The International 2022 is fast approaching and the majority of teams have now locked up their spots in the event. TI11 is set to include a variety of top teams from all six regions, with a few surprises making the cut and big names getting left on the outside looking in.
Unlike past years, TI11 will have a much longer list of competitors. Alongside the previously planned top 12 from the DPC and six regional qualifier winners, 12 more teams will be brought into the event for a last-chance qualifier. This means a total of 30 teams will be competing at the event, the most ever. Here’s who is set to compete at TI11, where they’re going to start, and how they wound up punching a ticket to Singapore.
Teams that qualified for TI11 through Dota Pro Circuit
As per usual, 12 teams qualified for TI11 through the Dota Pro Circuit. The 2021-2022 DPC season was a catastrophic mess due to various travel restrictions and last-minute decisions from Valve. Despite that, there is still an interesting lineup of competitors from all six Dota 2 regions. Here’s who made the cut.
PSG.LGD
PSG.LGD will likely enter TI11 as the favorite to win. The enduring Chinese organization has been dominant at the regional level throughout the year, taking first in two tours and both of China’s regional finals events. Top that off with flexing on the competition in the Arlington Major and it’s easy to see why they’d be the pick to win.
OG
OG did something in 2022 it hadn’t actually done before. It actually looked good on a weekly basis. OG’s championship reputation comes in spite of the fact that the team consistently underwhelmed anywhere outside The International or in the $3 million majors of old. This year, the team placed top four in all three European tours and won the Stockholm Major.
beastcoast
South America’s most credentialed team has been consistently solid throughout the year, taking top three in all three tours and making solid runs in both majors. Though much of the team’s points came at the regional level, a strong showing at the Arlington Major showed beastcoast still has what it takes to hang with the best.
Team Spirit
The defending TI champions have had a weird year, but have looked generally strong. A last-place showing in the Stockholm Major hinted that the team may have been a flash in the pan, but the Arlington Major showed that Team Spirit is still sharp and a real contender at TI11.
Thunder Awaken
beastcoast is the most credentialed team from South America, but that hasn’t made for consistent regional success. Thunder Awaken was the only team in the world to take first in three regional tours this season, and that buoyed the team to a strong placement in the Dota Pro Circuit. Whether that success in the weakest region will translate to contendership at The International is another matter, though.
Team Aster
Team Aster has been vilified on Chinese social media due to the team’s regular success at the regional level and inability to convert that into success at majors. That changed at the Arlington Major and because of that, this team needs to be looked at as a real threat to anyone else in the TI11 field.
BOOM Esports
BOOM Esports is essentially the Southeast Asian version of Thunder Awaken, dominating the regional scene while looking only decent in global events. With the exception of Timothy “Tims” Randrup, BOOM will be one of the less experienced teams at TI11. Precedent suggests that could either be a benefit or a hindrance to the team at The International 2022.
TSM FTX
North American Dota 2 has been a three-horse race over recent years between Evil Geniuses, Undying, and Quincy Crew. Undying found a big-name sponsor in TSM and that may have helped push the team over the top. TSM missed out on the final major of the season, but a second-place showing in the Stockholm major suggests the team is capable of big things.
Tundra Esports
Tundra Esports was solid in the first half of the season, but truly became a team to beat in the second half. A third-place performance at the Stockholm Major and first-place finish in the third European DPC tour suggested the team was finally ready to enjoy success at an elite level. Unfortunately, a disastrous showing in the Arlington Major will have the team limping into TI11.
Gaimin Gladiators
Gaimin Gladiators performed very well in the first two tours but will need to rebound off a 2-5 finish in the third tour that almost saw the team relegated. Was that poor showing a fluke? Maybe a symptom of complacency after locking up a TI11 spot? That’s anyone’s guess.
Evil Geniuses
Tal “Fly” Aizik helped Evil Geniuses return to form after a rough stint where a returning Jesse “JerAx” Vainikka captained the team. Though Evil Geniuses is traditionally among the betting favorites to win The International, a shaky showing in the Arlington Major suggests that this isn’t going to be a great year for the team.
Fnatic
Outsiders topped Fnatic by just 0.055 DPC points but didn’t lock up the final direct invite to TI11. Valve’s freestyle approach to mathematics cost them a spot in the event, with Fnatic being the beneficiary. Fnatic is still a credible addition to the event, as one of the top teams from Southeast Asia throughout the year.
