T1 Emerges Victorious in the Dota Pro Circuit SEA Upper Division, Both Teams Qualify for the Singapore Major
The final series in the Dota Pro Circuit 2021 Southeast Asia upper division between T1 and Neon Esports ended in T1’s favor 2-1. Both teams have a reason to celebrate as they have secured qualification to the Singapore Major, which marks their first major Dota 2 tournament.
T1 emerged victorious in the first game with their highly farmed tri-core lineup consisting of Phantom Assassin, Puck, and Timbersaw. Although Neon’s Erin “Yopaj” Ferrer had an impressive farm on his Alchemist, the rest of his team couldn’t keep up, resulting in T1’s domination led by Souliya “JaCkky” Khoomphetsavong’s Phantom Assassin.
Neon surprised T1 in game two by employing a carry Wisp strategy. Along with Death Prophet and Abaddon, Neon’s high sustain allowed them to have an even early game. Eventually, an explosive mid-game push from Neon shifted the momentum in their favor, and T1 had no choice but to concede.
T1 regrouped in the third game and dominated from start to finish. JaCkky’s Wraith King had ample farming opportunities while Karl Jayme’s Death Prophet dictated the tempo. Despite Neon’s efforts, they couldn’t make a dent in T1’s tanky lineup and eventually conceded defeat.
T1’s victory resulted in both teams ending the Regional League with a 5-2 record. Fnatic emerged as the outright winner with a 6-1 record, earning them a bye for the Major group stage and direct seeding into the playoffs, guaranteeing a top-12 finish at the event.
Related: Fnatic qualify for Singapore Major after emphatic victory over TNC Predator
Since T1 and Neon both have an identical record, they will play a best-of-one tiebreaker to determine second and third place. The winner of the tiebreaker, scheduled for Feb. 27 at 2am CT, will qualify for the Major group stage, while the losing team will need to play through an additional wild card round at the event.
TNC Predator, the previous SEA Major winner, along with BOOM Esports and Execration, missed out on Major qualification but will remain in the upper division for the next league season. 496 Gaming and Vice Esports have been relegated to the lower division, while Lilgun and Omega Esports will be promoted.
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