posted by Olucaron,
Underdog spirit carries them through
Far from a household name, TNC Predator qualified for TI6 at the second attempt, defeating Execration in a tiebreaker in the Southeast Asia Open Qualifier #2. After experiencing visa issues, they only received clearance to travel the day before they were due to fly to Seattle for Valve’s showpiece.
There, they shocked everyone. Going 7-7 in a group stage containing some heavyweight teams, they claimed series wins over eventual winners Wings Gaming, LGD Gaming and Escape Gaming, as well as a tie with CIS powerhouses Natus Vincere.
Then, in the Lower Bracket, they proved that togetherness and belief are powerful weapons in competitive esports. Going up against Vici Gaming Reborn* in a best-of-one shootout, they recorded a comprehensive victory to move on to a best-of-three showdown with OG.
In a couple of marathon games, including a comeback from a 20k deficit, TNC treated fans to possibly one of the greatest shock results in Dota 2 history, taking the 2-0 win. Although they would go on to lose to runners-up Digital Chaos* in the next round, their names had been immortalized forever.
In the documentary, the players recount this extraordinary run, really painting a picture of how life-changing qualification for TI can be for smaller teams. It’s well worth a watch!
Can TNC go on another epic run? Who is your underdog for TI8?
Image © Valve
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