The Gaimin Gladiators and 9 Pandas posted victories Wednesday to advance to the upper bracket final of the ESL One Berlin Major playoffs in Germany.

The Gladiators swept OG while 9 Pandas outlasted Tundra Esports 2-1 to set up Saturday’s showdown. Tundra and OG drop down to the quarterfinals of the lower bracket.

In other action, Talon Esports swept PSG.LGD to advance to Round 2 of the lower bracket. PSG.LGD is eliminated.

The second Dota major of the season began April 26 in Berlin with a prize pool of $500,000.

Eighteen teams from around the world participated in the group stage, split into two groups of nine. A single round robin was contested with all matches best-of-two. The top four teams from each group advanced to the upper bracket of the playoffs, the fifth- and sixth-place teams were slotted into the lower bracket and the rest were eliminated.

The double-elimination playoff bracket runs through Sunday. All matches are best-of-three until Sunday’s grand final, which will be best-of-five.

On Wednesday, the Gladiators won in 48 minutes on red and 25 minutes on green.

9 Pandas opened with a 33-minute win on red before Tundra responded with a win on green in 22 minutes. Pandas clinched on red in 47 minutes.

Talon Esports swept, winning in 27 minutes on red and 73 minutes on green.

Action resumes Friday with three matches:
Team Aster vs. Team Liquid (lower bracket)
Evil Geniuses vs. Talon Esports (lower bracket)
Tundra Esports vs. TBD (lower bracket quarterfinals)

ESL One Berlin Major prize pool, Dota Pro Circuit points
1. $200,000, 500
2. $100,000, 450
3. $75,000, 400
4. $50,000, 350
5-6. $25,000, 300
7-8. $12,500, 200
9-12. No money, no points — Team Spirit, Xtreme Gaming, Shopify Rebellion, PSG.LGD
13-14. No money, no points — BetBoom Team, beastcoast
15-16. No money, no points — Execration, Team SMG
17-18. No money, no points — TSM, Invictus Gaming

–Field Level Media