Cover-Credits:
Although many Dota 2 fans and personalities predicted OG's qualification for The International 10, it still baffles one to learn that they have done it again. Being in the doldrums for the last six months and failing to qualify for the only DPC LAN events that happened in the last year, OG did not appear to be in the best of form, looking lackluster in their gameplay. However, they gave their all during the TI10 Western Europe qualifier (WEU) beating Tundra Esports 3-2 in the grand final to book a slot at TI10. The strong mentality of OG and unique gameplay have allowed them to defend their TI title this year.
Dota 2 personalities and teams came forward and complimented the two time TI champions on their incredible qualifier victory and qualification for TI10.
Dota 2 pros and teams respond to OG’s win in the TI10 WEU qualifier
Martin "Saksa" Sazdov, the position four player for OG, was pleased to have made it to The International.
Sébastien "Ceb" Debs, the offlaner for OG, sent a series of tweets expressing his happiness over qualifying for TI10. He recognized this DPC season and the TI10 WEU qualifier as the ‘hardest battle of his entire career.’
Ceb has been arguably the best on the team in the past year.
OG's carry player Syed Sumail "SumaiL" Hassan was relieved after winning the TI10 WEU qualifier. On the final day, the team played eight games, logging nearly 11 hours of playing time. SumaiL expressed happiness at returning to TI.
Andreas Franck "Cr1t-" Nielsen, SumaiL’s former teammate at Evil Geniuses, tweeted for him.
Saahil "Universe" Arora, SumaiL's TI5 winning companion, also clapped for him. In April 2020, Universe had retired from the Dota 2 competitive scene.
TNC Predator’s position four player, Timothy John "Tims" Randrup, congratulated OG on the win and the qualification for TI10. Tims had missed out on the last remaining TI10 spot in SEA after losing to Fnatic 3-2 in the SEA qualifier last week.
Austin "Capitalist" Walsh, popular Dota 2 commentator, also finds it fitting that OG will get to defend their title. This time, though they might not have ana and JerAx, OG does have a TI champion, SumaiL, on their team. He also touched upon Team Nigma’s loss in the lower bracket final.
Popular streamer and TI3 champion, Henrik "AdmiralBulldog" Ahnberg, congratulated OG while taking a poke at its haters.
Jonathan "Loda" Berg, Alliance’s co-owner, noted that The International would not be the same without OG despite recent friction between the two teams.
OG was lauded for the victory, but Tundra Esports also received praise for how they fought. Tundra was the best team in the qualifier until the grand final since they had already beaten OG in the upper bracket final. Despite their best efforts, however, they did not win the qualifier, and some players expressed their disappointment.
Tundra Esports' position four player, Jingjun "Sneyking" Wu, apologized to the fans while hoping they enjoyed the games.
Oliver "skiter" Lepko, Tundra Esports' carry, was seemingly upset after the grand final loss.
TI5 winner, Kurtis "Aui_2000" Ling, who commentated in the final series, acknowledged that TI will not be the same without OG, while also commending Tundra for their fight.
Vikin.gg’s offlaner, Maurice "KheZu" Gutmann, congratulated OG and acknowledged the performance both grand finalists put forth in the grand final. He noted that he learned a lot from scrimming Tundra Esports.
At last, Team Secret was able to reinvent their old and controversial tweet of "taking OG out of the trash" with a quirky twist.
Six teams competed in TI10 qualifiers over the past two weeks, putting their best foot forward.
The winners were: Team Spirit from CIS, SG esports from SA, Undying from NA, Fnatic from SEA, Elephant from China, and OG from EU.
Along with the 12 invited teams, these six teams will now compete at TI10 in Romania, Bucharest from October 7-17, 2021.
