<commit_before>﻿---
layout: "post"
title: "The International 2018: A Practical Guide to All 18 Teams"
date: "2017-09-04 08:08"
summary:    The bare minimum information you need to know before talking to a Dota player this August.
feature-img: "img/ti8teams/ti8header.png"
---

### It's that magical time of year again.

Pro player streams are either completely MIA or more rigorously scheduled than ever, Arcana campaigns are getting drafted, and gaming blogs are waiting to do their once yearly Dota 2 coverage depending on whichever way the prize pool goes. 

Ah, International season.

But not everyone has been following the professional Dota 2 scene with a fine-toothed combed. Perhaps you're the viewer who has been saturated by all the tournaments and are tuning back in just for TI. Maybe your weird friend's yearly pilgrimage to Seattle has been rerouted to Vancouver and you're shocked to learn they allow this kind of degeneracy in Canada too. Or maybe you just want to enjoy the week of festivities Valve has organized around the upcoming Artifact information session. Whatever your story, here are the teams and memes to know come August.

# The Invitees

Eight teams were directly invited to TI8 this year through a new system Valve implemented called the *Dota Pro Circuit* or *DPC*. Instead of the old, ambiguous, invitation process of 'do pretty good five months before TI,' players were given a new, clearer, directive of 'do pretty good five months before TI and don't you dare mess with your roster.'

Twenty-two DPC tournaments later, these are the teams that either stayed after class, captained the Mechanics team, and played Varsity Dota, or the ones that showed up, got a B-, copied drafts at lunch, but still got automatic admission because the rest of the graduating class spent too much time casting Pipe of Insight under the bleachers. That’s not to say any team ended up invited due to a technicality, but make no mistake, there exists a significant gap in Dota prowess between the upper and lower tiers of this list.

The beauty of The International is when most of these skill differences go out the window.

<hr style="margin-bottom: 1.2em;">
<p style="margin: 0.5em 0;"><img src="/blog/img/ti8teams/vpbanner.png" alt="Banner"></p>
<h2 style="margin: 0px;">Virtus.pro</h2>
<hr style="margin-top: 0.5em;">

**Notable tournament placings** Just say ESL and some random city that sounds famous, but isn't really known for tourism. Chances are VP won something there. *"Yeah, they looked really good at ESL... Düsseldorf. I didn't watch it, though. Fuck Facebook."*

**How did they qualify?** Got top 4 in seven out of the eight majors they attended and then proceeded to win half of them.

**What can we expect?** With their top DPC ranking finish, they're arguably the favorites coming into TI8. They won so many points you could theoretically buy one of their players and automatically get a spot at TI. Oh wait.

**How to sound smart talking about VP** "Warding guide? Man, Sansheng couldn't lakad matatag his way out of a paper bag."

**What would success look like?** Anything short of a grand finals appearance would undoubtedly be a disappointment to the team, their fans, and people hoping to get the 50 correct predictions Battle Pass achievement off VP matches.

<hr style="margin-bottom: 1.2em;">
<p style="margin: 0.5em 0;"><img src="/blog/img/ti8teams/liquidbanner.png" alt="Banner"></p>
<h2 style="margin: 0px;">Team Liquid</h2>
<hr style="margin-top: 0.5em;">

**Notable tournament placings** TI7 champions, China Dota 2 Supermajor champions. Never won a real Major, though.

**How did they qualify?**  
<div class="responsivevideo"><div class="video-container" style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="840" height="472" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oWBDZo3axYg?start=1710&rel=0&cc_load_policy=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div>
<p></p>

**What can we expect?** Of all the past TI championship squads, Team Liquid has by far maintained the most consistent success in their post-Aegis season. With the team once again winning the penultimate tournament before The International, this could potentially be another year of the horse.

**How to sound smart talking about Liquid** <!-- "Calling Liquid a 'filler pick' is blatantlly ridiculous.  They're the best early game team in pro Dota; so far 7.06 seems VERY good for them" -->

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Calling Liquid a &quot;filler pick&quot; is blatantlly ridiculous.  They&#39;re the best early game team in pro Dota; so far 7.06 seems VERY good for them</p>&mdash; Nahaz (@NahazDota) <a href="https://twitter.com/NahazDota/status/867702326508781568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p></p>

**What would success look like?** First defense of the Aegis, first repeat champion(s), first two-time organization victory, world's highest earning esports prize winners for at least a few years to come.

