With the International 2018 fast approaching, we have a look at the favorite teams to take home the trophy and be crowned the best Dota 2 team in the world. This year’s International departs from its old home of Key Arena in Seattle, and instead shifts to Vancouver’s Rogers Arena, marking the second ever TI to be held outside US soil.
TI8 is bound to be the most competitive International in history, where more than half the teams can be dubbed favorites or dark horses, but there are 3 teams which stood out the most during the DPC season.
If you fancy betting on TI, we recommend doing so only through the best esports betting sites around. Without further ado, let’s look at the favorites.
Virtus.Pro
Virtus.Pro have been the most consistent team throughout the DPC season, rightfully earning their 1st seed invite to TI8 thanks to some spectacular performances all year round. The Russian juggernauts won the Bucharest Major as well as three ESL One trophies in Hamburg, Katowice and Birmingham. VP topped off their season with a 2nd place at the China Dota 2 Supermajor, only losing out to Team Liquid in the final.
Virtus.Pro have proven to be one of the most creative teams around, always having the ability to surprise their opponents with their drafts, but ultimately, it’s the execution of those drafts that wins you games. Their core roster of RAMZES666, No[o]ne, 9Pasha and Solo have been playing together since 2016, which is why they possess great chemistry and camaraderie – vital traits of an elite team. It’s always tough to predict who will win TI, but as of right now VP seem the most likely candidates.
Team Liquid
As defending champions of The International and 2nd place on the DPC ladder, Team Liquid are the strongest challengers to VP’s position as favorite. Their roster of MATUMBAMAN, Miracle-, MinD_ContRoL and KuroKy have been sticking together since 2015, with GH being the latest addition in 2017.
After having won TI7 and netting $10,000,000+ in their pockets, Liquid continued showing strong performances at nearly every tournament they participated in. They won the StarLadder Invitational Season 3 and 4, Dota PIT League and China Dota 2 Supermajor while finishing 2nd at DreamLeague Season 8 and Epicenter XL. Liquid also recorded 3rd place finishes at DreamLeague Season 9, ESL Katowice 2018 and ESL Hamburg 2017.
Coming fresh off their Dota 2 Supermajor win, Liquid will be as confident and determined as ever to become the first-ever team to win back-to-back International trophies.
PSG.LGD
With each iteration, the International trophy has always switched hands between a team from the West and a team from the East. If this tradition is to continue, then it means we’ll be seeing a Chinese team win the trophy this year, and out of all Chinese teams PSG.LGD seem by far the most likely candidate.
LGD boasts a rich history, they are a team that has always featured at the forefront of the Dota 2 scene. Their current roster features plenty of flair through their cores Ame and Maybe, and a strong backbone in their support duo of Fy and Nova.
Despite starting off their season with poor results (8th – 10th) at the Perfect World Masters, Summit 8 and MDL Macau, PSG.LGD looked a team reborn at the start of 2018, where they finished 2nd place at the DAC 2018 and StarLadder Invitational Season 4. Afterwards, PSG.LGD went on to show their true form and capped off their season with strong 1st place finishes at EPICENTER XL and MDL Changsha Major and achieving a respectable 3rd place at the China Dota2 Supermajor.
