EPICENTER Major Qualifiers Results: the last major of the Dota Pro Circuit
The EPICENTER Major qualifiers are finally over and 14 of the world’s best teams have managed to secure tickets for the final DPC Major of the season. For the most part, these were the usual suspects and nobody is too surprised about their results. However, there were a couple of exceptions as well, so the last tournament of the season until The International 2019 still has the potential to change things quite a bit in the DPC rankings.
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EPICENTER Major Qualifiers Summary
Here’s how the EPICENTER Major qualifiers ended in every region.
China
The competition in the Chinese region went more or less according to plan. PSG.LGD and Vici Gaming secured tickets for EPICENTER Major. As for the third team that qualified, Royal Never Give Up proved to be stronger than Keen Gaming, Team Aster and Newbee and for the first time this season, they’re at a Major. Keen unfortunately did not have a very good couple of days, even though they’re a top 10 team in the global rankings and should have easily defeated everyone apart from PSG.LGD and Vici Gaming.
Europe
In Europe, Team Secret, Team Liquid and OG repeated their performance from the previous Major qualifier and secured tickets for EPICENTER Major to the detriment of NiP and Alliance. After this result, we can clearly say that ana is an absolutely phenomenal carry and his return to OG has brought nothing less than excellent performances. After a 5th – 6th place at their first Major of the season, OG succeeded in qualifying for their second. This way, they will have a chance to defend their top 12 position and secure a direct invite to TI 9.
North America
In the NA region, Forward Gaming and Evil Geniuses did exactly what they were expected, although not in the order that the community would have predicted. Forward Gaming won the Group Stage with seven consecutive wins, while EG had to win the Playoffs Stage in order to qualify for EPICENTER Major.
Southeast Asia
In SEA, the winners were Fnatic and TNC Predator. Fnatic was definitely expected to qualify, even though they messed up completely at their latest Major, where they finished 13th – 16th. However, TNC Predator had been regarded as a risky team to bet on, simply because of their long string of poor results. But, since the arrival of Heen, Team Liquid’s former coach, TNC has reshaped their play style and the results are impressive.
CIS
In the CIS region, the big surprise was Gambit Esports. Thanks to another slight misstep from Virtus.pro, Gambit won the Group Stage and qualified for their second Major of the season. The other team that secured a ticket for EPICENTER Major was VP, after they beat Na’Vi in the Grand Final (3 – 2).
South America
And finally, we have South America, where Infamous and paiN Gaming had an easy path to glory, thanks in part to the fact that Chaos went through a partial disband right before the qualifiers began, and were not invited as a result.
