MOBA PC Dota 2 got underway with a commanding performance from Rune Eaters, the Battle Royale points race took shape, and Phygital Basketball delivered a single-point finish and a dramatic tie.
Competition intensified at the Games of the Future Astana 2026 powered by Samruk-Kazyna (GOTF 2026) on Friday as MOBA PC Dota 2 Presented by Bank CenterCredit and Battle Royale PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS Presented by Alatau City Bank joined the action alongside the continuing Phygital Basketball Presented by Halyk Fund tournament.
Rune Eaters, the only team from Kazakhstan in the MOBA PC field, swept its opening series, while Anyone’s Legend set the early pace in Battle Royale tournament. At the Qazaqstan Sports Complex, narrow margins and late momentum swings kept the basketball contests open until the final possessions.
Rune Eaters sweep
The MOBA PC Dota 2 presented by CenterCredit got underway at The Hood, where 16 clubs began their group-stage campaigns across eight best-of-three series. With a US$1 million prize pool at stake, bold hero selections, late turnarounds and several closely contested games immediately raised the intensity.
The 16-team field included defending champion Xtreme Gaming, LGD.Pinghu, Yakult Brothers, REKONIX, Zero Tenacity and L1GA Team, alongside Rune Eaters, Vici Gaming, PlayTime and other established and emerging lineups.
Rune Eaters delivered one of the opening day’s standout performances, overcoming early pressure to defeat Midas Club 2-0 and make an emphatic start to their campaign.
Abdimalik Sailau “Malik” of Rune Eaters said: “Midway through the first game, we realized that if we could find Ringmaster and take him down, the fights would become much easier. We delayed the game until we reached that point, and after that we were able to win the team fights.”
One of the day’s most anticipated matchups saw Vici Gaming recover from an opening-game defeat to overcome Amaru Gaming 2-1, with an experienced roster led by Zixing “XinQ” Zhao, Hongcheng “Xm” Guo and Yiping “y`” Zhang adapting its approach to complete the comeback. Elsewhere, PlayTime began its campaign with a 2-0 victory over Team Resilience after overturning a difficult position late in the second game.
Yelsthin Brayan Verde Hurtado “Elmisho” of PlayTime said: “We have two different players now, so we have more options when it comes to our hero picks, and we are feeling great about that. In the second match, we always knew we had our win condition with Enigma. We just needed to win one team fight, and we knew that would be enough to win the game.”
GLYPH also impressed with a 2:0 sweep of Enjoy. Souliya “JACKBOYS” Khoomphetsavong starred in the opening match, finishing without a single death as GLYPH cruised to victory. The second match was a very different contest, with GLYPH recovering from the brink of defeat after 51 minutes to complete the series.
Battle Royale PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS Presented by Alatau City Bank drops in at Beeline Arena
At Beeline Arena, 16 teams opened their Battle Royale campaigns, beginning a multi-match battle for the points that will determine the playoff lineup.
Anyone’s Legend set the early pace with 17 points in the opening match, followed by 17 Gaming with 15 and Geekay Esports with 14. Twisted Minds remained close on 11, while Team Falcons and DIGA Esports, a team from Kazakhstan, were left with ground to recover.
With points accumulating for placement and eliminations, the opening standings remain only the first step in a competition that rewards consistency, communication and the ability to respond after a difficult match.
Team Falcons player Gustav Lykke Blønd said maintaining the right mentality would be crucial throughout the tournament.
“We have learned over the years that you cannot let things like this affect you. You just have to keep a good mentality. We came in with a game plan, and we are going to keep following it. I have never been on a team where people want to win so much. They put their heart and soul into it. When you have three teammates who want it that much, you become motivated yourself,” he said.
Team Falcons head coach Owen Monaghan noted that teams must study their opponents’ landing positions, movement and decision-making across constantly changing scenarios.
“There are a lot of strategies in PUBG: Battlegrounds beyond simply shooting. You have to study what the teams around you do, where they land and how they are likely to move through each zone, because every zone and every game is different,” he commented.
Phygital Basketball Presented by Halyk Fund delivers a night of single-point drama
The Phygital Basketball Presented by Halyk Fund delivered its tightest evening yet at the Qazaqstan Sports Complex, with the advantage repeatedly changing between the digital and physical stages.
Flow Game Basketball overturned a six-point deficit from the digital stage to edge HandsomeMDMX 33-32, completing its comeback on the physical court. The tension continued as Zagrebacki malisani NITUI and MINSK finished level at 31-31 after splitting the advantage across the two stages, leaving neither side able to pull clear.
PBC Astana also recovered after trailing Valencia Basket in the digital game, producing a stronger physical performance to secure a 34-31 victory.
PBC Astana’s Sardal Abashidze “Lamska” said: “Our opponent had a strong player in the digital stage, so our task was to keep the deficit as small as possible and, if we could, even win there. We knew we could make up the difference on the basketball court, and in the end we achieved everything we had planned. This is the third day, and I felt a lot of emotional pressure in the first game, so I performed slightly below my level. I am improving. The main thing is to continue playing well in the digital stage because we already feel confident on the basketball court.”
Boca Juniors completed another turnaround in the final contest, responding to Paris Phygital’s 20-15 digital lead with a 20-11 physical-stage performance to win 35-31 overall.
With Friday’s deciders complete, Phygital Basketball now moves into the quarterfinals on Aug. 1, where the remaining clubs move one step closer to securing a place in the semifinals and ultimately lifting the Phygital Flame trophy. Competition also continues in MOBA PC and Battle Royale as the group stage gathers momentum.
To stay up to date with the latest news on the Games of the Future 2026, follow @gamesofthefutureofficial on social media or visit the official Games of the Future website. Fans can also relive the action from last year and catch all the action from this year’s Games of the Future Astana 2026 powered by Samruk-Kazyna on Phygital+, Phygital International’s dedicated Direct-to-Consumer platform.
