Gamers8’s Riyadh Masters kicks off with 10 teams from different regions facing off with a four million dollar prize pool at stake. Headlined by the top three finishers from last year’s International, PSG.LGD, Team Spirit, and Team Secret, dota fans are surely in for a treat.
Last year’s TI runner-ups PSG.LGD who has been dominating the China region since 2020 is favorite to win it all at 3.18 courtesy of online sportsbook Pinnacle. Reigning champions Team Spirit comes in second at 5.48 whose performance seems to be fluctuating a bit after winning the biggest dota prize pool.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: July 16th, 12:00 P.M. (EST)
All eyes will be on PSG.LGD who fell short in their last TI run after being the favorites coming into the tournament. With travel restrictions preventing them from attending the last major, Riyadh Masters is their first event outside of China as they seek redemption.
Royal Never Give Up will also attend the event as China’s second representative. The addition of Ghost and Somnus as position 1 and 2 respectively were certainly upgrades as they secured solo first place in the very close Upper Division of DPC China Tour 3. They got the slot for Riyadh Masters after winning the Gamers Without Borders Asia qualifiers. Deboosters meanwhile won the Saudi Arabia qualifiers and will represent the country as hometown favorites.
Western Europe boasts five of the ten teams attending in Team Liquid, Team Secret, OG, Tundra Esports, and Nigma Galaxy. Only Team Secret failed to secure a major slot with their loss to Entity out of the four teams in the tourney from the Upper Division. This is perhaps their last chance this season to make a name for themselves internationally. Nigma Galaxy is a division 2 team and will have to try out for a TI slot the hard way. Facing against teams from the same region will certainly help them hit their stride.
Team Liquid, OG, and Tundra Esports have bagged their Arlington Major tickets and will surely see this tournament as the perfect opportunity to get some experience playing against international teams. OG of course won the ESL Stockholm Major but has since struggled every now and then and is not looking as dominant as they were during that miracle run.
Team Liquid will certainly attract attention though given that retired two-time TI champion ana will be standing in for MATUMBAMAN as Team Liquid’s carry. This news came as a shock to everyone.
As for the North American region, TSM is the only team to hold up NA’s proud banner and participate during this tournament in Saudi Arabia.
In the end, who will win the Riyadh Masters? Will the bookmakers favorite in PSG.LGD claim the crown or will an underdog snatch it away from them?
