DOTA 2 WEEKLY RECAP : January 24th 2024
BetBoom Dacha 2024 Dubai Group Stage / ESL One Birmingham 2024 /DreamLeague Season 22/ Ban of Dota 2 pro "StingeR"
Embark on an eventful week in the realm of Dota 2 as the spotlight shines on key tournaments and significant developments. The BetBoom Dacha 2024 Dubai Group Stage takes center stage, promising intense clashes and unfolding narratives. Meanwhile, the ESL One Birmingham 2024 qualifiers add an extra layer of competition, showcasing teams vying for a coveted spot in the prestigious tournament.
A notable trend emerges in the qualifiers for DreamLeague Season 22, with Southeast Asia solidifying its status as the most popular region. The competition is fierce, and teams are giving their all to secure a place in the upcoming event.
Valve’s proactive measures against smurfing take a bold step, leading to the mid-match ban of ‘Dota 2’ pro StingeR. This move underlines the commitment to maintaining fairness and integrity in the Dota 2 ecosystem.
In the midst of these developments, the Dota 2 community witnesses a significant roster change. Raven bids farewell to Blacklist International’s Dota 2 dream team, marking the end of an era. Simultaneously, Fbz and Matthew join Nigma Galaxy’s Dota 2 roster, adding new dynamics to the competitive landscape.
The Excitement of BetBoom Dacha 2024 in Dubai
As the echoes of ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023 still reverberate, the Dota 2 community eagerly awaits the inaugural premier tournament of 2024—the BetBoom Dacha 2024 in Dubai. Set to unfold from February 4th to February 16th, this event promises a riveting display of skill and strategy as 12 elite teams vie for a substantial prize pool of $1,000,000.
The tournament features a diverse lineup of participants, with seven teams securing direct invitations and five earning their spots through fiercely contested regional qualifiers. The BetBoom Dacha 2024 in Dubai marks the commencement of a thrilling year, representing the first of two BetBoom Dacha tournaments scheduled for 2024.
Let’s delve into the tournament details, including the team roster, group stage schedule, and the intriguing format that will unfold during this Dota 2 spectacle.
The 12 participating teams are divided into two groups of six each.
Group A:
- Aurora (Invited)
- Gaimin Gladiators (Invited)
- LGD Gaming (Invited)
- Team Falcons (MENA)
- Team Liquid (Invited)
- pro (EEU)
Group B:
- Azure Ray (CN and SEA)
- BetBoom Team (Invited)
- nouns (NA)
- OG (WEU)
- Team Spirit (Invited)
- Xtreme Gaming (Invited)
BetBoom Dacha 2024 Dubai Schedule (Group Stage)
4th February
- 5:00 PM: Aurora vs Virtus.pro / BetBoom Team vs Xtreme Gaming
- 8:00 PM: Gaimin Gladiators vs Team Liquid / Azure Ray vs OG
- 11:00 PM: Team Falcons vs LGD Gaming / Team Spirit vs nouns
5th February
- 5:00 PM: Gamin Gladiators vs Aurora / BetBoom Team vs OG
- 8:00 PM: Virtus.pro vs LGD Gaming / Azure Ray vs nouns
- 11:00 PM: Team Liquid vs Team Falcons / Xtreme Gaming vs Team Spirit
6th February
- 5:00 PM: Aurora vs LGD Gaming / OG vs nouns
- 8:00 PM: Gaimin Gladiators vs Team Falcons / BetBoom Team vs Team Spirit
- 11:00 PM: Team Liquid vs Virtus.pro / Xtreme Gaming vs Azure Ray
7th February
- 5:00 PM: Gaimin Gladiators vs LGD Gaming / BetBoom Team vs nouns
- 8:00 PM: Team Falcons vs Virtus.pro / Xtreme Gaming vs OG
- 11:00 PM: Team Liquid vs Aurora / Team Spirit vs Azure Ray
8th February
- 5:00 PM: Gaimin Gladiators vs Virtus.pro / Xtreme Gaming vs nouns
- 8:00 PM: Team Falcons vs Aurora / BetBoom Team vs Azure Ray
- 11:00 PM: Team Liquid vs LGD Gaming / Team Spirit vs OG
BetBoom Dacha 2024 Dubai Format
Group Stage (4th to 8th February 2024):
- Two single round-robin groups of six teams each
- All series consist of two games
- Top four teams from each group advance to the upper bracket of playoffs
- Remaining teams are eliminated
Playoffs (11th to 16th February 2024):
- Double-elimination bracket
- All matches except Grand Final are Best of 3
- Grand Final is Best of 5
Regional Rivalries: DreamLeague Season 22 Qualifiers Bring Forth Spectacular Dota 2 Battles
As the dust settles from the DreamLeague Season 22 qualifiers held from January 13 to 18, the Dota 2 community is buzzing with excitement. The battle for supremacy saw Southeast Asia emerge as a powerhouse, stealing the spotlight with remarkable viewership and thrilling matches.
Southeast Asia Dominates Viewership:
- Southeast Asia commanded attention, boasting the highest peak online viewership with the clash between Aurora and Team Darleng reaching an impressive 113.8K Peak Viewers.
- This region secured the top spot in average viewership (45.9K) and total Hours Watched (1.5M), fueled by broadcasts featuring top players like Gabbi and Kuku.
Audience Engagement Across Regions:
- Western and Eastern Europe claimed the second and third spots in viewership metrics, showcasing a close competition among these Dota 2 powerhouses.
- Southeast Asia’s strong audience reach was fueled by broadcasts from notable players and the leadership of the channel KuyaNic, dominating Tagalog-language broadcasts in the Philippines.
- English-language broadcasts in Southeast Asia outperformed counterparts in North America and Western Europe, also leading in viewership on YouTube.
