$1 million is up for grabs in the heat of the UAE.
Your favorite Dota 2 team is probably on its way to Dubai right now for BetBoom Dacha, 2024’s first seven-figure tournament. The international event will feature 12 teams with representation from every region fighting for a share of the $1 million prize pool. The competition is sure to be fierce, but when the sand settles, only one can be champion.
If you’re deciding what team to root for or looking to make Arcana bets with friends, these are the three favorite teams heading into BetBoom Dacha Dubai.
Team Spirit remains the final boss of Dota 2
No discussion about top Dota 2 teams is complete without Team Spirit, so we may as well get it out of the way now. The reigning champion of The International 2023 hasn’t lost a match since July of last year, losing less than ten total games since Riyadh Masters. Gaimin Gladiators is the closest thing Spirit has to a rival. The 3-0 ending of last year’s TI shows GG is really more of a preferred grand finals victim.
Illya "Yatoro" Mulyarchuk has cemented his status as the greatest carry in history with a massive hero pool and impeccable early fighting. Meanwhile, support duo Myroslav "Mira" Kolpakov and Yaroslav "Miposhka" Naidenov retain their status as the ultimate playmakers. The Eastern European squad is poised to dominate the group stage, though a few teams could contest it.
Azure Ray could be the upset favorite at BetBoom Dacha
The Chinese scene is in a weird spot right now, but no one can doubt its ability to perform on the world stage. With LGD floundering at qualifiers, Azure Ray is now the region’s best hope for a championship. A solid 4th place at The International turned into a surprise championship at ESL One Kuala Lumpur in December. Considering its all-star lineup, the team has more than enough experience at big events.
The team is a mix of the greatest players in CN Dota history and some fresher faces. All eyes will be on legendary soft support Xu "fy" Linsen, but Jiang "天命" An is no slouch in the lane either. Younger carry Lou Zhen is on a hot streak, owning nearly every game in the qualifiers for BetBoom Dacha and DreamLeague Season 22. A $500,000 grand prize would be the perfect start for the dominant year it built toward in 2023.
Dark horse Falcons Esports could steal the show in Dubai
If you want to take the road less traveled, consider Falcons. The team has all the makings of a surprise champion. Forming in late 2023, the squad mirrors Azure Ray as a mix of veterans and rising talent. Two-time major champion Andreas "Cr1t-" Nielsen and TI10 winner Jingjun "Sneyking" Wu need no introduction. Offlaner-captain Ammar "ATF" Al-Assaf is still building his legacy alongside rookie midlaner Stanislav "Malr1ne" Potorak.
Each player brings something unique to the table, and so far the formula is working. Falcons made its top-tier debut at ESL One Kuala Lumpur with a respectable 5th, claiming wins off Liquid, Tundra, and LGD. Qualifiers have been cakewalks for the explosive roster. Even the organization is Saudi Arabian, giving Falcons the closest thing to home field advantage. Falcons isn't the biggest favorite to win BetBoom Dacha Dubai, but the team could easily catch more experienced teams off guard.
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