Are your bodies ready for the next Dota 2 Major tournament?
Fy, no[o]ne image via STARLADDER | Pieliedie image via Mineski Pro Team | Illustration via Mineski.net
Rejoice, valiant followers of the ever-active Dota 2 professional scene for another Major tournament lies ahead of us! We are one day away from witnessing once more 16 of the best Dota 2 teams in the world gathering for the DreamLeague Season 11 Major, the third Major tournament of the 2018-19 Dota Pro Circuit.
As we inch closer towards the grand culmination Dota 2 greats called The International 2019, the ninth iteration of the grand Dota 2 world championship, we have gathered some questions for the upcoming Major tournament.
What Should We Expect from Team Secret and Virtus.pro?
So far in the current season, there are only two teams that were able to reach a grand final of a Major tournament—Team Secret and Virtus.pro. They first went at it at The Kuala Lumpur Major, then nonchalantly booked themselves a rematch at The Chongqing Major. Needless to say, the huge chunks of Dota Pro Circuit points they gathered from appearing at two consecutive best-of-five bouts booked them their tickets to The International 2019, this year’s grandest Dota 2 tournament.
READ: Why Virtus.pro or Team Secret won’t probably win The International 2019
Now that the pressure of the Dota Pro Circuit race is now off their shoulders, Team Secret and Virtus.pro hypothetically have the luxury to do anything they want. Out of all the teams in the tournament, only them may have the audacity to pick Techies during the second game of a slightly insignificant series. Alternatively, just for fun, they may also choose to settle their overall Major championship score which currently stands at one apiece.
In an unlikely case that both teams would refuse to choose the latter, we may finally crown a champion that is not named Team Secret or Virtus.pro. This makes the tournament the perfect opportunity for the remaining Dota Pro Circuit contenders to catch up in points since winning the DreamLeague Season 11 Major can grant any team a direct invitation to the ninth iteration of the Dota 2 world championship. Just so it’s out there, Evil Geniuses may even place third again and still collect enough Dota Pro Circuit points to secure their The International 2019 berth.
Will The Chinese Teams Continue Their Dominance?
Chinese teams will be heading, once again, to an international Dota 2 tournament as the most represented region. Thanks to the presence of PSG.LGD, EHOME, Keen Gaming, and the grand champion of the recently concluded Kiev Minor, Vici Gaming, China mathematically has the highest chance of winning the whole thing amongst all Dota 2 region.
With the conclusion of the Chinese New Year, Chinese teams are starting to shake off the vacation vibe and finally get back into their competitive forms. Just take for example Vici Gaming’s success at the StarLadder ImbaTV Dota 2 Minor, a tournament which they ended with an almost flawless 9-1 win-loss record.
If you ask me, Vici Gaming’s recent achievement may just be a teaser of China’s much-awaited redemption arc, especially since they are still kinda mad that a non-Chinese team dared to win The International during China’s year.
How Will Mineski-Dota Fare at Their First Dota Pro Circuit Event?
Among the 16 teams at The Stockholm Major, Mineski-Dota is the only participant with no prior 2018-19 Dota Pro Circuit appearance. They were in an almost irredeemable slump that started after the launch of this year’s competitive season, practically when the pillars of the 2017-18 iteration of their roster left for various Southeast Asian squads.
But then, like I said, Ahjit happened. The addition of the former Tiger core helped the formerly formidable Kings of SEA secure their Dota Pro Circuit debut for this year. They even had two 32-2 games, one versus Lotac and another against TNC Predator, during the regional qualifiers for The Stockholm Major that greatly prove their emphatic comeback as one of Southeast Asia’s powerhouse.
READ: Ahjit got us talking about Mineski-Dota again
This time, however, Mineski-Dota will be up against the world’s best. We caught a glimpse of their potential against internationally-acclaimed teams at the ESL One Hamburg 2019, a non-Dota Pro Circuit tournament attended by some top-tier teams. Their run was cut short to a respectable 5th-6th place after Fnatic-Dota eliminated them in an arguably hard-fought Southeast Asian showdown.
In any case Mineski-Dota beats themselves and impressively secure a better result compared to their past international showing, staunch followers of the Southeast Asian Dota 2 scene should expect a significant change in the region’s competitive landscape.
The first day of the DreamLeague Season 11 Major will kick off with its group stage tomorrow at 20:30 SGT.
