The Dota 2 scene is buzzing with activity as Valve recently announced the directly invited teams for The International 2024 (TI13), along with significant changes to the qualifier schedules. This announcement, made via Valve’s blog on May 27, has sent shockwaves through the community.
Direct Invites to TI13
Valve has extended direct invitations to the following teams for TI13:
- Team Spirit
- Xtreme Gaming
- Team Falcons
- Team Liquid
- Gaimin Gladiators
- BetBoom Team
These teams have demonstrated exceptional performance throughout the season, earning their spots at the prestigious event.
Surprising Exclusion of MENA Region
One of the biggest surprises in Valve’s announcement is the exclusion of a separate slot for the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region. Despite ESL’s initiative to introduce MENA as a new competitive region, Valve has decided to classify all MENA teams, including Team Falcons, under the Western Europe (WEU) region for TI2024.
Qualifier Slots Breakdown
Here’s a detailed summary of the available slots for each region’s qualifiers:
Chinese Qualifiers
- Slots: Two
- Start Date: June 9
- Teams:
- Azure Ray
- G2.iG
- LGD Gaming
- Team Bright
- Team Zero
- Dark Horse
- Six TBD teams from Open Qualifiers
North American Qualifiers
- Slots: Two
- Start Date: June 9
- Teams:
- Shopify Rebellion
- Nouns
- La Correntada
- Five TBD teams from Open Qualifiers
Eastern European Qualifiers
- Slots: One
- Start Date: June 14
- Teams:
- Natus Vincere
- Virtus.pro
- 1win
- L1GA Team
- Night Pulse
- Nemiga Gaming
- One Move
- Yellow Submarine
- 9Pandas
- Three TBD teams from Open Qualifiers
South American Qualifiers
- Slots: Two
- Start Date: June 14
- Teams:
- HEROIC
- beastcoast
- BOOM Esports
- Midas Club
- Infinity
- Leviatán
- Six TBD teams from Open Qualifiers
Southeast Asian Qualifiers
- Slots: Two
- Start Date: June 19
- Teams:
- Aurora
- Blacklist International
- Talon Esports
- Neon Esports
- Execration
- Bleed Esports
- MANTA Esports
- Salvagation Gaming
- Four TBD teams from Open Qualifiers
Western European Qualifiers
- Slots: Two
- Start Date: June 19
- Teams:
- Tundra Esports
- PSG Quest
- OG
- Team Secret
- Entity
- MOUZ
- NAVI Junior
- Nigma Galaxy
- Rest Farmers
- JustBetter
- Two TBD teams from Open Qualifiers
Regional Slot Allocation for TI2024
Combining the qualifiers and direct invitations, the number of slots per region for TI2024 are as follows:
- Western Europe (WEU): Five
- Eastern Europe (EEU): Three
- China: Three
- Southeast Asia (SEA): Two
- South America (SA): Two
- North America (NA): One
The North American region, in particular, has seen a significant reduction, now holding only one slot, solidifying its position as the weakest region in the current competitive landscape.
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Conclusion
With these changes, the road to The International 2024 promises to be more competitive than ever. Teams must navigate through rigorous qualifiers to secure their place at the most coveted event in Dota 2. Stay tuned to Dota 2 Esports for live updates and match coverage as the qualifiers kick off starting June 9.