Welcome to EGamersWorld.
We continue to traverse the vastness of competitive Dota 2 with DreamLeague Season 22: WEU Qualifiers. One of the most competitive regions is preparing to begin its journey at the first, official ranking tournament of the 2024 season.
At stake are 2 tickets to the main stage of DreamLeague Season 22. There are 8 teams fighting for this highly coveted prize, including B8 Esports and Team Tickles.
The teams will open their way to DreamLeague Season 22: WEU Qualifiers with a face-to-face confrontation. Truth be told, we can't expect anything worthwhile from this matchup, as both teams don't look like they'll be able to make it to the later rounds of qualification.
Nevertheless, we will keep an eye on both B8 and Team Tickles. In the meantime, we're trying to figure out which side will be stronger and move further up the top grid, and who will have to continue playing at the bottom of the standings.
Let's go.
Team Tickles uniform
Commence the match analysis by examining Team Tickles' recent form. In this upcoming game, the team is anticipated to assume the role of favorites, with odds for their triumph hovering around 1.5, as indicated by the Dota 2 betting site.
Tickles is quite a well-known name in Dota 2. Known primarily due to being constantly "in the frame". It's good to be on the rumour mill and you might get signed by Tundra, but it's not enough for now. Tickles boast a rather modest portfolio of results, mostly consisting of appearances on the TIR-2 scene.
The team had a very productive 2023, and before that a pretty good 2022 season. The team managed to finish in the top 2 at DPC WEU 2021/2022, but then the squad that later became Gaimin Gladiators and won all Major tournaments of the season played there, so that doesn't count. Far more important is the impact of last season's results on Tickles' standing. And there's a lot of The International here.
Tickles started the year under its calendar end. First it was a top-2 finish at Pinnacle Cup: Malta Vibes #3 and Pinnacle Cup: Malta VIbes #4, and later, a win at the ESL One Kuala Lumpur Open Qualifier, followed by a top-6 finish at the ESL One Kuala Lumpur Closed Qualifier.
- Team Tickles line-up: Ulnit, lorenof, Force-, NARMAN, Dukalis.
There was a lot of activity at the end of the season. At that time Team Tickles played at three TIR-2 tournaments: it was European Pro League Season 14, Pinnacle: 25 Year Anniversary Show and European Pro League Season 15. They reached the grand finals at the first, finished in the top 3 at the second, and finished EPL Season 15 in the 5-6 position.
In the closed qualifications for DreamLeague Season 22 they got in by direct invitation from the organisers.
The most popular Team Tickles champions
Among the three most popular heroes: Rubick (5 matches, 60% wins), Jakiro (5 games, 60% wins), Doom (5 matches, 60% wins).
Mirana (4 matches, 50% wins), Pangolier (3 matches, 66% wins), Naga Siren (3 matches, 66% wins) are next.
B8 Esports uniforms
We continue our match breakdown with an analysis of B8 Esports' match form. In this match they will play as an outsider, with odds to win at around 2.5. B8 are so "powerful", that even in the game against an outright outsider of the tournament, they do not play from a position of strength, but on the contrary.
B8 is a rather meme-like team, trying to find itself everywhere and anywhere. It is one of the few clubs that has played in three regions: it was Eastern Europe, North America and now Western Europe. The results everywhere and everywhere are so-so.
The team had a very busy 2023 season. It started in North America and continued there, with minor adjustments for performance in localised European events.
B8 Esports finished Top 6 at DPC NA 2023 Tour 1: Division 1 and Top 5 at DPC NA 2023 Tour 2: Division 1. All in all, not too bad. Then it was Top 6 at DPC NA 2023 Tour 3; Division 1 and that was the end of the DPC story. Global.
Last August we tried to get to The International 2023, but lost to Nouns in the final without a chance. Next up is a string of smaller tournaments: there's Pinnacle Cup: Malta Vibes #4, followed by Top 4, Pinnacle: 25th Anniversary Show and European Pro League Season 15 with top-10s at two championships.
European Pro League Season 14 deserves a special mention. B8 Esports defeated Team Tickles 3-2 in the final, thus becoming the tournament champions and earning $5,000. It would be all right, it's not a significant achievement to say the least, but not in the case of B8. For Team Dendi, this marked the first Dota 2 championship in tag team history.
- B8 Esports roster: Shad, Dendi, StoneBank, CTOMAHEH1, Mary_y.
At DreamLeague Season 22: Closed Qualifier B8 got to DreamLeague Season 22: Closed Qualifier by direct invitation of the organisers.
The most popular heroes of B8 Esports
The most frequent peak guest is Techies (5 matches, 60% wins). Next are Void Spirit and Magnus with 4 matches and 75% wins.
Opponents should beware of Phantom Lancer (3 matches, 100% wins). Skywrath Mage (3 matches, 66% wins) and Ember Spirit (3 matches, 66% wins) are also picks.
Head-to-head history
The last time the teams played each other was in the historic European Pro League Season 14 final. Then B8 celebrated a 3-2 victory.
Predicted result of the match Team Tickles - B8 Esports
Although this match is far from the first magnitude, it will still be The International heresy. First of all, thanks to the storyline. The last game between the clubs ended with a full-fledged bo5 and was generally beautiful. From this match we can expect a full-fledged bo3 and that will be my bet.
Bottom line: total +2.5.
