In a spectacular turn of events, former Southeast Asia’s Dota 2 sensation, Boom Esports, has made waves by securing a spot in the round-robin stage of the highly competitive Dota 2 Elite League in Europe. With an impeccable record of three victories out of three series, Boom Esports stands tall as the first team to advance to the next stage, closely followed by Entity, who wrapped up its own flawless streak just last night.
The underdogs’ outstanding streak in the Elite League’s swiss stage signals a triumphant comeback, particularly for Jordan “Slatems” Vega. Having departed the team in December 2023 only to return the following month, Slatems faced criticism and doubt, especially regarding his performance in the top tier Dota competitive scene. However, his resilience and determination have silenced the skeptics, earning commendation from none other than Boom’s CEO, Gary Ongko.
On the opening day of the Elite League last Sunday (3/31), Boom faced a tough challenge from PSG Quest. Game 1 highlighted an impressive play from PSG Quest’s Aybek “Naive-” Tokayev on Morphling who gave Boom a headache, leading to a GG call just over 25 minutes into the game.
In game 2, PSG Quest nearly extended their dominance, but Boom’s Slatem turned the tables with a crucial kill in the 35th minute. This sparked a turnaround for Boom, gradually increasing their net worth and catching up on item builds. Despite trailing 13-23 in the first 30 minutes, Boom managed an impressive comeback, reaching 34-33 by the 52nd minute and securing victory. Riding this momentum into game 3, Christian “Pakazs” Savina’s Troll Warlord led Boom to further domination, ultimately forcing PSG Quest to concede.
The following day, Boom continued the winning streak with a flawless display against a rejuvenated Team Secret, who underwent tactical changes, including the shift of Tue “ah fu” Chuan from coaching role to position 4. Boom’s resilience was on full display once again, overcoming Secret’s early aggression to secure back-to-back victories with Slatems and Pakazs on the front.
In the final clash of the swiss stage, Boom Esports faced off against its former SEA rival, Talon Esports, clinching a dramatic 2-1 victory. Slatems once again pulled a top notch performance to help Boom secured a hard-fought victory in game 2 and 3, dominating on kill points.
This outcome further solidifies Boom’s upward trajectory, overcoming earlier challenges since the organization moved to the LATAM competitive scene in late 2023. Despite facing hurdles and undergoing personnel changes throughout December 2023 and January 2024, the Hungry Beast has now hit its stride in recent weeks. Its resurgence underscores the ability to contend with the top-tier teams in the LATAM region.
