Get Dunked: Team Secret

The Shanghai Major Champions

Jacky Mao finally wins a Valve tournament and Puppy becomes the first player to ever win two; Team Secret are the winners of the Shanghai Major.

Congratulations to Team Secret, winners of the second Dota 2 Major Championship. Having now appeared in consecutive Major Grand Finals, Secret advanced through the Upper Bracket with wins over OG and EG—each recent champions themselves—and a determined Team Liquid. Liquid would later defeat EG in the Lower Bracket Finals to set up a thrilling rematch in the Grand Finals, where Secret turned in a convincing 3-1 series win to claim first prize. After this championship showing in Shanghai, Secret fans must have their hopes set on similar celebrations in the future.

The Shanghai Major was a memorable event; the Dota was incredible and the production was terrible. After all the drama, both in game and out, only time will tell how the Shanghai Major is looked back on by fans. It'll either be remembered as the event that a true legend of the game ascended to new heights, or the event that one of esports' broadcasting pioneers, and beloved personality, was unfairly thrown under the bus by a multi-national corporation losing touch with its fanbase. Either way, the Shaghai Major will stick in the minds of Dota fans.

While there were amazing performances by all of the teams participating in the Shanghai Major, we recognize that the viewing experience and the overall execution of the event were very disappointing. Dota fans and professional players alike have high expectations for a Major event—expectations that we share—and it is ultimately our responsibility to make sure those expectations are met and exceeded. A Dota Major should be a celebration of the amazing community that shepherded the game from humble origins to the global passion it has become. Disappointment should come from the elimination of a favorite team in a hard-fought match, not from the experience of just trying to watch a game you love. With that in mind, we will be increasing our involvement moving forward to ensure that future events deliver a high-quality experience.