Eastern Europe has emerged as the dominant force at The International 2023, with CIS teams making history by securing three spots in the top eight. Team Spirit, BetBoom Team, and Virtus.pro have showcased their prowess, overshadowing their Western European counterparts.
Team Spirit, in particular, has been a standout performer, emerging as the frontrunner to claim the coveted Aegis of Champions. They have been virtually unstoppable, winning all their group stage matches, sweeping Shopify Rebellion, and defeating Virtus.pro in the playoffs.
This year marks the first time that Eastern Europe has had three teams in the top eight at a TI event. Previously, the region’s highest achievement was in TI7, where both Virtus.pro and Team Empire reached the top eight but were eventually eliminated by Team Liquid.
While BetBoom Team and Virtus.pro had to fight their way through elimination matches to secure their top eight spots, they have proven their mettle. BetBoom Team overcame their reputation of struggling on LAN by eliminating Keyd Stars and Talon Esports from South America and Southeast Asia, respectively. Virtus.pro, on the other hand, continued their underdog run by defeating Entity, who had previously eliminated the reigning TI champions, Tundra Esports.
Captain fng of Virtus.pro attributes the strength of the Eastern European region this year to the presence of Team Spirit. He believes that having a strong team like Spirit in the region provides other teams with the opportunity to constantly compete against high-level players and learn from them.
The main event of TI12 will see BetBoom Team and Virtus.pro face off in the lower bracket, while Team Spirit will go head-to-head against Team Liquid in the upper bracket semifinals. The outcome of these matches will determine who takes the next step towards claiming the Aegis of Champions.
Table: TI12 Results
| Team | Result |
|---|---|
| Team Spirit | Perfect 8-0 record in group stage, swept Shopify Rebellion, 2-1 win against Virtus.pro |
| BetBoom Team | Swept Keyd Stars, 2-1 win against Talon Esports |
| Virtus.pro | Lost to Team Spirit in upper bracket, swept Entity |
The dominance of Eastern Europe at TI12 is evident with the historic presence of three CIS teams in the top eight. Team Spirit’s exceptional performance, along with the resilience of BetBoom Team and Virtus.pro, has solidified the region’s position as a force to be reckoned with. As the tournament progresses, all eyes are on these Eastern European powerhouses as they vie for the ultimate prize in Dota 2.
Source: DOTESPORTS
