posted by Abelle,
It’s hard to say what to expect from the first Brazilian squad to attend a Major, hence their placement on this list. This isn’t to say that they don’t stand a chance, but rather that it’s impossible to rank them above any other team on this list based on past performances. After the event, it could be a very different story..
The first of four teams on this list to have a recent name change is the ex-Ad Finem roster, now part of mousesports. Despite 2nd place in Boston we’ve seen next to nothing from this team in recent months, which lands them almost dead bottom.
Their online results have suffered in the last month or so and their last Major outing was a bit of a disaster, putting them close to the bottom of this ranking.
Not to be confused with Thunderbirds, Digital Chaos are now the ex-Team Onyx squad. This team is totally untested on LAN and with the punishing nature of single elimination it’s unlikely they get very far on their first outing.
The ex-Wings squad have been through some tough times lately, and splitting with their organization is the latest development in a sad story. It's still the same amazing five players that won TI6, but it’s going to take time and hard work before they can rise back to the top.
This team has seen flashes of brilliance (StarLadder Season 3 for example) which led to them receiving a direct invite to this event, but overall, they haven’t been too impressive. They’ll need to play at their best if they hope to make it into the Top 8.
TNC have done very well in the last two LANs they attended, but haven’t dominated in recent online qualifiers. The LAN environment could bring out the best in TNC, but they’ve got some tough competition to face.
Even though iGV are a little more than halfway down the list, they shouldn’t be underestimated. They’ve got one of the best sparring partners possible (iG) and recently took 4th at DAC. On a good day, they could be Top 4 in Kiev, but consistency isn’t one of their strengths.
Team Secret’s re-formed roster on the road to TI7 hasn’t impressed much yet, but they’ve been solid and continue to show improvement.
The ex-Digital Chaos boys don’t have many matches to study from the last few months but their very strong results at The Boston Major and ESL suggest that they don’t need to be busy to stay at the top of their game.
Fans of Liquid have had a few disappointments in the last several months but the roster remains one of the best in Dota 2, hence their relatively high place in this ranking.
Their strength remains largely untested on LAN since the Boston Major, but VP are no slouches. With a strong run in Kiev they could even crack Top 4.
When talking about Top 4 teams, Newbee edges out the competition thanks to their strong results. With a few more wins under their belt, Newbee’s players could be the next generation of Chinese Dota superstars (Sccc is basically there already).
You can’t forget EG at the top of a power ranking. They may not have won a Major yet this season but they’re still Top 4 material. Maybe they’ll even take a championship this time around.
Beating OG takes some serious talent, and iG’s packed with it. Their rise to the top of the scene is reflected in their high place on this power ranking.
No one’s questioning OG’s place at the top of the Dota 2 ranks right now. They had a minor setback at DAC, but they’re still the most consistent, strongest team out there.
Make sure to follow hashtag #ROGKiev on social media to keep track of all things Kiev Major!
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