The complete list of teams competing at The International 2021

The sector of rivals for The Worldwide 2021 is generally set, with the WePlay AniMajor confirming the 12 direct invitees to the occasion. Regional qualifiers are nonetheless set to happen, which can resolve the ultimate six rivals on the occasion. 

With six months of Dota 2 now within the books, it’s value having a look over who the 12 invitees are, and the way they obtained there. 

No. 1- Evil Geniuses (1,700 DPC factors)

Evil Geniuses sits atop the DPC standings and deservedly so. The usual-bearer of North America has been essentially the most constantly sturdy crew throughout the whole 12 months, posting first and second-place finishes in league play and reaching the highest three of each majors.

The general physique of labor, all-star lineup of gamers, and consistency make Evil Geniuses one of many clear favorites to win The Worldwide 2021. There’s a little bit of a curse in the case of Artour “Arteezy” Babaev who has develop into identified for his lack of ability to win majors, however superstition shouldn’t forestall anybody from giving Evil Geniuses its due.

No. 2- PSG.LGD (1,300 DPC factors)

PSG.LGD has cemented itself because the decisive greatest crew in China by means of the 2021 Dota Professional Circuit season and appears to be the most effective crew on the planet after successful the WePlay AniMajor. Alongside Evil Geniuses, PSG.LGD is the one crew to seek out success throughout each league play and majors albeit with a harder go in league play because of China’s stiffer competitors.

PSG.LGD took fourth and second within the two league seasons, alongside a third-place end within the ONE Esports Singapore Main and a grand finals run within the WePlay AniMajor. Its sturdy success all through the season and glorious performances in majors would have been sufficient to see the crew enter as a contender. As an alternative, PSG.LGD’s AniMajor dominance will see the crew enter because the determined favourite to enter The Worldwide 2021 and take dwelling the Aegis of Champions.

No. 3- Virtus.professional (1,200 DPC factors)

Virtus.professional underwhelmed in majors however regarded untouchably good in league play. Throughout the 2 league seasons, VP went a mixed 14-0 in collection and dropped simply three maps alongside the way in which. That was by far the strongest exhibiting in league play of any crew on the planet.

That stated, Virtus.professional’s main performances spark some doubt in the case of the crew’s prospects at TI10. The crew positioned seventh within the ONE Esports Singapore Main however didn’t win a collection within the WePlay AniMajor. The latter flop could possibly be because of a scarcity of motivation stemming from the truth that the crew entered the AniMajor with a TI10 direct invite in its pocket, nevertheless it’s exhausting to really feel bullish on the crew transferring ahead.

No. 4- Quincy Crew (1,100 DPC factors)

Although it largely went unnoticed on the time, Quincy Crew was truly probably the most dominant groups on the planet of Dota 2 in 2020. After including Rodrigo “Lelis” Santos because the crew’s beginning offlaner, Quincy Crew went on an utter tear and gained seven occasions in a row, then yet one more on the finish of 2020 only for good measure.

Whereas it obtained missed on the time, it served as a precursor to a robust season from Quincy Crew in 2021. The crew positioned second and first within the two North American DPC league seasons. Its performances in majors weren’t as spectacular, with the crew ending ninth within the Singapore Main partially because of a late substitution for  Arif “MSS” Anwar, however Quincy Crew managed to place collectively a strong run within the WePlay AniMajor, ending fifth.

The largest hassle with Quincy Crew was a scarcity of consistency towards elite competitors. Although Evil Geniuses completed the DPC on the high of the leaderboard, Quincy Crew has traditionally gotten the higher of that rivalry and truly gained each of their showdowns in league play. Quincy Crew has the potential to make a really deep run in The Worldwide 2021, it’s only a matter of whether or not every little thing will come collectively on the proper time.

No. 5- Invictus Gaming (1,100 DPC factors)

Invictus Gaming underwhelmed within the AniMajor however the crew has regarded sturdy each at dwelling and overseas. The crew had a TI10 invite in its pocket after successful the ONE Esports Singapore Main however nonetheless took fourth within the Chinese language DPC league and placed on a good exhibiting within the AniMajor.

Chinese language Dota 2 is wanting stronger than ever proper now and that makes all of the groups that certified for TI10 a severe contender to win. There are some issues in the case of Invictus Gaming that the crew may need peaked too early within the season, however that is nonetheless a crew that opponents would probably relatively keep away from.

No. 6- T1 (1,070 DPC factors)

The famed group identified for its legendary League of Legends crew lastly has a Dota 2 squad that’s residing as much as its fame. After an unpleasant 12 months of making an attempt to construct round Lee “Forev” Sang-don, T1 dropped him for the 2021 DPC and located success shortly thereafter. 

The crew pulled off a serious upset by qualifying for the ONE Esports Singapore Main forward of different regional favorites. Although there have been some clear rising pains surrounding the addition of latest carry participant Nuengnara “23savage” Teeramahanon, T1 went on a tear within the second half of the season by taking first within the SEA DPC league and making a deep run into the WePlay AniMajor.

