The Dota Western Europe Regional Qualifiers ended this weekend, with OG Esports taking the final spot at The International 10. However, Tundra Esports are not to be discounted. They made a fantastic run contesting OG in the grand finals.
Tundra make a splash in Dota Western Europe Regional Qualifiers
The biggest story throughout the Western Europe Regional Qualifiers was how Tundra Esports made it all the way to the finals. A team that was middle of pack during the regular season was able to upset several favorites — including Team Liquid, Brame and even OG. In their upper bracket run, they only dropped a single map until their eventual grand finals loss to OG. They were one game away from the International qualifying spot. However, they fell to OG in a close fifth game.
The squad was led by veterans Adrian “Fata” Trinks and JingJun “Sneyking” Wu. They have been playing the game for close to ten years. These two veterans are joined by Dota 2 pro players Leon “Nine” Kirilin, Neta “33” Shapira and Oliver “Skiter” Lepko. Their performance at the Regional Qualifier cemented them as a contender in the upcoming season of the Dota Pro Circuit.
SKITER IS GODLIKE! 🔥#TundraEsports #TI10 pic.twitter.com/V0mFrViPFh
— TUNDRA (@TundraEsports) July 10, 2021
New and Unique builds come out
Tundra Esports were able to make it far into the grand finals due to their unique strategies. Winter Wyvern in the middle lane was always thought of as a meme in the Dota community. However, Nine was able to prove otherwise with his solid performances as the hero. Winter Wyvern provided a very good teamfight ultimate in the form of the Winter’s Curse while the hero is able to do damage; something she doesn’t get to do as a support. In addition to the damage, the Aghanim’s Scepter allows for unlimited mobility that makes Winter Wyvern especially hard to catch in teamfights. Depending on how the pre-International patch affects the hero, Winter Wyvern might be a high priority flex pick at The International.
Nine was not the only one innovating on Tundra. Neta “33” Shapira also brought a new build into the offlane. On any tanky offlaner, 33 wouldn’t buy starting items and would rush a Helm of the Dominator. The item provides a good amount of armor and also gives the ability to dominate a creep. The creep domination allows 33 to bring different Auras and help his team in fights. The dominated creeps are also a safer way to farm the enemy waves in tougher positions, allowing Tundra to always have some semblance of map control, even when behind.
OG return to dominance in Dota Western Europe Regional Qualifiers
OG were nearly relegated in the regular season of the Dota Pro Circuit, going 3-4. However, the defending International champions were able to come back by winning the Western Europe Regional Qualifiers. The team seemed to find their chaotic style of play right before the start of the qualifiers. The addition of Syed “Sumail” Hassan also helped before the qualifier. His veteran presence of heroes, such Templar Assassin and Terrorblade, helped carry OG through an incredibly difficult Western Europe Regional Qualifier. Dota fans can now rest assured that OG will have the opportunity to defend their title at this year’s International.
We fell, we rose, we overcame. See you at TI10, Bucharest. #DreamOG pic.twitter.com/ctScWfpsE3
— Johan Sundstein (@OG_BDN0tail) July 11, 2021
