The closed qualifiers for Dota 2’s ESL One Kuala Lumpur concluded yesterday, and with limited slots up for grabs, the qualifier was highly competitive. However, two Dota veterans have defied expectations and secured their spots at the event.
Team Secret and 9Pandas faced doubts after a disappointing performance at TI 2023 and failed to make exciting signings during the trade window. Many considered them the losers of the Dota 2 post-TI 2023 roster shuffle. Despite this, both teams have surprised everyone by qualifying for the Malaysian tournament.
Team Secret had a rough start in the Western European qualifier, losing to OG and dropping the first map against Alliance in the lower bracket. However, they rallied back and fought their way through the lower bracket, defeating Alliance, Team Tickles, and avenging their loss against OG. They sealed their spot by defeating Entity. Throughout the qualifiers, Team Secret displayed impressive coordination and chemistry.
In the Eastern European qualifier, 9Pandas faced a similar situation. They were knocked out of the upper bracket by the relatively unknown team Klim Sani4. However, they embarked on a dominant lower bracket run, eliminating powerhouse teams like NAVI and Virtus Pro to secure their place in Kuala Lumpur.
All the qualified and invited teams will gather in Kuala Lumpur on Dec. 11 to compete for a $1 million prize pool. This tournament marks the beginning of Dota 2’s “2024” competitive calendar, which follows the dissolution of the Dota Pro Circuit and promises a more open scene.
| Team | Qualifier Region |
|---|---|
| Team Secret | Western Europe |
| 9Pandas | Eastern Europe |
Source: DOTESPORTS