T1 has a really sturdy upside and will placed on a present at The worldwide. Nailing down the crew’s prospects is hard with a comparatively small pattern dimension however will probably be thrilling to see what the crew is able to.

No. 7- Vici Gaming (950 DPC factors)

Vici Gaming has a variety of historical past in Dota 2 however the crew has sort of flown beneath the radar in 2021. That comes from enjoying constantly nicely, however not essentially nicely sufficient to face above all its friends. 

Vici Gaming took third in each Chinese language DPC leagues and went deep into each majors regardless of having wild card begins. That offers Vici Gaming an extremely massive, and really sturdy physique of labor all through the season that hints at a deep run in The Worldwide 2021.

All of the Chinese language groups have the look of being a severe contender and whereas PSG.LGD has gotten essentially the most consideration of any crew within the area, Vici Gaming is a severe risk in its personal proper. Vici Gaming isn’t fairly as fearsome as PSG.LGD, however the crew can beat anybody on the planet on the fitting day.

No. 8- Workforce Secret (950 DPC factors)

Workforce Secret is a crew that steps up when it issues and steps again when it doesn’t. That was on full show throughout the 2021 Dota Professional Circuit because the crew crushed it within the first half of the season with an ideal run in European DPC league and positioned fourth on the ONE Esports Singapore Main. Within the second half, the crew squeaked into fourth place for a spot within the AniMajor after which washed out within the group stage.

Workforce Secret actually has the potential to win The Worldwide however that’s been the case for the crew yearly since its formation. Regardless of that, Secret has under-performed on the occasion each time.

Is that this the 12 months that adjustments? Possibly! But it surely’s exhausting in charge any doubters on the market for saying “nope.”

No. 9- Workforce Aster (800 DPC factors)

Workforce Aster has drawn quite a lot of ire at dwelling because of its success in Chinese language DPC leagues and lack of ability to transform that to success in majors. The primary DPC cycle noticed Aster take second within the Chinese language DPC league, go 5-9 within the group stage of the ONE Esports Singapore Main, then get eradicated within the first spherical of the playoffs. Aster then took first in league play, however couldn’t win a collection within the AniMajor and was swiftly eradicated consequently.

Regardless of these struggles in majors, Aster may be fairly checked out as a severe contender at TI10. The crew has been constantly sturdy in Chinese language occasions since its formation to the purpose the place it’s exhausting to query their standing as a world-class contender. 

Aster would possibly wash out early from TI10, however may additionally lastly get a robust placement at a world occasion.

No. 10- Alliance (800 DPC factors)

Qualifying for The Worldwide 2021 is nice information for Alliance and in the end makes the season a win no matter how issues go from right here. However boy, issues haven’t gone particularly nicely for Alliance during the last six months.

The crew has the doubtful distinction of not successful a single collection in a serious within the 2021 DPC season and qualifying solely by means of factors acquired from league play. Coupled with dishonest allegations and Alliance part-owner Jonathan “Loda” Berg publicly beefing with quite a lot of personalities in and across the scene, Alliance’s model is worse for put on regardless of having what is going to go down as a profitable season.

All that stated, an upswing at TI10 doesn’t really feel significantly probably for the crew. Alliance has the potential to make a run, nevertheless it’s mainly inconceivable to disregard the crew’s struggles within the majors.

No. 11- beastcoast (800 DPC factors)

beastcoast was one of many greatest disappointments of the AniMajor. Although the crew quietly has a pedigree of stepping up at massive occasions, beastcoast was extremely underwhelming in Kiev and washed out of the group stage with a paltry three wins to 11 losses. That places a severe damper on any dialogue of the crew being a darkish horse for successful TI10, and even making an particularly deep run.

The flop on the AniMajor could possibly be an aberration, whether or not it got here from the journey or awkward preparation forward of the occasion. Nonetheless, beastcoast will probably be able the place it must show itself as soon as once more after ending top-eight at TI9 and each of the next majors.

No. 12- Thunder Predator (800 DPC factors)

Thunder Predator regarded like a breakout star when the crew placed on a surprisingly good efficiency on the ONE Esports Singapore Main, however a third-place exhibiting within the South American DPC league stored the crew from following up on it within the AniMajor. That left the squad sitting at dwelling for the occasion with their fingers crossed, hoping different groups weren’t capable of place excessive sufficient to hit 800 factors.

That in the end occurred however the crew’s lack of qualification for the occasion leaves an enormous query mark relating to Thunder Predator’s potential for TI10. Thunder Predator’s efficiency on the Singapore Main was even stronger than the Fifth-place end would recommend, because the crew completely dominated the group stage with a 12-2 report. It’s very doable that Thunder Predator is a crew that’s greatest on LAN, which may assist the crew to a robust placement in TI10.

In the end, there are a load of questions on what Thunder Predator is able to. Will probably be very fascinating to see when the time comes.