Win.gg
Dota 2
The AniMajor is the best-looking Dota 2 event of all time The AniMajor is the best-looking Dota 2 event of all time
The idea of an anime-themed Dota 2 tournament raised eyebrows, but the WePlay AniMajor has panned out to be the most aesthetically pleasing event in Dota 2 history.
Organizer WePlay channeled the anime aesthetic into the stage, music, personality costumes, and more. The current playoffs take place in a staged fantasy forest complete with a projected river and augmented reality draft picks. Giant stone statues of Juggernaut and Monkey King sit at the base of a simulated waterfall.
Owen “ODPixel” Davies was unable to attend the AniMajor in person, so WePlay propped up a body pillow with his image behind the caster’s desk. Post-game interviews take place in a tiny fake ramen shop complete with cooking equipment. Camera transitions are accompanied by taiko drums and a mighty kabuki “Hooo!” The AniMajor plays up its theme at every possible moment.
The biggest example of anime influence is in the analyst’s and commentator’s costumes. Loose kimono-esque robes are complemented by face paint depicting anything from Naruto’s curse marks to Tien Shinhan’s third eye. WePlay even posted a timelapse of Jorien “Sheever” van der Heijden’s anime makeup process.
The players themselves have also gotten in on the fun, too. Chinese frontrunners PSG.LGD chose the theme song from Darker than Black as their walkout music. Multiple squads have been introduced to theme songs from Naruto. Team Spirit took things the furthest when they “Naruto ran” to their playoff match.
The WePlay AniMajor is far from the first themed Dota 2 tournament. Each of The Internationals has had a special backdrop, with motifs ranging from caverns to royalty to the ocean. Events as prestigious as The International deserve a little more seriousness, but WePlay’s AniMajor makes the absolute most of its central theme.
Only three teams remain at the $500,000 AniMajor. Singapore Major runner-up Evil Geniuses sit in the lower bracket ready to challenge the winner’s final losers. Southeast Asian breakouts T1 and Chinese overlords PSG.LGD are battling for the first slot in the grand finals. The WePlay Dota 2 AniMajor finals will begin on June 13 at 12 p.m. CT.
Read Also
Dota 2
TI15’s opening ceremony weaves a tapestry of emotion for Valve’s storied title
Michael Hassall
The main stage of The International 2026, TI15, kicked off today with the traditional opening ceremony heralding the start of the biggest celebration of Dota 2 on the calendar. On Aug. 20 fans in Shanghai, China, and at home, were treated to a rousing 11-minute series of performances and video packages, introducing TI15’s main stage show. Here’s how the magic unfolded: The ceremony began with a graphic which quite literally ...
Dota 2
The International 2026 (TI15) Playoffs preview and predictions
Michael Hassall
The Group Stage of The International 2026, TI15, is in the books and we’ve whittled down 16 of the world’s best Dota 2 teams to just eight finalists. One of these talented lineups will be the ones lifting the Aegis of Champions come Sunday, Aug. 23, but until then, there’s plenty of playoff shenanigans that could go on. Below we’ve put together a preview of the upcoming Playoff Games, along ...
News
The Esports Nations Cup Has Been Postponed to November 2027
Ben Boland
The 2026 Esports Nations Cup has been suspended until 2027. The Esports Foundation announced the delay on August 18, citing ongoing regional uncertainty. The inaugural competition was scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, comprising over 100 national teams and featuring 16 different games, including League of Legends. According to the Esports Foundation, this decision follows ongoing developments in the region and consultation with key stakeholders. Moving the event ...
Dota 2
Team Spirit vs Iron Wing at TI15: Best Betting Predictions and Picks
Owen Harsono
The playoffs for TI15 starts off with an absolute banger of a match between Team Spirit and Iron Wing, and the betting odds could not be any closer. Here are our TI15 Team Spirit vs Iron Wing predictions. Tournament: The International 2026 (TI15) Stage: Playoffs Game: Dota 2 Format: Best of 3 Betting tip: This is the closest series we have at the first round of the TI15 playoffs, as ...
Dota 2
Who Will Win The International 2026 (TI15)? These Are Our Best Picks
Owen Harsono
The TI15 group stage is over, and we’re down to the top eight teams. We’ve now got a pretty good idea of which teams are the favorites heading into the playoffs based on recent performance and season results, so here are the teams we think have the best shot at winning TI15 and claiming some of The International prize pool. The TI15 group stage saw eight teams exit the event ...
Dota 2
The International 2026 (TI15) Elimination Stage Preview and Predictions
Owen Harsono
The TI15 Group Stage is almost over, and all that’s left is the very deadly Elimination Stage, which will eliminate five teams and allow the five survivors to advance to the playoffs. Below, we’ll walk you through how the Elimination Stage works, the matchups, and our best picks. The Elimination Stage is the final phase of the TI15 Group Stage. The modified Swiss format promotes the top three teams directly ...
Dota 2
Team Spirit vs TEAM VISION at TI15: Best Betting Predictions and Picks
Owen Harsono
We’re two days into TI15, and we have our first significant match of the tournament. Team Spirit will take on TEAM VISION (PARIVISION) for the first playoff spot. Here are our predictions for the big match. Tournament: The International 2026 (TI15) Stage: Group Stage Game: Dota 2 Format: Best of 3 Betting tip: TEAM VISION enter TI15 as the tournament favorites, but Team Spirit are playing under zero pressure at ...
