South America has achieved a significant milestone in the world of Dota 2, as four teams from the region have secured their spots at The International 2023 in October. This marks the first time that South America will be represented by four teams at Dota’s biggest event.
The growth of competitive Dota in South America has been remarkable in recent years, and this year has proven to be a breakthrough for the region. The inclusion of Evil Geniuses and beastcoast, who qualified based on their performance during the regular season, was just the beginning of South America’s rise in 2023.
EG and beastcoast established themselves as frontrunners early on, despite some challenges faced by beastcoast, including the replacement of a star player mid-season. However, other teams like Thunder Awaken also showcased their strength throughout the year. Following their qualification for TI12 after the final major of the regular season, Valve announced that South America would receive two additional regional qualifier spots, further highlighting the region’s growing prominence on the global stage.
Keyd Stars, a renowned organization that returned to Dota 2 this year after a hiatus since 2016, was the first team to secure their place at TI12.
Keyd’s lineup consists of experienced players who didn’t have standout performances during the regular season. However, the addition of former Hokori standout João “4nalog” Giannini and newcomer Gustavo “fcr” Ribeiro proved to be a winning combination. They finished first in Division II and dominated the SA qualifier bracket, securing their ticket to TI.
To secure their spot, Keyd had to overcome Thunder Awaken, a fan-favorite in the region, in the second round. Although Thunder Awaken faced elimination on two separate occasions, they managed to bounce back in the lower bracket and secure their place at TI12.
This will be Thunder Awaken’s third consecutive appearance at The International, despite having a completely different roster from last season’s fifth-place finish. On the other hand, Keyd Stars will be making their debut appearance at TI this season. Additionally, it will be EG’s first TI appearance as a non-North American team.
With four South American teams competing together at TI12, a new record has been set, surpassing the previous record of three teams set at TI10 by beastcoast, Thunder Predator, and SG esports. TI11 also featured three South American teams, including beastcoast, Thunder Awaken, and Hokori.
The group stage matches for TI12 are scheduled to begin on October 12. The final two regions, Western Europe and Southeast Asia, will conclude their qualifiers by August 31.
Source: DOTESPORTS
