Retrospective view on 2018/2019 DPC season in Dota 2

At the late night on 14 July, the qualifier for the main tournament of the year The International 2019 ended up. The second DPC season got over along with the qualifiers. This year gave us many interesting matches, tournaments, results and events which are connected with Dota 2 and its community.

So, what has 2018-2019 season presented to us?

Majors become significant again

Unlike 2017/2018 season, the second DPC season, Valve has dramatically reduced the number of tournaments. Instead of 22 premium tournaments, the community got 5 minors and 5 majors. On the one hand, it seems to be a minus, as the more Dota we have, the better it is.

In fact, this decision is right for the competitive Dota stage. Dota remains the same, but the rules have changed. Key differences of 2018-2019 season from 2017/2018 season:

  • Importance of majors. Even though the number of championships has reduced, their importance has increased. At the second season of the DPC system a win at a major provided teams with getting to TI which surely was a great motivation for teams during the whole year. Majors again were considered to be important tournaments which guaranteed a trip to TI;
  • Absence of oversaturation. In 2017, there was too much Dota. Tournaments took place almost one after another. Breaks lasted for 7-9 days. Even if everybody liked this format at the beginning, in the middle of the season it got obvious that fans and spectators got tired of Dota. In 2018, Valve returned to the previous format with five majors in a season. And the community liked it;
  • Number of direct invitations has increased. Even if there are less tournaments, the number of directly invited teams has increased. Instead of 8 invitations, 12 were played for.

These distinctive features are remembered about the DPC season if we take a look at the format. But apart from numbers and the amount of tournaments, this year has become significant due to other numerous events.

Results of the qualifiers for The international 2019

To sum up the whole season, it will be silly not to mention the main qualifiers of the year. Six trips to Shanghai were played for at the qualifiers in 2019. Due to the fact that twelve teams got to TI9 instead of eight, there was no competition at some regions. Chaos became the winners in Europe as it had been expected, in South America – Infamous, and in North America – Forward Gaming. The Chinese region is the most competitive and strong if we talk about the level of the game. At the intense battle NG managed to win over CDEC by the score of 3-2. South Asia disappointed everybody with their level of teams and performers. Mineski managed to defeat the stack from Jinesbrus on last breath. The most interesting for CIS citizens was a classic CIS knockdown-dragout fight.

Slaughter at the CIS qualifiers or value of a ragequit

Unlike the previous year, the qualifiers in 2019 got different due to brightness of game and unexpected results. First of all, the biggest disappointment is five players from Gambit Esports. The brightest favorite of the CIS qualifiers, the team that showed a high level during the year, didn’t make it to the playoff stage of the closed qualifiers in the CIS. The reason is disagreement and misunderstandings between the players. A key moment which stated the beginning of the end was an unexpected leave of Afoninje after the death at a very important match against Winstrike. Iceberg and the teams closed the casket door while the sharks from Vega Squadron knocked a nail in it. As a result – 3-4 place and the work done during the year which turned out to be in vain.

On the other hand – Natus Vincere. The legendary tag, the most successful team at TI, that come back to The International after two long years. As well as Gambit, Born approached the qualifiers as favorites. But the majority believed in the win of Gambit while Na’Vi were thought to get to the final only. The five yellow-black players managed to show their characters and to win the CIS qualifiers, coming back to the list of eighteen best teams in the world. Also we should not forget that The Alliance who are arch-enemies of Born to Win also made it to the International. This match can become the most epic and awaited battle at the upcoming TI along with the final of the tournament.

Thorny path to the stars or how the teams passed to The International 2019

The main goal of the season was to define and to choose the best teams for participation in the main event of the year. And if Team Secret, ViCi and Virtus.pro got to the event expectedly, the other teams had a more difficult path:

  • EG. Evil Geniuses’ visiting card is their stability. Having played well at the majority of majors of the season, the team provided themselves with getting to the TI;
  • PSG.LGD. Even though the season was not as successful as the previous one for the Chinese team, it is still one of the biggest pretenders to the victory at the upcoming TI;
  • Liquid. The team have been having a decline during the season, but still they managed to get back on their feet till the end and taking two second places at the last majors, the players got to TI directly;
  • OG. The team that became the champion last year didn’t have the best times at the beginning of the year. After Anal, the main star of the roster, returned to the European team, OG started to play at the previous level and managed to gain a direct invitation to the TI;
  • NiP. The team PPD deserved a direct invitation to The International thanks to wins at minors and rather good places at majors;
  • Fnatic. Although this year wasn’t the brightest for Iceiceice and the team, they were able to qualify for TI;
  • TNC Predator. Having signed Heen as a coach in April, the team improved their game. Having taken two 4 places at majors, Armal and the team provided themselves with getting to TI;
  • Alliance. The champions of the third TI come back to the main tournament of the year. Placing premium on the young roster and experienced coach Loda, the Swedish managed to perform well at the second half of the year and kicking Gambit out, the team provided themselves with a direct invitation to the International;
  • Keen Gaming. The players from Keen Gaming complete the list of the teams who got to the event directly. Rather low results during the year let them get through the minimal border of points, getting the 12 place in the rating and a direct invitation to TI

That was the path of the teams to the main tournament in Shanghai. It is remarkable that at the home tournament only four Chinese teams out of 18 will play at while Europe dominates this year – 6 representatives at TI, rather considerable number. Besides, 2018/2019 season was full of scandals and curious events

Scandals of the second DPC season

As well as in any other kind of sports, Dota has unpleasant precedents. The second competitive season was not an exception. We can make several highlights among the most scandalous and unpleasant events:

  • Inappropriate statements of KuKu and consequently his ban to participate in the Major in Chongqing;
  • Scandal where the champion of TI took part, Ceb and his inappropriate statements in public;
  • Unexpected kick of MATUMBAMAN from Team Liquid;
  • Loss of Gambit at the closed qualifiers for The International;
  • Lil and his constant search of «family»;
  • Dendi leaving Na’Vi

Conclusion

This is what is remembered about a regular Dota season in 2018-2019. But this is not the end, the most important is ahead.

Preludes are finished, participants are known, The International 2019 is close. Can they satisfy the hopes of their fans and win at the home stadium or will an even year bring another championship to the West? We will get to know the answers to these questions pretty soon.

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DPC season in Dota 2

Mohsen Daemi
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