Nouns Sweep B8 in North American Qualifiers, Securing Spot at TI 2023
Nouns, a formidable Dota 2 team, has emerged victorious in the North American qualifiers for The International 2023 (TI 2023). Their resounding victories secured them a spot in the highly anticipated tournament. Led by players such as Héctor K1 RodrÃguez and Nicolas Gunnar Lopez, Nouns solidified their position as the third-best team in North America throughout the Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) season.
Their journey to the grand finals of the North American qualifier was not without its challenges. Nouns faced tough competition from established teams like Shopify Rebellion and TSM, who received direct invites to TI 2023. However, Nouns’ consistent performances and impressive gameplay made them the favorites to win the qualifier.
On the other side of the bracket stood B8, an organization founded by Ukrainian Dota 2 legend Danil Dendi Ishutin. B8 faced an initial setback, losing their first match against Wildcard Gaming and being dropped to the lower bracket. However, they displayed resilience, dominating their opponents and earning a spot in the grand finals against Nouns.
In the highly anticipated series, Nouns demonstrated their prowess right from the start. Game one saw them secure a comfortable victory with powerful performances from K1 on Terrorblade and Gunnar on Invoker. They continued their dominance in game two, swiftly securing a commanding 2-0 series lead. Yamsun’s support Nature’s Prophet and Gunnar’s Leshrac played crucial roles in Nouns’ victory.
Nevertheless, B8 did not go down without a fight. In game three, Dendi showcased his skills with an unorthodox mid Witch Doctor, synergizing effectively with V-Tune’s Faceless Void. Their teamfights were executed flawlessly, but Nouns ultimately outlasted them after a grueling 56 minutes, completing the series sweep.
With their triumph over B8, Nouns becomes the second team to qualify for TI 2023 through the regional qualifiers, following Azure Ray’s victory in the Chinese qualifiers. They join North American powerhouses Shopify Rebellion and TSM as representatives of the region at the prestigious tournament.
TI 2023’s regional qualifiers will continue until August 31, featuring different regions battling it out for a chance to compete at the grand event. After North America and China, South America and Eastern Europe will host their qualifiers from August 22 to 26, followed by Western Europe and Southeast Asia from August 27 to 31.
Set to take place from October 12 to 29 in Seattle, United States, TI 2023 will showcase a revamped format with two distinct phases: ‘The Road to The International’ and ‘The International’ itself. Dota 2 enthusiasts and fans eagerly anticipate this year’s tournament, as it promises to showcase the best teams from all corners of the globe.