DPC 2023 Tour 2 Preview (Western Europe)
Western Europe is by far the strongest region in Dota 2 at the moment. In fact, this has been the case for the past few years and the results of The International 2022 and the Lima Major are clear proof of this. Three WEU teams finished in the top 3 at TI11 and two WEU teams played in the Grand Final of the last DPC Major.
But now a new Tour has begun and over the next three weeks, eight teams will compete for the four qualification spots available for the Berlin Major.
https://twitter.com/GaiminGladiator/status/1632537492325900288
The Strongest Teams in WEU Division I
In Tour 1 of DPC 2023, Team Secret lost their right to compete in the first Division. This is the third time when a competitor of their level gets relegated to Division II. The other two teams that suffered the same fate in previous years were Nigma Galaxy and Alliance. Nigma are back in Division I but Alliance are still struggling in Division II.
Because of Secret’s relegation, there are only six teams that can realistically qualify for the Berlin Major. These teams are listed below:
- Team Liquid
- Gaimin Gladiators
- Entity
- Tundra Esports
- OG
- Nigma Galaxy
All of them have real chances of winning the competition, but Team Liquid and Gaimin Gladiators are significantly stronger than the rest. With some adjustments, Tundra could potentially return to the form that allowed them to win The International 11. But it’s going to be tough.
OG don’t seem capable of doing more than they did in Tour 1, but perhaps they can finish 4th this time and go to the Major.
Nigma are a big question mark. They have excellent players but nobody knows how strong they are without Amer “Miracle-” Al-Barkawi, who is currently ill and will likely return only next season.
https://twitter.com/TeamLiquid/status/1632530667278942208
Liquid may have lost the Grand Final of the Lima Major against Gaimin Gladiators, but that loss was mostly caused by a last-minute roster change. Samuel “Boxi” Svahn had to take care of a personal problem and his place was taken by one of Liquid’s analysts, who unfortunately wasn’t able to successfully replace him.
Although, to be fair, Liquid did win the lower bracket Final against Talon Esports. But in the Grand Final, the opponent was simply too strong.
Entity are doing alright at the moment. They finished 5th – 6th at the Major and will likely finish Tour 2 in the top 4 in WEU.
Header: Team Liquid