No pressure.

<hr style="margin-bottom: 1.2em;">
<p style="margin: 0.5em 0;"><img src="/blog/img/ti8teams/lgdbanner.png" alt="Banner"></p>
<h2 style="margin: 0px;">PSG.LGD</h2>
<hr style="margin-top: 0.5em;">

**Notable tournament placings** Epicenter XL Major champions, MDL Changsha Major champions

**How did they qualify?** LGD went from mostly irrelevant Chinese bottom feeder to French sponsored TI contender in a whirlwind two months starting with a 2<sup>nd</sup> place finish at DAC in April to winning MDL in May.

**What can we expect?** The lore behind TI champions is every alternate year is a "China year." TI1 - Na'Vi (Western), TI2 - iG (Chinese), TI3 - Alliance (Western), TI4 - Newbee (Chinese), TI5 - EG (Western), TI6 - Wings (Chinese), TI7 - Liquid (Western).

In other words, these guys are the world's best chance at saving Dota from becoming a ded gaem.

**How to sound smart talking about LGD** Most people are aware that Ame and Burning have a somewhat antagonistic relationship stemming from Ame destroying his items on iG's high ground after beating Burning with Anti-Mage during TI7. A few weeks ago, Burning sent Ame on a huge losing streak in pubs eventually culminating in them playing a 1v1 as AM with Burning ending up victorious. In the Chinese zodiac story of The Great Race, the ox agrees to carry the rat across the river to make it to the heavenly gates, but loses to the rat after it jumps off. Meanwhile, the dragon could've won the race whenever he wanted to, but stopped to bring rain to a village in need. Ame was born in the year of the ox (牛) and Burning was born in the year of the dragon (龙). Ame lost the 1v1 by overextending past the river and dying on Burning's high ground. But instead of destroying his items, Burning planted a single Iron Branch on Ame's high ground, making it rain on Ame's village. The character for 'ox' is used in '吹牛' which means 'to talk big' and the character for 'dragon' is used in '成龙' which is Jackie Chan's Chinese name. So after the match, Sgamer netizens began posting '吹牛得到成龙' effectively translating to 'Talk shit, get (Jackie Chan'd) hit.'

The previous paragraph is complete bullshit, but you bought it. That's because if there's anything that makes you sound smart talking about LGD, it's explaining convoluted Chinese memes to redditors who don't really understand them and just want to post, 'Wow, Chinese memes are so high level! xD'

**What would success look like?** Having said that, "\_\_\_\_\_\_\_，\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\!"

<hr style="margin-bottom: 1.2em;">
<p style="margin: 0.5em 0;"><img src="/blog/img/ti8teams/secretbanner.png" alt="Banner"></p>
<h2 style="margin: 0px;">Team Secret</h2>
<hr style="margin-top: 0.5em;">

**Notable tournament placings** Dreamleague S8 and S9 champions. Also won the meme Captain's Draft tournament.

**How did they qualify?** Attended the most DPC events of any team (tied with Newbee). Did reasonably well in a few of them.

**What can we expect?** Heroes you usually don't see being played in roles you usually wouldn't expect losing to teams Secret usually should beat.

**How to sound smart talking about Secret** "Oh, I wonder if this is a Yapzor \*insert any hero here\*. You haven't seen them run it? It's really strong."

**What would success look like?** Despite always being *pretty good*, Team Secret's highest placing at any International since the organization's inception was 7/8<sup>th</sup> at TI5. So ideally better than that.

<hr style="margin-bottom: 1.2em;">
<p style="margin: 0.5em 0;"><img src="/blog/img/ti8teams/mineskibanner.png" alt="Banner"></p>
<h2 style="margin: 0px;">Mineski</h2>
<hr style="margin-top: 0.5em;">

**Notable tournament placings** DAC 2018 Major champions

**How did they qualify?** While allegedly on the brink of disbanding, the squad managed to beat LGD on their own home turf to win DAC. Thankfully, with VP and Liquid vacuuming up all the other DPC points, that Major win was all Mineski needed to secure their TI invite.

**What can we expect?** Mineski is one of those teams that people are mostly unsurprised no matter what result they get. Drown in group stage? *Eh, it happens.* Dominant winner's side run? *Knew they had it in them.* Don't even qualify? *Wow, SEA is so competitive!*

**How to sound smart talking about Mineski** Don't say anything, just start doing push-ups.

**What would success look like?** An iceiceice Aegis would be like the DiCaprio Oscar in terms of reddit self-satisfaction.

