win.gg
Win.gg Dota 2 TSM FTX to host Dota 2 event, Undying hints at sponsorship

TSM FTX to host Dota 2 event, Undying hints at sponsorship

Author Icon
William Davis Published 15/07/2021

TSM FTX is testing Dota 2’s waters with a $100,000 charity tournament between TSM, its cryptocurrency partner FTX, and other cryptocurrency companies. 

Esports organization TSM FTX will host an eight-team charity Dota 2 tournament with $100,000 in total donations set to be awarded. The FTX Foundation Dota Tournament will begin on July 17th at 8 am PDT.

INTRODUCING THE FTX FOUNDATION CHARITY TOURNAMENT!

Teams of employees from @FTX_Official, TSM FTX and other companies duke it out in DOTA this Saturday! pic.twitter.com/Sba8QlgDNH

— TSM FTX (@TSM) July 14, 2021

The event will be hosted on TSM FTX’s official Twitch channel. No players or organizations are confirmed for FTX Foundation Dota Tournament beyond the hosts, though available information hints towards a more casual atmosphere. The announcement comes as a surprise considering TSM’s enduring apathy towards Dota 2.

TSM is one of the most recognizable brands in League of Legends, Dota 2’s perennial rival. The organization has dabbled in almost every esport imaginable and has even branched out into chess and Magic: The Gathering, but has never sponsored a Dota 2 team. This could hint at TSM FTX’s future involvement in the other big MOBA title.

Is TSM FTX sponsoring a Dota 2 team?

TSM FTX hosting a Dota 2 event is strange, but it would make sense as part of a way to generate hype for other announcements. The International 2021 is just three months away and its $40 million prize purse is plenty of incentive to sponsor a team. TSM FTX sponsors American teams when possible and two qualified North American teams are unsponsored heading into TI10.

Quincy Crew was arguably the best team in North America throughout the online era. The team won seven tournaments in a row in 2020 and notched a top-six finish in the WePlay AniMajor after winning the NA DPC League. 

;)

— Team Undying (@TeamUndying) July 14, 2021

Undying absolutely destroyed the North American qualifier to gain access to TI10 and looked to be the equals of Quincy Crew and Evil Geniuses in regional competition. Undying’s official social media fanned the flames with a sly response to the announcement on Twitter.

TSM FTX entering the Dota 2 space would be a big deal for the competitive scene if the organization decides to stick around. TSM is widely held up among esports’ most influential and successful brands and it has always been an indictment on Dota 2 that the game has failed to attract these sorts of successful organizations. The team recently signed a $210 million partnership with FTX so it has the capital to sign a successful, proven Dota 2 team. The question is if this signing is a one-off affair to get the FTX logo on the TI10 stage or if TSM will stick around afterwards.

William Davis
About William Davis

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 ...