In the buzz surrounding the debut of the Dota 2 circuit’s latest installment, PGL Wallachia, Southeast Asia faces a setback with the absence of Blacklist International, sidelined by a technical problem that dashed their hopes of competing in Romania this week.
The brand new PGL Dota 2 competitive scheme features a series of eight grand LAN tournaments, each boasting a staggering $1M prize pool. Beyond these eight main events, PGL teased plans to expand their event lineup through strategic partnerships, which will keep their esports scheme until at least 2026.
To secure berths in these prestigious showdowns, teams engaged in a fierce qualifying battle across regions last March. In the Southeast Asian leg, Blacklist International emerged victorious, clinching the only ticket with a thrashing of underdog Neon Esports in a climactic showdown.
The anticipation among fans and the Dota SEA community was palpable as they eagerly awaited Blacklist International’s debut on the international stage in Romania, poised to take on the world’s greatest teams. However, PGL has revealed that the Filipino Pride will be absent from the fray due to their inability to secure the required visas on time.
With Blacklist International out of contention, the spotlight now falls solely on Aurora, SEA’s lone representative, who secured a direct invitation to the tournament months prior. Filling the void left by the Filipino outfit, PGL handed the slot to Azure Ray, as no other SEA teams were able to complete the required documents to play in Romania.
Blacklist International isn’t the sole casualty of visa woes at PGL Wallachia. Tundra Esports also withdrew due to similar issues, with OG initially set to replace them. However, OG quickly issued a public statement regarding their decision to skip the event, opting to give players and staff with a well-deserved break.
