ESports betting -CS:GO, DOTA 2, LOL, Valorant - discussion thread

[rdbase]

Stage 1 of the Major tournament will begin in one week. I can say that I’ve spotted some promising matches in the opening rounds. I expect Gamerlegion to sweep this stage 3-0. Another team is likely to be either B8 or Betboom—I’m not entirely sure. As for the 0-3 teams, it could be Thunder Downunder, Lynn Vision, or Sharks. Anything can happen in Stage 1, so it’s hard for me to predict who will advance comfortably here.

From the teams you mentioned I am assuming this would be the event in Cologne for the Intel Extreme Masters.
This seems to be the only major in stage 1 after checking a few of the other tournaments currently ongoing.
IEM Cologne stage 1 begins next week on June 2nd and runs through June 5th then they move to the next stage.
Some great looking names participating in this one so expect some fireworks as the competition should be fierce.
GamerLegion are the ones who could make a run through all the other teams I would have to agree.

[arallmuus]

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:

-snip
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

Some very questionable decisions from Valve.

What were the invitations based on exactly? iirc it was based on EPT points right?

If its based on the points then both Parivision and Team Spirit should be on the list since they are #2 and #6 while Team Liquid and Betboom should be dropped of the list.

Considering Team Liquid's fanbase is on a whole another level compared to the other teams, its kinda reasonable to some extent but still including Betboom but not Parivision is just so weird

[passwordnow]

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:

-snip
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.

[execijutiere]

Stage 1 of the Major tournament will begin in one week. I can say that I’ve spotted some promising matches in the opening rounds. I expect Gamerlegion to sweep this stage 3-0. Another team is likely to be either B8 or Betboom—I’m not entirely sure. As for the 0-3 teams, it could be Thunder Downunder, Lynn Vision, or Sharks. Anything can happen in Stage 1, so it’s hard for me to predict who will advance comfortably here.

From the teams you mentioned I am assuming this would be the event in Cologne for the Intel Extreme Masters.
This seems to be the only major in stage 1 after checking a few of the other tournaments currently ongoing.
IEM Cologne stage 1 begins next week on June 2nd and runs through June 5th then they move to the next stage.
Some great looking names participating in this one so expect some fireworks as the competition should be fierce.
GamerLegion are the ones who could make a run through all the other teams I would have to agree.

Yes, I’m talking about the Major tournament. There are some really strong teams, and we might see Stage 1 turn out to be exciting—something we haven’t seen in a long time at a Major tournament. As I mentioned, GamerLegion is the clear favorite among the teams. They have the potential to advance to Stage 2 without losing a single match. It’s hard to predict the other team because the power balance between the teams seems even to me. Everyone has the potential to go 3-0.

[passwordnow]

We are on the day 2 of the Blast Slam VII for the group stage. I think that it's surprising to see XG at the bottom for their results but that won't bother them as they get a direct invite to TI. Two days left before this group stage ends and there will be a last chance to play off qualifiers.

[execijutiere]

There aren’t many matches to watch right now because everyone’s probably waiting for the Major tournament
I got the chance to watch our representative, Eternal Fire, play in the CCT 2026 Europe tournament. Neither team managed to win their chosen maps, so the match went to a decider map. The match on Overpass, the decider map, was truly amazing and incredibly close. Eternal Fire managed to win the match 2-1 by defeating Fnatic 22-20 in overtime. With this victory, Eternal Fire eliminated Fnatic and will now face Gentle Mates.

[rdbase]

There aren’t many matches to watch right now because everyone’s probably waiting for the Major tournament
I got the chance to watch our representative, Eternal Fire, play in the CCT 2026 Europe tournament. Neither team managed to win their chosen maps, so the match went to a decider map. The match on Overpass, the decider map, was truly amazing and incredibly close. Eternal Fire managed to win the match 2-1 by defeating Fnatic 22-20 in overtime. With this victory, Eternal Fire eliminated Fnatic and will now face Gentle Mates.

There are several other smaller tournament currently being played such as the CCT in Europe you just mentioned.
Haven't heard about Eternal Fire in awhile and didn't they change their name to Aurora?
This can't be the same team that is playing on the professional circuit for tier 1 counterstrike is it?

@passwordnow
About Xtreme Gaming being on the bottom of that table, in the last game I seen them play their performance has diminished as a team as a whole so it doesn't surprise me where they sit on there.

[T1HGO]

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.

It's pretty much confirmed now. Probably will be announced right after or during Blast Slam break.

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.

They can't change now. Invites were already issued, so no swapping anymore. I can see Arteezy making a stack do challenge GamerLegion on NA qualifier tho.

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.

Well, by good teams you probably mean competitive within the region, because let's be honest, SEA is by far the weakest region in Dota.

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.

I think it's mainly because it's the host country. The third chinese team won't be able to compete anyway. There is a huge gap between the top1/2 to the rest in China. Honorary guest almost.

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.

EPT has nothing to do with TI invites. While i'm not 100% sure if what i am saying, i think the TI invites are based on teams that won Tier 1 Tournaments. It was like that last year and this year it's pretty similar.
Falcons - Defending Champion
BetBoom - PGL Wallachia 8 Winner
Aurora - This is where i am extremely confused. Aurora didn't win any tournament this year, while Parivision and MOUZ, won a tier 1 tournament this season. Which makes me believe that roster changes might have influence.
Liquid - Blast Slam 6 winner
Tundra - ESL One Birmingham + Dreamleague 28 + Blast Slam 4 and 5 Winner
Xtreme Gaming - Won nothing. But they are the hope of China. Understandable.
Yandex - PGL Wallachia 7 + Dreamleague 27 winner

So, 2 teams that won a tier 1 even this season didn't get an invite. MOUZ and Parivision. Aurora getting an invite instead of one of those teams, especially Parivision is kinda sus.

If it was based on EPT leaderboard, Parivision is 2nd and Spirit is 6th. They should have gotten an invite.

[arallmuus]

About Xtreme Gaming being on the bottom of that table, in the last game I seen them play their performance has diminished as a team as a whole so it doesn't surprise me where they sit on there.

Considering that they had issue on the last tournament, its kinda shocking that they are still together as a team. Ame should be kicked out of that team for sure

You know whats more shocking, Tundra actually at the bottom of the group stage. 3 games to go for Tundra, they can still narrowly save their team but they need to atleast win 2 out 3 remaining games while the other teams lost so its going to be pretty tight or they could go for 3 out 3 which is gonna be pretty hard especially against Betboom