posted by Jaywalker,

In just a few days 16 top teams will begin their quest at The International. Today we present to you the Chinese dark horse, cn TongFu.

Kabu, Awoke, Hao, SanSheng, Mu.


Major Achievements:



1st - The International 2012 East Qualifier (June 2012) - N/A
2nd - It's Gosu Razer Mini Madness (August 2012) - N/A

History:



As a relatively new entry to the Dota scene in China, TongFu has evolved into one of the best teams in China, with great results in DotA and Dota 2. The current squad of TongFu is a collection of players that performed well previously in various top teams such as TyLoo, PanDarea Gaming, and Invictus Gaming. In fact, four of five existing members in the team participated in The International 2011, with Awoke, Kabu, and Hao playing for TyLoo and SanSheng at iG.

Following the disbandment of TyLoo, Kabu was recruited by TongFu to create a team that is capable of challenging the top teams in China. TongFu is a Chinese food products manufacturer and decided to form a Dota team for marketing purposes. The initial lineups mostly consisted of new talents, and the team was unable to compete with the top tier teams. In an effort to reform, the team took in LaNm, but the results were mediocre and team chemistry was lacking.

Following PanDarea’s disbandment, the organization decided to take in three of their players: Hao, Mu, and SanSheng. The team had much potential, but a series of controversies with LaNm and the organization saw LaNm leaving for EHOME and a vacant spot. With The International fast approaching, the team decided to recruit Awoke, who was playing for CLC before most of the players joined EHOME. Along with signing of Awoke, Kabu was able to reunite with his two old teammates of TyLoo days, and the team was complete.



The best word to describe the team is aggression. Mu is widely known to be constantly seeking kills over farm, and Hao is perhaps the most bloodthirsty carry player there is. With SanSheng and Awoke’s steady support, and Kabu searching for opportunities, TongFu is a team that yearns for ganks to secure an early advantage. In DotA, their performances at ACE League has been impressive against teams such as LGD, iG, and DK. In Dota 2, they were dominant in The International East Qualifier, ruthless against all teams and securing the invite to Seattle in a convincing manner.

Some question if TongFu can still hold up against the true top teams in the world, and those questions are not without basis. Performances in the Gigabyte Dota Masters and joinDOTA Masters have shown that TongFu can be inconsistent, and their reliance on Hao and Mu having good starts can be easily countered by opponents. As a young team, there are also concerns that the LAN pressure in Seattle could overwhelm the team. Regardless of doubts and criticisms, TongFu continues to improve and The International 2012 is the perfect platform to fulfill their potential.

Roster:


(Clicking on the individual hero icons will take you to that hero's profile in our database!)

Hao (Captain)
cn Zhi Hao, Chen

Nicknamed General Hao by the Chinese community, Hao is known to be one of the most aggressive players in the scene. Having joined teams such as Nirvana.cn and TyLoo, Hao is no stranger to LAN competitions and is also known to be extremely fervent during matches. As a carry player, his urge to kill can be seen in game when he dives countless times for kills. His risky plays defines his character, and the polarizing rewards and setbacks from the outcome of his aggression can make or break the team. Following TyLoo’s disappointing performance in Cologne last year, Hao will seek to perform at a higher level to silence critics and cement his place as one of the best carry players.

Signature heroes: :d2_am: :d2_qop: :d2_lyc: :d2_ck:

Mu
cn Pan, Zhang

Voted the best rookie of 2011 in China, Mu has continued to improve his game and not losing his playstyle. Whilst most semi carry players prefer to farm and only participate in major ganks, Mu’s philosophy differs. His presence in the game is evident as he constantly seeks to create opportunities with the team. Whether it be Invoker, Nightstalker, or Chaos Knight, Mu often initiates ganks and tower dives. However, his play does have certain disadvantages as a series of unsuccessful ganks could set him back a long way and his late game impact is less devastating. Nevertheless, give him a few good kills and he will terrorize the enemy.

Signature heroes: :d2_ck: :d2_ns: :d2_inv: :d2_bm:

Kabu
cn Kai, Zhao

During The International 2011, Kabu’s Clockwerk performances were stunning and he tore apart the enemy’s defenses. In an otherwise disappointing campaign at Cologne, Kabu was the lone star that was consistent and earned the respect of many. Fast forward to 2012, despite high expectations placed on him, Kabu’s play lately has been inconsistent. It seems as though he has lost the chilling touch he used to have and is unable to create opportunities like he used to. In the current roster, he will be playing heroes like Venomancer and Sand King. One can only hope that playing in a foreign country is the motivation Kabu needs to perform at his peak again.

Signature heroes: :d2_cg: :d2_veno: :d2_sk: :d2_ds:

SanSheng
cn Zhao Hui, Wang

One of the longest serving member in the competitive scene, Sansheng’s story has been anything but smooth. Nicknamed 34, he has played in many different top teams but achieved little. Despite his solid plays anywhere from the third, fourth, and fifth role, Sansheng was unable to find the correct team for him, having stints in teams such as EHOME and iG. Shortly after joining PanDarea, financial issues forced the disbandment of the team. After signing with TongFu, it seems that Sansheng has finally found his rightful home. Playing heroes such as Bounty Hunter and Windrunner in the offlane, he has been consistently setting up good ganks and performing admirably.

Signature heroes: :d2_brew: :d2_bh: :d2_wr: :d2_veno:

Awoke
cn Liang, Ye

Initially a part of teams such as iG and CLC, Awoke was the hard support of the team. After joining TongFu, Awoke has increased his hero pool by taking up heroes such as Nature’s Prophet. However, there is no doubt his main specialty lies in Chen and Enchantress. His micro abilities are one of the best in China, and his Chen had a 100% winrate in ACE League after five games. Following the merger of both iG.Z and iG.Y, Awoke was not selected to be part of the team, but his omission has been a blessing for any team looking for a solid support and a jungle player. With TongFu, Awoke continues to impress and will be looking to better his performances with TyLoo in the first International.

Signature heroes: :d2_chen: :d2_en: :d2_fur: :d2_cm:

Chances at The International:



Don't bet your cheese on them. A young team, TongFu has the capabilities to upset many teams, but against fifteen of the world’s top teams, there are very few that TongFu can be confident going up against. However, four of five members had experienced the first event held in Cologne, this is a benefit that not many teams have and could mean faster adaptation. If things go their way, TongFu could be the dark horses to knockout potential favorites. But to win the whole thing? Unlikely.

Any opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the editor's, and do not reflect joinDOTA as a whole.

Credit and thanks to the guys over at DotA Academy for their amazing statistics!


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