<hr style="margin-bottom: 1.2em;">
<p style="margin: 0.5em 0;"><img src="/blog/img/ti8teams/vicibanner.png" alt="Banner"></p>
<h2 style="margin: 0px;">Vici Gaming</h2>
<hr style="margin-top: 0.5em;">

**Notable tournament placings** A whole bunch of 2<sup>nd</sup> place finishes

**How did they qualify?** Middle of the pack tournament results translating into a middle of the pack DPC result.

**What can we expect?** Just some real solid Dotes. You know, a real focus on the fundamentals. The guys are gonna give it their all. Show some real hustle out there.

And not win.

**How to sound smart talking about VG** "I saw LaNm in the bathroom. It's true."

**What would success look like?** Fenrir and LaNm doing well enough that they don't 'retire' after TI8.

<hr style="margin-bottom: 1.2em;">
<p style="margin: 0.5em 0;"><img src="/blog/img/ti8teams/newbeebanner.png" alt="Banner"></p>
<h2 style="margin: 0px;">Newbee</h2>
<hr style="margin-top: 0.5em;">

**Notable tournament placings** A whole bunch of 3<sup>rd</sup> place finishes

**How did they qualify?** TI7's runners-up gave a less than stellar performance this season, but it was enough to squeeze into the DPC top 8 for a TI invite anyway. Their biggest mistake was getting revenge on Liquid too early in the year, thus preventing the Sccc ultra instinct arc.

**What can we expect?** This squad didn't have *amazing* results before TI7 either. They were good enough to be directly invited, but most people considered LFY or LGD to be the strongest Chinese teams at that TI. Perhaps history will repeat itself.

**How to sound smart talking about Newbee** "Sccc is my free pass."

**What would success look like?** "You expect to win a championship at your first TI? You're just an ordinary person... not a god. Second TI is no excuse though, you better win."

<hr style="margin-bottom: 1.2em;">
<p style="margin: 0.5em 0;"><img src="/blog/img/ti8teams/thunderbanner.png" alt="Banner"></p>
<h2 style="margin: 0px;">VGJ.Thunder</h2>
<hr style="margin-top: 0.5em;">

**Notable tournament placings** 2<sup>nd</sup> place at The Bucharest Major. Also won Galaxy Battles II, but I'm the only person who cares about that tournament.

**How did they qualify?**  
<div class="video">
<video playsinline autoplay loop muted poster="/blog/img/ti8teams/luigiwins.jpg" width="640">
  <source src="/blog/img/ti8teams/luigiwins.webm" type="video/webm">
  <source src="/blog/img/ti8teams/luigiwins.mp4" type="video/mp4">
  <source src="/blog/img/ti8teams/luigiwins.ogv" type="video/ogg">
</video></div>
<p></p>

**What can we expect?** Luigi gets hammered by VP Liquid and LGD

**How to sound smart talking about Thunder** "ddc is so underrated."

**What would success look like?** Beyond ddc becoming the last of the <abbr title="Puppey, Universe, Kuroky, ddc">Elite Four all-TI attendees</abbr> to earn an Aegis, a victory for their coach, the ever-lovable rOtK, would be something to celebrate for Eastern and Western Dota fans alike.

# The Qualifiers

The other ten teams came through a double elimination bracket of online qualifiers within their respective regions. Half of them had to even go through a Bo1 madhouse open qualifier for committing the cardinal sin of wanting to change rosters after February 5<sup>th</sup>.

Of the ten different squads to have attended an International grand finals since the qualifier system was created in TI3, only <abbr title="CDEC, DC, and Wings">three have been non-invited teams</abbr>, and Wings is the only qualifier team to have ever won.

So that's where the bar is set.

