Dota 2 Bucharest PGL Open: A Preview
The Dota 2 Pro Circuit is in full swing, and this month is packed with action. The StarLadder i-League Invitational last week saw The International 7 champions, Team Liquid, taking the win easily. And now, we have another exciting weekend event coming up – the PGL Open in Bucharest, Romania. Eight teams will be competing for a prize pool of $300,000 and a chance to earn 300 Pro Circuit points.
Some teams competing in Bucharest are coming fresh off StarLadder, while others will be playing in their first LAN event of the new season. This creates an interesting dynamic, as we get to see how momentum from the previous tournament affects their performance. Regardless, we can expect some great games this weekend.
The Top Contenders
The three most likely winners of the PGL Open come from three different regions: Evil Geniuses from North America, LGD Gaming from China, and Mineski from Southeast Asia.
EG had a disappointing performance at TI7, prompting them to make roster changes. They replaced “zai” with the legendary “Fear” and shifted “Cr1t-” back to the utility support position. With Fear’s leadership and Cr1t-‘s skills, EG has a strong lineup.
LGD Gaming finished top 4 at TI7 and played exceptionally well in Seattle. However, they’ll be subbing in their coach, “357,” as their hard support player. As a veteran player, it’ll be interesting to see if he can keep up with the younger competition.
Mineski, the top team in Southeast Asia, showed their strength by placing second at StarLadder. One player to watch is “Jabz,” who has found his true potential in the utility support role.
Middle of the Pack
Two fan-favorite teams, Natus Vincere (Na’Vi) and Team Secret, will also be competing in Bucharest. Na’Vi had a promising performance at StarLadder but fell short of the top 4. Their run at StarLadder will help them build towards better teamwork and gameplay.
Team Secret made it to the playoffs at StarLadder and have a talented roster, with “YapzOr” as their star player. Their presence in any tournament makes them a significant threat.
Finally, we have Immortals (formerly MVP Phoenix), who are making a comeback after their disbandment at TI6. They now have the support of the Immortals organization and can focus on practicing and playing.
Underdogs
Peruvian team Infamous faces an uphill battle, as their current roster is entirely different from the one that competed at TI7. Similarly, VGJ.Thunder (formerly VGJ) has made roster changes. Both teams will need to put in a lot of effort to make an impact in Bucharest.
The PGL Open begins tomorrow, with LGD Gaming facing Infamous. You can watch all the matches on PGL’s official Twitch stream.