Dota 2’s most important tournament of the year, International 2019 AKA TI9, is quickly approaching. Group Stages will start on the 15th and end on the 18th of August. August 20 to August 25 will capture the Main Event.

Competing will be a total of 18 teams: 12 who earned enough points throughout this past years Dota Pro Circuit and Qualified Teams.

Not listed below are Qualified Teams Newbee, Infamous, Chaos Esports Club, Natus Vincere, Royal Never Give Up and Mineski. The following gives a bit of information on each of the top 12 teams that dominated the Dota Pro Circuit.

Team Secret – 14400 Points

Currently ranked No. 1 in the world with a win rate of roughly 72 percent the past three months, Team Secret should be considered a favorite for TI9. However, The International is quite unpredictable. There, the 18-year-old Polish prodigy Nisha will have his TI debut.

Virtus.Pro – 13500 Points

At the Kuala Lumpur Major, Virtus.Pro saught revenge on an upper bracket loss to Team Secret. After working through the lower bracket to the Grand Finals, they took their vengeance in an exciting five-game series after being down 1-2. The team boasts a 63% win rate the past three months.

Vici Gaming – 11250 Points

The Chinese organization has a win rate of 62 percent the past three months and is ranked No. 3 in the world right now. Their carry Paparazi is one of the best in the world and has won back-to-back Dota 2 Asia Championship solo tournaments.

Evil Geniuses – 6825 Points

The established North American organization carries a win rate of 65 percent the past 3 months and had a great performance at the last TI. They were written off at first but eliminated powerhouses Virtus.Pro and Team Liquid before losing to PSG.LGD in the Lower Bracket Final.

Team Liquid – 5820 Points

Team Liquid easily swept Keen at MDL Disneyland Major but lost to Evil Geniuses. They fought their way through the lower bracket defeating teams like Vici Gaming, PSG.LGD and OG bringing them to the Grand Final. Unfortunately, they lost to Team Secret 1-3 in the Grand Final.

PSG.LGD – 5040 Points

PSG.LGD is nearly at a 64 percent win rate the past three months and took first at EPICENTER XL last year. They also finished second at TI8 and first at the Mars Dota 2 League Changsha Major.

Fnatic – 2880 Points

Fnatic has a 52 percent win rate over the past three months. All five players on the roster have played in previous TIs, but none have ever left victorious. They also competed in all five Majors this past year. They’ll need shining performances from their top players like Abed and iceiceice to have a chance for victory in TI9

Ninjas in Pyjamas – 2620 Points

NiP took first at the StarLadder ImbaTV Dota 2 Minor and has taken first in other Minors the course of this past year. They beat top talent like PSG.LGD at the EPICENTER Major but they also lost 1-2 to them later in the tournament.

TNC Predator – 2046 Points

With a 61 percent win rate, this team from the Philippines deserves to partake at TI. They took fourth place in the recent Epicenter Major tournament, only losing to VP and VG. Heen, an experienced Dota 2 coach, joined TNC late April and can help this team stay strong in the upcoming tourney.

OG – 1218 Points

Last year OG won The International 2018 in a Cinderella fashion. They were swept by Team Liquid sending them to the lower half of Group A. After, they fought for a spot in the Upper Bracket. They beat Evil Geniuses on their way to the Upper Bracket Final. OG worked their way to The Grand Finals where a rematch with PSG.LGD went a full five games for the second time in TI history.

Alliance – 1179 Points

This team truly works their players. Alliance has a 56 percent win rate in three months that they developed from improving every chance they can. As other players prepare for TI9, Alliance is in Los Angeles competing at Summit 10. Using this as one last scrim, Alliance is a fan favorite that will get far in TI9.

Keen Gaming – 1140 Points

This Chinese team may be at the bottom of the points ladder but shouldn’t be underestimated. They’ve got a 54 percent win rate in the last three months from the team’s huge improvements. Placing first in both the Jiabet Asian Masters League and in ESL One Mumbai, Keen Gaming will be the underdogs to watch out for.

Credit: Justin Amin & Mitch Marowitz