<hr style="margin-bottom: 1.2em;">
<p style="margin: 0.5em 0;"><img src="/blog/img/ti8teams/ogbanner.png" alt="Banner"></p>
<h2 style="margin: 0px;">OG - <i>Europe Regional Qualifier</i></h2>
<hr style="margin-top: 0.5em;">

**Notable tournament placings** The current roster was assembled around two weeks before TI qualifiers began, so... The International 2018: Europe Open Qualifier #1 champions.<commit_msg>thunder updates<commit_after>﻿---
layout: "post"
title: "The International 2018: A Practical Guide to All 18 Teams"
date: "2017-09-04 08:08"
summary:    The bare minimum information you need to know before talking to a Dota player this August.
feature-img: "img/ti8teams/ti8header.png"
---

### It's that magical time of year again.

Pro player streams are either completely MIA or more rigorously scheduled than ever, Arcana campaigns are getting drafted, and gaming blogs are waiting to do their once yearly Dota 2 coverage depending on whichever way the prize pool goes. 

Ah, International season.

But not everyone has been following the professional Dota 2 scene with a fine-toothed combed. Perhaps you're the viewer who has been saturated by all the tournaments and are tuning back in just for TI. Maybe your weird friend's yearly pilgrimage to Seattle has been rerouted to Vancouver and you're shocked to learn they allow this kind of degeneracy in Canada too. Or maybe you just want to enjoy the week of festivities Valve has organized around the upcoming Artifact information session. Whatever your story, here are the teams and memes to know come August.

# The Invitees

Eight teams were directly invited to TI8 this year through a new system Valve implemented called the *Dota Pro Circuit* or *DPC*. Instead of the old, ambiguous, invitation process of 'do pretty good five months before TI,' players were given a new, clearer, directive of 'do pretty good five months before TI and don't you dare mess with your roster.'

Twenty-two DPC tournaments later, these are the teams that either stayed after class, captained the Mechanics team, and played Varsity Dota, or the ones that showed up, got a B-, copied drafts at lunch, but still got automatic admission because the rest of the graduating class spent too much time casting Pipe of Insight under the bleachers. That’s not to say any team ended up invited due to a technicality, but make no mistake, there exists a significant gap in Dota prowess between the upper and lower tiers of this list.

The beauty of The International is when most of these skill differences go out the window.

<hr style="margin-bottom: 1.2em;">
<p style="margin: 0.5em 0;"><img src="/blog/img/ti8teams/vpbanner.png" alt="Banner"></p>
<h2 style="margin: 0px;">Virtus.pro</h2>
<hr style="margin-top: 0.5em;">

**Notable tournament placings** Just say ESL and some random city that sounds famous, but isn't really known for tourism. Chances are VP won something there. *"Yeah, they looked really good at ESL... Düsseldorf. I didn't watch it, though. Fuck Facebook."*

**How did they qualify?** Got top 4 in seven out of the eight majors they attended and then proceeded to win half of them.

**What can we expect?** With their top DPC ranking finish, they're arguably the favorites coming into TI8. They won so many points you could theoretically buy one of their players and automatically get a spot at TI. Oh wait.

**How to sound smart talking about VP** "Warding guide? Man, Sansheng couldn't lakad matatag his way out of a paper bag."

**What would success look like?** Anything short of a grand finals appearance would undoubtedly be a disappointment to the team, their fans, and people hoping to get the 50 correct predictions Battle Pass achievement off VP matches.

<hr style="margin-bottom: 1.2em;">
<p style="margin: 0.5em 0;"><img src="/blog/img/ti8teams/liquidbanner.png" alt="Banner"></p>
<h2 style="margin: 0px;">Team Liquid</h2>
<hr style="margin-top: 0.5em;">

**Notable tournament placings** TI7 champions, China Dota 2 Supermajor champions. Never won a real Major, though.

**How did they qualify?**  
<div class="responsivevideo"><div class="video-container" style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="840" height="472" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oWBDZo3axYg?start=1710&rel=0&cc_load_policy=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div></div>
<p></p>

**What can we expect?** Of all the past TI championship squads, Team Liquid has by far maintained the most consistent success in their post-Aegis season. With the team once again winning the penultimate tournament before The International, this could potentially be another year of the horse.

**How to sound smart talking about Liquid** <!-- "Calling Liquid a 'filler pick' is blatantlly ridiculous.  They're the best early game team in pro Dota; so far 7.06 seems VERY good for them" -->

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Calling Liquid a &quot;filler pick&quot; is blatantlly ridiculous.  They&#39;re the best early game team in pro Dota; so far 7.06 seems VERY good for them</p>&mdash; Nahaz (@NahazDota) <a href="https://twitter.com/NahazDota/status/867702326508781568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p></p>

**What would success look like?** First defense of the Aegis, first repeat champion(s), first two-time organization victory, world's highest earning esports prize winners for at least a few years to come.