Most Popular Matches:
- Aurora vs Team Darleng — 113,814
- Natus Vincere vs Team Spirit — 79,721
- Natus Vincere vs Klim Sani4 — 67,592
- Neon vs Team Darleng — 67,015
- Team Spirit vs Klim Sani4 — 59,116
DreamLeague Season 22, scheduled from February 25 to March 10, promises intense battles as the qualified teams gear up for the main event.
Stay tuned as the Dota 2 saga unfolds, promising an exhilarating journey through DreamLeague Season 22.
An Exciting Path of ESL One Birmingham 2024 Qualifiers
As the Dota 2 competitive scene brims with anticipation, the spotlight shifts to the ESL One Birmingham 2024 qualifiers, unfolding across seven regions this week. Fresh off the DreamLeague Season 22 closed qualifiers, the stage is set for fierce battles as teams vie for coveted slots in the upcoming ESL One Birmingham 2024 LAN event.
ESL One Birmingham 2024 Open Qualifiers Overview:
- Two sets of open qualifiers on January 22-23 and January 24-25.
- Teams progressing to closed qualifiers vary from two to three based on region.
- Format: Single-elimination bracket, Bo3 for semifinals, and Bo1 for other matches.
ESL One Birmingham 2024 Closed Qualifiers:
- Taking place from January 26-30, divided into two phases for different regions.
- A total of seven regions participating, each with eight teams.
- Teams are a mix of invites (two to five depending on the region) and those emerging from open qualifiers (three to six depending on the region).
- Format: Double-elimination bracket, with Bo5 for Grand Finals and Bo3 for other matches.
- Qualifiers determine one team per region, except Western Europe, which secures two qualifying teams.
ESL One Birmingham 2024 Tournament Details:
- Scheduled for April 22-28, the LAN tournament in Birmingham boasts a $1,000,000 prize pool and a total of 26,640 EPT points.
- The ESL One event returns to Birmingham after a memorable 2019 edition where Team Secret clinched victory.
- Notably, the 2020 event, initially planned as an LAN tournament, transitioned to an online format due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stay tuned as the Dota 2 landscape unfolds, promising thrilling encounters and intense battles on the road to ESL One Birmingham 2024.
Valve Strikes Back: Dota 2 Pro StingeR's Mid-Match Ban Sends Shockwaves Through DreamLeague Qualifiers
In an unexpected turn of events during the South American qualifier for DreamLeague Season 22, Dota 2 pro player Steven “StingeR” Vargas found himself at the center of controversy as Valve seemingly initiated another wave of bans, targeting smurf accounts and those who share their accounts.
The Ban Wave Unleashed:
- Valve is yet to officially acknowledge the ban wave, but reports from high-level players indicate a significant number of accounts being banned, primarily focusing on smurf accounts and shared accounts.
- StingeR, captain of the Mad Kings Dota 2 team, experienced the ban mid-way through the Mad Kings vs Thunder Awaken match, causing his abrupt disconnection. Teammates later revealed in the in-game chat that his account had been banned.
Account Sharing Saga:
- The ban on StingeR’s account is linked to his teammate David “Parker” Nicho Flores allegedly using StingeR’s account in violation of Steam terms of service.
- Flores defended the account sharing incident on Twitter, highlighting a breach of Steam terms of service.
Impact on DreamLeague Qualifiers:
- StingeR’s untimely ban led to Mad Kings receiving a default loss for the second game in the series against Thunder Awaken, resulting in their elimination from the DreamLeague Season 22 qualifiers.
- The stakes were high, as a victory would have secured Mad Kings a coveted spot in Dreamleague Season 22 with its $1 million prize pool.
Pro Players Facing Consequences:
- While unconfirmed, other pro players are reported to have faced bans on smurf accounts, signaling a shift from Valve’s earlier stance of not penalizing pro players for smurfing.
- Last year, Valve indicated that pro players would no longer be immune to smurfing bans, reflecting the recent actions against StingeR and others.
Valve’s Crackdown on Smurfs:
- Despite the surprise timing of the ban, Valve’s move to address smurfing, a long-standing issue, is welcomed by the community.
- The clampdown may result in longer queue times for high-level players seeking competitive matches, but it signals a commitment to fostering a fair and respectful gaming environment.
As the Dota 2 community grapples with the repercussions of this ban wave, the impact on pro players and the broader landscape remains to be seen. Valve’s decisive action sets a precedent, emphasizing fair play and accountability in one of esports’ most popular titles.
Roster Shuffles and Departures: The Latest Drama in Dota 2's Competitive Landscape
As the Dota 2 competitive scene witnesses major upheavals, players and teams find themselves at the crossroads of change. Here’s a roundup of recent developments:
Farewell to Raven:
- Blacklist Rivalry bids adieu to Marc Polo “Raven” Fausto, a pivotal member of their Dota 2 squad.
- A cornerstone in Philippine Dota 2, Raven’s legacy includes a decorated career as one of the scene’s most renowned position 1 carries.
- Despite Raven’s efforts, Blacklist faced challenges, with exits in the Bali Major and ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023 group stages.
Nigma Galaxy’s Reinforcement:
- Nigma Galaxy unveils Saieful “Fbz” Ilham and Farith “Matthew” Puente as additions to their Dota 2 lineup.
- Fbz, from Indonesia, boasts previous experience with Team Secret, securing 3rd place at BetBoom Dacha 2023.
- Matthew, a Peruvian player with ties to Evil Geniuses, embraces a fresh start with Nigma Galaxy for the 2024 season.
As the dust settles, these roster changes set the stage for an intriguing chapter in the Dota 2 narrative, where teams navigate challenges and strive for success in the upcoming tournaments.
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