 28, a compressed eight-day gauntlet. Four teams advance to the main event.
Upper bracket positioning matters enormously in double-elimination formats. Nigma’s 2-0 means they stay on the safe side of the bracket, where a single loss doesn’t end their tournament life. Na’Vi, meanwhile, drops to the lower bracket, where every series becomes do-or-die.
Nigma’s arc from rebuild to relevance
Nigma Galaxy was founded in 2019 by former Team Liquid players. The organization rebranded in 2021 after merging with Galaxy Racer, an Emirati esports outfit.
The presence of SumaiL on the roster adds both individual firepower and a layer of big-stage experience. SumaiL won The International at age 15.