No pressure.

<hr style="margin-bottom: 1.2em;">
<p style="margin: 0.5em 0;"><img src="/blog/img/ti8teams/lgdbanner.png" alt="Banner"></p>
<h2 style="margin: 0px;">PSG.LGD</h2>
<hr style="margin-top: 0.5em;">

**Notable tournament placings** Epicenter XL Major champions, MDL Changsha Major champions

**How did they qualify?** LGD went from mostly irrelevant Chinese bottom feeder to French sponsored TI contender in a whirlwind two months starting with a 2<sup>nd</sup> place finish at DAC in April to winning MDL in May.

**What can we expect?** The lore behind TI champions is every alternate year is a "China year." TI1 - Na'Vi (Western), TI2 - iG (Chinese), TI3 - Alliance (Western), TI4 - Newbee (Chinese), TI5 - EG (Western), TI6 - Wings (Chinese), TI7 - Liquid (Western).

In other words, these guys are the world's best chance at saving Dota from becoming a ded gaem.

**How to sound smart talking about LGD** Most people are aware that Ame and Burning have a somewhat antagonistic relationship stemming from Ame destroying his items on iG's high ground after beating Burning with Anti-Mage during TI7. A few weeks ago, Burning sent Ame on a huge losing streak in pubs eventually culminating in them playing a 1v1 as AM with Burning ending up victorious. In the Chinese zodiac story of The Great Race, the ox agrees to carry the rat across the river to make it to the heavenly gates, but loses to the rat after it jumps off. Meanwhile, the dragon could've won the race whenever he wanted to, but stopped to bring rain to a village in need. Ame was born in the year of the ox (牛) and Burning was born in the year of the dragon (龙). Ame lost the 1v1 by overextending past the river and dying on Burning's high ground. But instead of destroying his items, Burning planted a single Iron Branch on Ame's high ground, making it rain on Ame's village. The character for 'ox' is used in '吹牛' which means 'to talk big' and the character for 'dragon' is used in '成龙' which is Jackie Chan's Chinese name. So after the match, Sgamer netizens began posting '吹牛得到成龙' effectively translating to 'Talk shit, get (Jackie Chan'd) hit.'

The previous paragraph is complete bullshit, but you bought it. That's because if there's anything that makes you sound smart talking about LGD, it's explaining convoluted Chinese memes to redditors who don't really understand them and just want to post, 'Wow, Chinese memes are so high level! xD'

**What would success look like?** Having said that, "\_\_\_\_\_\_\_，\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\!"

<hr style="margin-bottom: 1.2em;">
<p style="margin: 0.5em 0;"><img src="/blog/img/ti8teams/secretbanner.png" alt="Banner"></p>
<h2 style="margin: 0px;">Team Secret</h2>
<hr style="margin-top: 0.5em;">

**Notable tournament placings** Dreamleague S8 and S9 champions. Also won the meme Captain's Draft tournament.

**How did they qualify?** Attended the most DPC events of any team (tied with Newbee). Did reasonably well in a few of them.

**What can we expect?** Heroes you usually don't see being played in roles you usually wouldn't expect losing to teams Secret usually should beat.

**How to sound smart talking about Secret** "Oh, I wonder if this is a Yapzor \*insert any hero here\*. You haven't seen them run it? It's really strong."

**What would success look like?** Despite always being *pretty good*, Team Secret's highest placing at any International since the organization's inception was 7/8<sup>th</sup> at TI5. So ideally better than that.

<hr style="margin-bottom: 1.2em;">
<p style="margin: 0.5em 0;"><img src="/blog/img/ti8teams/mineskibanner.png" alt="Banner"></p>
<h2 style="margin: 0px;">Mineski</h2>
<hr style="margin-top: 0.5em;">

**Notable tournament placings** DAC 2018 Major champions

**How did they qualify?** While allegedly on the brink of disbanding, the squad managed to beat LGD on their own home turf to win DAC. Thankfully, with VP and Liquid vacuuming up all the other DPC points, that Major win was all Mineski needed to secure their TI invite.

**What can we expect?** Mineski is one of those teams that people are mostly unsurprised no matter what result they get. Drown in group stage? *Eh, it happens.* Dominant winner's side run? *Knew they had it in them.* Don't even qualify? *Wow, SEA is so competitive!*

**How to sound smart talking about Mineski** Don't say anything, just start doing push-ups.

**What would success look like?** An iceiceice Aegis would be like the DiCaprio Oscar in terms of reddit self-satisfaction.

