Direct Invites
With less than three months until we raise the curtains on the big show, we’re excited to extend these seven teams invitations to Shanghai, China to compete in The International 2026:
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Tundra Esports
I guess this means Tundra will be postponing their decision to disband the team since they get the direct invitation to TI? its literally promotion for them and on the same time, revenue is atleast guaranteed
Probably, so the rumor about them getting out of dota 2 scene and transferring their roster into 1win might have been delayed because of this update from Valve.
Some very questionable decisions from Valve.
Only 1 slot for South America, 1 slot for North America, when there's only 1 competitive team. They merged Eastern and Western Europe, why not do the same for Americas?
This has got a point, and that's why kaffs has released a statement that they'll have to battle for 1 slot in the SA with Playtime and ex-heroic now LGD gaming. But I think it's still possible for them to move to NA if they wish since the only good team there is GamerLegion.
SEA qualifier is gonna be an absolute bloodbath, REKONIX, OG, GLYPH, Execration, Nemesis, and 23savage+Nikko stack. Damn!
True, I think that if OG just stayed on EU region, they've got better chance. But since they're SEA based now, a lot of good teams in SEA to be honest every time there's a qualifier. But may the best team wins. This has been planned by OG all along but they've probably surprised that the region is only getting one slot.
And China qualifier having 2 slots, when XG is already invited.. well, since TI is gonna be in China, it seems they want 3 teams representing the region, but from a fairness standpoint, doesn't make sense.
It's also to attract chinese fans since it's one of Valve's most customers and of course, as a courtesy to the host country.
Parivision not getting a direct invite is very questionable. Spirit is understandable. Europe Qualifier is another bloodbath, but it has 4 slots at least. Both should easily qualify.
Yes, Pari and Team Spirit likely to get the two slots and the rest other two will be fight over by the other good teams. I hope that there will be another new team will take one of it. As for Parivsion, I think it's with the EPT Points and the roster change they've made but it is only with DM > SSS > Noticed. I'm not sure about the calculation but that probably was the main factor.