The return of Dota 2 legends Ana and Topson shook the entire Dota 2 community. What made their return even more of a shock was due to the fact that they joined up with a SEA team, of all regions, as they’re going to play under the t1 banner.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: September 9th, 8:00 A.M. (EST)
Because of this, bet365 has priced them at 2.75 to win the regional qualifiers and attend The International in Singapore. With other teams already securing their slot, it is indeed very likely that t1 gets this opportunity. However, close competitor Talon Esports are listed a close second at 3.75.
Talon Esports struggled to find form and consistency during the first half of the DPC season and spent most of the circuit in the lower division. However, the departure of veteran captain and support Fly, and Filipino carry Gabbi, who were replaced by Q and 23Savage, proved to be a much needed change as they started producing results afterwards, at least within the region.
RSG is also an up and coming team to rival the SEA staple teams such as Fnatic and BOOM having only barely missing out in the PGL Arlington Major. The Malaysian core led by mks, who actually had a bit of a stint with LGD’s academy team, CDEC, are considered top dogs as well in this qualifier.
All Filipino-team Polaris Esports are a circle of Philippines’ young talent and seasoned veterans. After coming out of the second division unscathed with a 7-0 showing, the team has been a part of division one SEA teams finishing 4th in the second tour and a disappointing 8th in the third. This is their chance to prove that they belong on top of the SEA region.
A big bummer for Southeast Asian Dota fans is the failure of Team SMG to register their team on time. Home crowd favorite Iceiceice has recently joined their roster and it would have been amazing to see him wave to the Singaporean crowd in the first ever TI to be held in the region.
Army Geniuses, Execration, and Nigma Galaxy SEA are strong underdogs that can easily sniff out a win here and there in a very brutal, double elimination bracket for a spot at the biggest prize pool event in all of eSports.
Only one slot is available to attend the event while the 2nd and 3rd place teams will have to fight for their slot at the Last Chance qualifiers against other 2nd and 3rd place teams from the other regions, which will be a guaranteed bloodbath for sure.
Will the one-two punch of Ana and Topson win it all for t1? Or will the legends of Dota 2 somehow fall to the ever so unpredictable SEA region?
