Get Dunked: Dota Tuesdays

The International Qualifiers

It's time for The International once again; that means it's time for predictions and theory-crafting. The main event is still a couple of months away so let's focus on the qualifiers.

Find the International information here.

This year, due to the worldwide growth of Dota 2, there are four qualifiers, split into: the Americas, Southeast Asia, China, and Europe. Previous International qualifiers have been simply split into East and West, with three teams attending the main event and one being eliminated in the wildcard match. This year five teams can qualify, four through winning their respective qualifiers, and the other from the 'play in series' comprised of the second placed team from each group. It makes sense that, due to the growth of Dota 2, there should be more qualifiers as the pool of teams has drastically expanded. Most people are in favour of more qualifiers and we here at Please Don't Feed The Trolls agree.

Lets take a look at the groups.

The Americas

Apart from Southeast Asia, none of the groups seem quite as easy to predict as the Americas. Team Liquid are the clear favourites to finish in first place. Last International the team placed in the top 8 (in the money), but only Bulba and TC remain from that roster; they've added Qojqva from Mousesports, waytosexy from Dignitas and, the mercenary himself, Demon from every team under the sun. Although under-performing, and being involved in roster dramas, the recent addition of Demon has stabilized them (I never thought I'd be writing that sentence). This team is still strong enough to compete with big boys, and still the second best team in America after EG.

Second place is not so clear, but in my mind, is between two teams: Sneaky Nyx Assassins and North American Rejects (now that Revenge have dropped out). Both SNA and NAR contain former members of the top 8 Team Liquid of last year; Fluff and ixmike for SNA, and Kurok for NAR. North American Rejects have more star power, with their roster containing many big names in the North American scene (Sneyking former Dignitas, Kurok former Liquid, Brax former LGD.Int, Fogged former Dignitas/EG, 1437 former LGD.int) but are unproven as a team. Sneaky Nyx Assassins, apart from Fluff and ixmike, are relative unknowns (Ush, Sna, whiteBeard) but are playing extremely well together, only losing 1 out of the last 11 games played at the time of publication. On individual skill, North American Rejects would take second place but Dota is a team game, so my prediction is that Sneaky Nyx Assassin's will just take it.

Southeast Asia

ZEPHYR AND THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP. They may get top 4.

Scythe Gaming are head and shoulders above everyone else in this group, if they don't place first it'll be a massive upset.

It's a similar situation with Arrow Gaming and second place, there's just too big a gulf in this group between teams. MTH.Trust could steal second as they're an extremely experienced team, but Arrow Gaming seem to be the better team at the moment.

I believe in Zephyr though...

China

Dream Time are legit; Air is a seriously underrated player, skill wise he's one of the best in China. DT have recently been taking games off DK, who are the undisputed best team in the world right now. For me, if they can keep their current form up and get success with their bolder strategies (like omni-knight mid) they'll take first place fairly solidly.

Second place is between LGD Gaming, HyperGloryTeam, and CIS-game. Unfortunately, I don't know too much about HGT, other than seeing their recent good results. CIS-game is Black's team, and you can never dismiss a team with Black on it. It would, however, be a big upset in China if LGD Gaming fail to qualify and are, in my opinion, of similar individual skill to Dream Time; they're my prediction for second.

Europe

Woof woof. Possibly the closest qualifiers of the four, but I believe Team Dog will take it with relative ease. They're good enough to warrant a direct invitation, but recent roster changes, lack of sponsor, and strength of Europe in general went against them. A team containing Pajkatt (highest GPM average in the first International), Misery, Fata (one of the best individually skilled mid's in the world), Pas, and MSS. Massive upset if not first. Woof woof.

Second place is much harder and almost impossible to predict. Rox.Kis are probably the safest bet, I'm not going to mention Goblak and his drafting, because the team deserve more credit than that. I'd almost say that he has a recent tendency to draft himself into a corner. That said, they're still an extremely well rounded team. Virtus.Pro have been wobbly for a while, but there's a lot of experience there so they shouldn't be counted out. Monomaniacs are a dark horse and have been playing out of their minds recently so could grab second. Power Rangers with Scandal mid also have what it takes to place second too. The Europe qualifiers should be the most contested, and should have the most intense games.

Round-up

Team Liquid, Scythe, Dream Time, Team Dog for qualification.
Out of the second placed teams: Sneaky Nyx Assassin's, Arrow, LGD Gaming, and Rox.Kis; LGD Gaming or Rox.Kis should take it.
Even if my predictions are completely out, Europe or China will take the play in series and I think it'll be China.

Get Hype.