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Dota 2 Kiev Major, Who’s Who? Something About Each Team

By Jor'El "Sheen Sah" Jones

Image courtesy of: Kotaku.com.au
Image courtesy of: Kotaku.com.au /
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The Kiev Major is Dota 2’s second Premier tournament of April 2017. A Grand Finals victory in Kiev grants the winning organization $1,000,000. So, the stakes are much higher than the Asian Championship; DAC did, however, teach a valuable lesson to its viewers: even the strongest team can drop a series.

When is Dota 2’s Kiev Major?

The Main Event is April 27-30. Valve continues testing a new elimination format (2nd consecutive major). All teams advance past the Group Stage, which determines seeding for the Main Event. The Group Stage is essentially a warm-up round for the Main Event. All Main Event matches are Bo3, until the Grand Finals (Bo5).

These changes take some intensity out of the Group Stage, but what  do you think?

So, who’s competing for the $3,000,000.00?

Four players represent the host nation, Ukraine: Noone, Lil, and Artstyle of Virtus.pro, and Resolut1on of Digital Chaos. Virtus.pro qualified for Kiev after taking two series victories from Natus Vincere (including a Finals sweep), and a semifinal win against Team Empire. Digital Chaos was directly invited to compete at Kiev.

16 teams are competing; eight were invited, and eight earned placement through Regional Qualifier tournaments.

Invited Teams

  • The Old Digital Chaos earned runner-up at The International 2016.
  • Evil Geniuses struggled last year compared to 2015.
  • OG makes a deep run in any bracket, usually finishing 1st or 2nd. The International 2016 is a glaring exception.
  • mousesports (on April 7, 2017) reformed by signing all of Ad Finem’s players. This team won Valve’s recent Boston major.
  • Newbee was approaching their peak 12 months ago, but a significant placement is yet to come (recently because of Team Liquid). Nonetheless, Newbee can take a game from any team.
  • Team Liquid, at DAC 2017, lost a Bo1 against Team Faceless to kick off their Main Event and many fans don’t know what to expect from TL in Kiev.
  • Vici Gaming J is a newly-formed team, and impressed fans during their first event in February 2017. Though, Team Liquid bested Vici in the Finals 3-1.
  • Wings Gaming is the reigning champion of The International.

Qualified Teams

  • iG Vitality is the sister team to Invictus Gaming; iG Vitality made an impressive run at DAC 2017 before meeting Newbee.
  • Invictus Gaming won DAC 2017, sweeping OG 3-0.
  • SG e-sports is an all-Brazilian roster playing in their second Premier tournament.
  • Faceless eliminated Team Liquid at DAC 2017, but also placed dead-last in the Group Stage.
  • The New Digital Chaos formed this year and won the Kiev Major 2017 North America Qualifier.
  • Team Secret has 6 Premier tournament wins since 2015.
  • TnC Gaming started 2017 with a Premier tournament win in January.
  • Virtus.pro closed 2016 by sweeping OG for $42,500, and competed at The International.

And, what’s after the Kiev Major?

This Premier Tournament is after the Kiev Major.
Image courtesy of: wiki.teamliquid.net /

It’s back to Shanghai! Team VGJ and Newbee will compete in the StarLadder i-League Invitational #2, but the other competitors haven’t been announced yet; the tournament runs from May 18-21. Which teams do you think will attend the StarLadder Invitational? 

Most importantly, who will take the $1,000,000 from the Kiev Major? Leave any thoughts you have in the comment section. Remember to reach out on Twitter.

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