<hr style="margin-bottom: 1.2em;">
<p style="margin: 0.5em 0;"><img src="/blog/img/ti8teams/vicibanner.png" alt="Banner"></p>
<h2 style="margin: 0px;">Vici Gaming</h2>
<hr style="margin-top: 0.5em;">

**Notable tournament placings** A whole bunch of 2<sup>nd</sup> place finishes

**How did they qualify?** Middle of the pack tournament results translating into a middle of the pack DPC result.

**What can we expect?** Just some real solid Dotes. You know, a real focus on the fundamentals. The guys are gonna give it their all. Show some real hustle out there.

And not win.

**How to sound smart talking about VG** "I saw LaNm in the bathroom. It's true."

**What would success look like?** Fenrir and LaNm doing well enough that they don't 'retire' after TI8.

<hr style="margin-bottom: 1.2em;">
<p style="margin: 0.5em 0;"><img src="/blog/img/ti8teams/newbeebanner.png" alt="Banner"></p>
<h2 style="margin: 0px;">Newbee</h2>
<hr style="margin-top: 0.5em;">

**Notable tournament placings** A whole bunch of 3<sup>rd</sup> place finishes

**How did they qualify?** TI7's runners-up gave a less than stellar performance this season, but it was enough to squeeze into the DPC top 8 for a TI invite anyway. Their biggest mistake was getting revenge on Liquid too early in the year, thus preventing the Sccc ultra instinct arc.

**What can we expect?** This squad didn't have *amazing* results before TI7 either. They were good enough to be directly invited, but most people considered LFY or LGD to be the strongest Chinese teams at that TI. Perhaps history will repeat itself.

**How to sound smart talking about Newbee** "Sccc is my free pass."

**What would success look like?** "You expect to win a championship at your first TI? You're just an ordinary person... not a god. Second TI is no excuse though, you better win."

<hr style="margin-bottom: 1.2em;">
<p style="margin: 0.5em 0;"><img src="/blog/img/ti8teams/thunderbanner.png" alt="Banner"></p>
<h2 style="margin: 0px;">VGJ.Thunder</h2>
<hr style="margin-top: 0.5em;">

**Notable tournament placings** 2<sup>nd</sup> place at The Bucharest Major. Also won Galaxy Battles II, but I'm the only person who cares about that tournament.

**How did they qualify?**  
<div class="video">
<video playsinline autoplay loop muted poster="/blog/img/ti8teams/luigiwins.jpg" width="640">
  <source src="/blog/img/ti8teams/luigiwins.webm" type="video/webm">
  <source src="/blog/img/ti8teams/luigiwins.mp4" type="video/mp4">
  <source src="/blog/img/ti8teams/luigiwins.ogv" type="video/ogg">
</video></div>
<p></p>

**What can we expect?** Not that.

**How to sound smart talking about Thunder** Name the other three players who aren't Sylar or ddc.

...you didn't even know Sylar was on the team, did you.

**What would success look like?** Beyond ddc becoming the last of the <abbr title="Puppey, Universe, Kuroky, ddc">Elite Four all-TI attendees</abbr> to earn an Aegis, a victory for their coach, the ever-lovable rOtK, would be something to celebrate for Eastern and Western Dota fans alike.

# The Qualifiers

The other ten teams came through a double elimination bracket of online qualifiers within their respective regions. Half of them had to even go through a Bo1 madhouse open qualifier for committing the cardinal sin of wanting to change rosters after February 5<sup>th</sup>.

Of the ten different squads to have attended an International grand finals since the qualifier system was created in TI3, only <abbr title="CDEC, DC, and Wings">three have been non-invited teams</abbr>, and Wings is the only qualifier team to have ever won.

So that's where the bar is set.

<hr style="margin-bottom: 1.2em;">
<p style="margin: 0.5em 0;"><img src="/blog/img/ti8teams/ogbanner.png" alt="Banner"></p>
<h2 style="margin: 0px;">OG - <i>Europe Regional Qualifier</i></h2>
<hr style="margin-top: 0.5em;">

**Notable tournament placings** The current roster was assembled around two weeks before TI qualifiers began, so... The International 2018: Europe Open Qualifier #1 champions.
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