Announcing Dota 2 eSports News: July’s Recap

Ceb is Back on the Main Roster

Ceb is a prominent Dota 2 player who started his career in 2011. Playing as an offlaner, he has succeeded like very few players did. His total winnings at the moment are $5,864,282.

Starting from 21.11.18, Ceb has taken time off Dota eSports. Still, he wasn’t 100% deprived of competitive play during retirement. He was often invited to be a stand-in in the OG team. That way, he played in two majors.

But the off-playing time ended on July 30 with Ceb’s Twitter post saying, “Retirement is just THAT boring.” So Ceb has reunited with his previous OG team. And he did it before The International 12 qualifiers started.

Hence Ceb has a chance to make the biggest Dota 2 eSports return in history. Will he manage to get into TI and score a high position? No one knows. But Ceb’s vast playing experience will definitely help him with that.

What do you personally think about Ceb’s return? The eSports community sees here an amazing chance to pull off some wagers before the Dota 2 betting site has determined fair odds for the OG. Don’t miss an opportunity!

Team Spirit Wins the Biggest Non-TI Event

In 2023, the world saw the first non-TI event that competes with its prize pool-wise: Riyadh Masters. This offline event has taken place in Saudi Arabia, Er Riyadh, featuring a prize pool of $15 000 000!

Team Spirit wasn’t a favorite here. They were a kind of dark horse. Everyone knew that they could pop off. But their recent accomplishments weren't indicating that. Still, they’ve surprised everyone.

First, they’ve shown a fantastic spectacle on the group stage. They’ve scored an impressive victory over BetBoom, their regional rival. This win has probably given them lots of strength as later they won 2:0 against a season’s favorite, Team Liquid.

But as a true leader, TL didn’t get too upset. They quickly made their way back, obliterating Talon ESports. Eventually, TL climbed to the finals, where they had to meet Team Spirit again.

Their confrontation was epic. In the first map, TL proved their “favorite” status and won. But this seemed just to get Team Spirit angry. The next three games were easily taken by the TS. It was pure domination.

The one-sidedness of the match was most apparent on the fourth map. Team Spirit strategy here revolved around Terrorblade, piloted by the Yatoro. Their game plan had worked out, and the carry got so big that no one could stop him. This has put a period mark on this historic event, giving TS a prize pool of $5 000 000.

This win is highly-important for the Team Spirit as this is their biggest accomplishment since Arlington Major in 2022. And also, it is their first big win since they’ve added Larl to their roster.

Dota 2 Veterans are Unhappy with Current eSports

This competitive Dota 2 season has drawn lots of criticism to Valve. Many players discuss it. And among them, we see historic Dota figures such as Puppey, a leader of the Team Spirit. He states that the currency eSports model is “lackluster” and does bad for the game.

If someone is unfamiliar with a Puppey, that guy was around Dota eSports for 15 years! He started in 2011 with the game’s beta, participating in the first TI with the Na’Vi team. The Dota 2 eSports circuit has changed a lot since then. And he keeps claiming what problems it has.

First, he thinks Dota 2 is fast-paced; things must occur quickly. So, he doesn’t like dragged-out leagues lasting more than usual Dota competitions. Puppey says, “I will always prefer a vibe where it ends in a week or if it’s a big tournament, two weeks but is constantly moving.” He is not into waiting a week till he can play his next match.

However, Puppey has also named several features he likes about the current Dota 2 eSports. For instance, he thinks shifting this season to a condensed schedule is a great idea. This has made regional events to last three weeks instead of six.

Such a change has created a space for additional minor events not part of the DPC. Pro Tour, created and funded by the ESL, is one such competition.

The presence of minor events like this is absolutely essential for the Dota 2 eSports development. It opens the doors for the smaller teams who can show themselves, find sponsors, an audience, and become new big things.