The DotA 2 International this year could well be an interesting one, as it will rely on some of the Esport's biggest players competing their way through the open qualifiers. Due to roster and team issues from both Evil Geniuses and Secret, neither team has received an invite to skip over the qualifying period.
You know who did though? Long time fan favorite and regular at The International, Na'vi. Although the team has seen a lot of problems over the past year with players jumping ship and the very future of the team called into question on more than one occasion, a number of solid wins in the past few months has netted them an invite to the big show.
Other teams joining them will include OG, the winners of the Frankfurt and Manila majors; Team Liquid, another top EU team; Newbee, China's all star team; LGD Gaming, and MVP Phoenix; Korea's big entry in the series.
It may well be that Evil Geniuses and Secret do make it to the finals, indeed they will offer some serious competition for many of the other teams competing in the open qualifiers. However as PCG points out, once they start progressing through the rounds, they could run into some serious competition which if they aren't fully prepared for could see them leaving the major competition much earlier than most would expect.
Do you have a favourite in the upcoming contest?
