Natus Vincere first team eliminated from the DreamLeague Major

Steven Rondina Published 16/03/2019

Natus Vincere’s Dota 2 division is not back just yet.

Though the fan favorite team entered the DreamLeague Major on a hot streak, Na`Vi was the first team to wash out of the event after losing to J.Storm.

Na’Vi’s run began in the group stages with a respectable showing against Evil Geniuses. Despite being a heavy underdog on paper, the CIS team looked competitive with North America’s finest in a 2-1 series loss.

It stayed in the hunt for a spot in the upper bracket by capitalizing on strong showings by Idan “MagicaL” Vardanian, trouncing Chaos Esports Club in the second round. Na`Vi challenged Vici Gaming for the last spot in the upper bracket, but the team had no answer to stellar play from Zeng “Ori” Jiaoyang and ceded the series 2-0.

This landed Na’Vi in a tricky best-of-one lower bracket series against J.Storm. Despite a slow start to the game, David “Moo” Hull went wild for J.Storm in the mid game as Lifestealer, tearing his way through Na’Vi. Even with Vladislav “Crystallize” Krystanek playing a counterpick Ursa, the CIS team couldn’t effectively slow down Moo, leading to a loss for Na’Vi that sent them home from Stockholm.

This is a disappointing turn for the storied team.

Its season began in controversial fashion with the release of longtime mid player Danil “Dendi” Ishutin. Initial results were mixed, but the team gelled through the winter and began establishing itself as a legitimate contender with wins over top opponents including Virtus.pro, PSG.LGD, and Team Secret at the MegaFon Winter Clash.

A berth in a Dota Pro Circuit major event eluded the team until it cut through the CIS qualifiers for the DreamLeague Major, and Na`Vi seemed to have the tools to make a decent run at the event. This outcome denies the team the opportunity to show its mettle or make further progress towards The International 2019.

In a different group or a different circumstance, it’s possible that the team could have had a lengthy stay in Sweden. Still, with only two majors left to play, Na`Vi has precious little time to put points on the board.

Steven Rondina

About Steven Rondina

Steven Rondina is a true lifelong gamer. His earliest memories are of playing video games, and he has continued playing them throughout his life with no plans to stop any time soon. Steven’s favorite franchises in gaming include Pokemon, Dark Souls, and Counter-Strike. He has previously published with Bleacher Report and other gaming outlets.

View full profile

Read Also

Dota 2

Oddin.gg’s head of risk helps explain how alleged match fixing during Dota 2 at EWC was flagged Michael Hassall The Dota 2 competition at The Esports World Cup 2026 was shaken to its core during the Survival Stage earlier in the week when Southeast Asian-backed, South American team PTime (better known as PlayTime) were removed from the event citing “integrity concerns.” While the case is still ongoing, and none of the accused confirmed to be guilty, one of the biggest questions behind the incident was just how these concerns ...

Dota 2

PTime removed from Dota 2 at EWC 26 as ESIC investigates coach and captain Michael Hassall Filipino organization PlayTime Esports has been removed from the Esports World Cup 2026 Dota 2 competition following an intervention by the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) and a ruling by the Esports Foundation and EWC. Following a postponement of the PTime vs. Vici Gaming Survival Stage matchup on July 14, ESIC announced that it was actively investigating two members of the South American-based PTime organization, Team Captain Gonzalo "DarkMago" Herrera and ...

Esports Betting

Here’s the complete Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 schedule Hannan Mundia The Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 has finally arrived, and here’s the complete schedule for the event to ensure you don’t miss anything. While it isn’t exactly the newest name in the esports scene, the EWC has quickly become a leading event for esports fans worldwide. It brings together professional players and fans from various games, combining them into one long event that everyone can enjoy. 2026’s Esports World Cup ...

Dota 2

Dota 2 at the EWC 2026 preview, details, predictions, and more Michael Hassall A titanic 24 teams are set to compete in Dota 2 at the Esports World Cup 2025 in one of the largest events of the competitive season. These two dozen organizations are set to take over the Paris Convention Center, filling it with top-tier competitive Dota 2 action. With a $2,000,000 USD prize pool, the largest on the Dota 2 calendar, there’s everything to play for in the final major ...

Dota 2

Top Dota 2 combos to boost your MMR fast Wasif Ahmed Dota 2 is a complex and interesting game that requires skill, strategy and teamwork to be successful. Having said that, one of the best ways to improve your MMR is by learning certain Dota 2 combos that have proven themselves over time. It’s worth knowing that there are not that many Dota 2 combos that have survived the test of time because every new patch changes the game’s meta. Nevertheless, ...

Dota 2

Dota 2 temporarily deletes popular hero before launching huge Dark Carnival update Michael Hassall If you were an Axe player in Dota 2 earlier this week, you’d have found yourself out of luck when you tried to pick the stalwart Oglodi warrior, as the hero was straight up removed from the game on June 23. The hero was completely missing from All-Pick and his hero model was replaced with a missing poster. Axe couldn’t even be demoed or picked in a custom game for ...

Dota 2

Team Yandex stop the magic, defeating LGD in BLAST Slam VII finals Michael Hassall Team Yandex have defeated LGD Gaming in the grand finals of BLAST Slam VII in a dramatic 3-1 series that saw both teams pushed to the limit, but ultimately Yandex come out on top. Concluding the last major tournament before teams head to the Esports World Cup and The International 2026 next month and in August, Yandex were able to counter the momentum of LGD that had brought them into ...