posted by Olucaron,
An entire year, a whole season of DPC events, Major and Minor winners — everything has led to this. The International 2018 kicks off in just half an hour, and we’re ready for this feast of the highest level of gameplay Dota 2 has to offer. Are you?



Twenty matches in a packed Day One



The fight for seeding begins in earnest, with twenty best-of-two matches taking place over the next twelve hours or so. And boy, are there some great matches to kick things off. The first series of matches sees two of the favourites in action with PSG.LGD facing off against OG, while Team Liquid get underway against the Southeast Asians of Fnatic.






Although it will be hard to predict after the first day, we should have a snapshot of what kind of form the teams are in. Will we see Liquid defend their title, and become the first org in history to do so? Can an underdog such as Team Serenity or Winstrike take the Aegis?










The teams are ready – let the games begin!



Hype is understandably real amongst the teams and their players as they take to the greatest stage in Dota 2. For them, the Aegis is not just a trophy to be won or prize money to be banked. It’s a chance to go down in the annals of history as one of a very select few to have stood in the same position, hoisting the shield aloft. To have their name used in the same sentence as ‘legend’, and to be looked up to by the next generation of Dota 2 pros.

It will be tense. It will be challenging. Most of all, it will be war. Which teams will come out on top? The next two weeks will reveal all — and for us, the fans, we’ll be on the edge of our seats all the way. This is what we have been waiting for.





Our picks of the day’s action



There’s only one choice which rises above all when it comes to ‘game of the day’ — the epic Group A battle between Team Liquid and PSG.LGD. Both teams are heavily favoured to go far in the tournament, and this should be an acid test of just where each team is coming into the tournament.

Other notable matches include paiN Gaming*’s first ever TI match, a tough one against Chinese powerhouses Newbee, and the “Vici battle” between Vici Gaming and Forward Gaming.

Virtus.pro open their account versus OpTic Gaming, looking to carry their DPC form into the tournament, while the Europeans of Team Secret will be looking to make an impression against Serenity, who will provide a stern test after their amazing Chinese qualifying run.


As always, you can follow all the coverage of TI on joinDOTA, thanks to Rivalry.gg! Which games are you most hyped for?

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Header image © Valve

  • Olucaron
    Olucaron

    Olucaron

    David W. Duffy
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