The South American Dota 2 scene suffered a devastating blow at The International 2023, with their best placement being 13th after an impressive fifth-place finish in 2022. Uncertainty surrounding the Dota Pro Circuit further discouraged organizations from investing in the region. However, BOOM Esports has emerged as a new contender by signing two South American superstars, Christian “Pakazs” Savina and Farith “Matthew” Puente.
BOOM, originally a Southeast Asian organization, made the announcement of their latest acquisitions today. This move has sparked speculation among Dota 2 fans about whether BOOM will be shifting their focus to South America for the upcoming season. The organization confirmed this speculation in a follow-up tweet, revealing the addition of Jordan “SLATEM$” Vega and Romel “Mjz” Quinteros Rojas from Thunder Awaken to their roster.
Following their disappointing performance at TI 2023, several organizations, including beastcoast and Evil Geniuses, scaled back their Dota 2 operations due to the lackluster results and the uncertain future of the competitive landscape without the Dota Pro Circuit. BOOM’s decision to move their Dota 2 operations to South America for the 2024 season marks a significant milestone for the organization.
BOOM has been active in the Southeast Asian Dota 2 scene since 2017, fielding various rosters. Despite having a promising lineup for the TI 2023 qualifiers, featuring xNova and BoBoKa, the team failed to secure a spot in the event during the regional qualifiers. The competition in Southeast Asia has also intensified, with prominent organizations like Blacklist International entering the scene and strengthening their Filipino all-star team.
The motive behind BOOM’s move to South America remains unclear. However, it is possible that the organization prioritized building a competitive roster in a region that other organizations were abandoning, rather than engaging in contract disputes with established Southeast Asian powerhouses.
BOOM Esports’ South American Dota 2 roster will make their debut in the ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023 open qualifiers, which will conclude on November 15.
Source: DOTESPORTS
