win.gg
Win.gg Dota 2 Team Liquid and three other teams earn invites 2019 International

Team Liquid and three other teams earn invites 2019 International

Steven Rondina
Steven Rondina Published 11/05/2019
Google Preferred Source

Team Liquid scored a huge win over PSG.LGD at the MDL Disneyland Paris Major, and it was about more than just moving into the finals of that event.

By beating PSG.LGD, Team Liquid became the eighth team to secure a spot in The International 2019.

Though Liquid has long been regarded as one of the top teams in Dota 2, the champions of TI7 haven’t looked great to this point in the season. The team failed to qualify for the Kuala Lumpur Major in 2018 and suffered surprisingly early exits from both the DreamLeague Major and the Chongqing Major.

The good news for Liquid is that while they have looked shaky, Virtus.pro and Team Secret have both performed brilliantly. The duo faced off in the grand finals of the Chongqing and Kuala Lumpur Majors, and placed highly in both the DreamLeague Major and Disneyland Major. That has seen a huge percentage of the available Dota Pro Circuit points gobbled up by only two teams during this season, lowering the bar to the point where any team that has made the top three of a major has earned a spot at TI9, a mark which Liquid has now hit.

That isn’t to take away from Liquid. The team returned to 2017 form in Paris and navigated a treacherous lower bracket that also included matches with Vici Gaming and OG. Consecutively beating that level of competition isn’t something a pretender could have pulled off, and Liquid left no doubt that it remains an elite team.

Entering the MDL Disneyland Paris Major, there were only four teams that had spots at The International 2019 locked down. In addition to Virtus.pro and Secret, Vici Gaming and Evil Geniuses had already booked tickets to Shanghai by the end of the DreamLeague Major.

In addition to Liquid earning a spot, Ninjas in Pyjamas’ strong major cycle that included a first-place finish at the OGA Dota PIT Minor and a fifth-place finish in Paris put them over the hump. Meanwhile, the threshold for DPC points dropped down far enough during the event that PSG.LGD and Fnatic both made the cut.

Barring any surprise roster moves, there are just four more direct invitations available to The International 2019. Keen Gaming and OG are best positioned to win their way into the event, but past that, almost any of the remaining contenders could make the cut.

The Epicenter Major is the last opportunity for teams to earn a direct invitation to TI9. The qualifiers begin on May 15.

Steven Rondina 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
Team Yandex stop the magic, defeating LGD in BLAST Slam VII finals 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 ...
BLAST Slam VII Finals Predictions and Picks – Can LGD make it all the way? Dota 2
BLAST Slam VII Finals Predictions and Picks – Can LGD make it all the way? Michael Hassall LGD Gaming in the top three of a tournament!? What is this 2021? BLAST Slam VII has been one of the most surprising tournaments of the year, and has capped off the pre-EWC and TI season with some of the most thrilling gameplay we’ve seen in months. And the finals are set to be even more exciting. With just three teams left there’s a lot on the line, from the ...
Easiest Dota 2 Heroes for Beginners – Best Picks to Learn the Game Dota 2
Easiest Dota 2 Heroes for Beginners – Best Picks to Learn the Game Simon Day We can all agree that Dota 2 is a complex game, but starting with the right heroes can make the learning process much smoother. Choosing one of the best Dota 2 heroes for beginners is key to building your skills and enjoying your matches. That’s why it’s time to explore the heroes that are easy to understand, effective in the game and great for learning the fundamentals. Without going into ...
BLAST Slam VII Playoffs Preview – Visa issues transform the playoff picture Dota 2
BLAST Slam VII Playoffs Preview – Visa issues transform the playoff picture Michael Hassall BLAST Slam VII is the last major tournament before teams lock-in and compete at the EWC and The International, and as a result, we’re seeing a tournament with some unique outcomes. With teams seemingly treating this as a last-minute tune-up before the championship clashes of the next two months, a South American team has topped the table and some of the best teams in the world are either without players ...
TI-Champions Tundra Esports exit Dota 2 as roster transfers to 1win Dota 2
TI-Champions Tundra Esports exit Dota 2 as roster transfers to 1win Michael Hassall Tundra Esports has revealed it’s leaving Dota 2 after six years and a victory at The International 2022. The UK-based organization has announced its roster will transfer directly to 1win for future events. The announcement, posted on Tundra's socials on June 1, confirms rumors and earlier social posts from 1win which hinted at a new lineup. With the move, however, questions about 1win’s existing EEU roster and attendance at The ...
A full weekend of TI15 tickets will cost you just $280 – If you don’t mind the view Dota 2
A full weekend of TI15 tickets will cost you just $280 – If you don’t mind the view Michael Hassall Alongside the team invites for The International 2026, Valve today (May 26) unveiled the pricing and details of how to purchase tickets for TI15, and the price is the lowest in years. For years we’ve seen the price of The International Prize, with a peak of around $700 as a lowest price for a full weekend for both 2023 in Seattle, and 2024 in Copenhagen. But after a fall in ...
Valve has announced the TI15 invites: Here’s why some team names are very different Dota 2
Valve has announced the TI15 invites: Here’s why some team names are very different Michael Hassall It’s around three months until The International 2026, TI15, and Valve has just unveiled the direct invites and qualifier invites to the event, but eagle-eyed fans will notice some strange names in the team lists. Valve unveiled the invites in the small hours of the morning on May 26 (late evening on May 25 for their HQ in Bellevue, Washington), detailing the seven direct invites, regional qualifier invites, and some ...