From producing the stellar Netflix animation, Dota: Dragon's Blood, to creating a user-friendly tutorial for new players and even to secure a site for the upcoming The International(TI) despite scrambling from all the Sweden drama, 2021 was starting to look like Valve’s year.
At 1 pm in the afternoon, Matthew “Whitemon” Filemon begins his workday. He sits in front of his computer screen for hours at a time, frantically pressing keys while verbally discussing strategies with an invisible audience.
SEA fans watched with bated breath as the two best teams in SEA clashed for a prestigious spot at The International 10. The Grand Finals for the Southeast Asia Regional Qualifier for TI10 was a banger, running its full five games with Fnatic reverse sweeping the Filipino squad of TNC Predator.
A tale as old as time, esports is once again failing to get the recognition it so rightly deserves. This time it is the Dota 2 The International (TI)10 that bears the full brunt of it. By refusing to accept esports into the Swedish Sports Federation, Sweden has effectively screwed Valve over. Without the recognition as an elite sporting event by the Swedish Government, players, talents, and staff from outside the European Union would likely be denied entry into Sweden and by extension TI10.
It was a massive win for the SEA-based Dota 2 team. Astounding fans and competitors alike, T1 clutched 3rd in the 2nd major of the year, just barely behind Evil Geniuses and PSG.LGD.
Some know them as the only 2-time winners of The International (TI) while others know them for their relentless and unforgiving BM. Love OG or hate them, you must admit that they are one of the best Dota 2 teams out there, or at least they were...
