Evil Geniuses Earn Spot in Dota 2 International 8
After struggling initially, Evil Geniuses, the most famous Dota 2 team in North America, secured their spot in the International 8. They dominated the playoffs, defeating compLexity Gaming in the semifinals and Immortals in the finals. Despite losing to compLexity in the group stage, Evil Geniuses showed a renewed strength in the playoff stage.
Second North American Team Qualifies
Evil Geniuses’ qualification makes them the second North American team to secure a spot in the International 8. The first team to qualify was VGJ.Storm, who finished first in the group stage. VGJ.Storm earned a direct flight to the Dota 2 world championship on Aug. 15.
Unexpected Success for Evil Geniuses
Evil Geniuses’ success in the playoffs was unexpected to some extent. In 2018, they have only won one event, despite making multiple roster changes. They even finished in the last place at the ESL One Birmingham Dota 2 Major on May 23, where they were eliminated by CIS underdogs Team Spirit.
Roster Changes Bring New Energy
Following their disappointing performance at ESL One Birmingham, Evil Geniuses made significant changes to their roster. They removed long-time player Clinton “Fear” Loomis and former support player Rasmus “MiSeRy-” Filipsen. They were replaced by OG duo Tal “Fly” Aizik and Gustav “s4” Magnusson.
The Final Stretch
With VGJ.Storm and Evil Geniuses securing their spots, the final slot at the International 8 is up for grabs. OpTic, compLexity, and Immortals will battle it out in the qualifier’s lower bracket. The first match of the day will be between OpTic and compLexity.
Evil Geniuses, Dota 2, International 8, qualifiers, North American team, VGJ.Storm, playoffs, roster changes, OpTic, compLexity, Immortals