A Closer Look at the Teams Heading to WePlay AniMajor

WePlay AniMajor is just around the corner, so it’s time to take a closer look at what the second Dota 2 Major of the year has in store for us. With so many top-tier teams in attendance, it’s hard to say what will happen in Ukraine, which adds a unique charm to the tournament.

WePlay AniMajor Format and Prize Pool

Slated to kick off on Wednesday, June 2, WePlay AniMajor will serve as the second Dota 2 Major tournament of the year. It will feature 18 teams who will compete for the lion’s share of the $500,000 prize pool and Dota Pro Circuit Points (DPC).

The international tournament will take place at WePlay Esports Arena Kyiv in Kyiv, Ukraine. The venue was purposely built in 2020 and has previously hosted WePlay Dragon Temple – a $60,000 Mortal Kombat tournament.

The tournament will run from June 2 – June 13 across three stages. The Major will start with the Wild Card stage, leading into the Group Stage and finally the Playoffs.

Six teams will enter the Wild Card Stage, where they’ll compete in a single round-robin Bo2 format, with the top two advancing to the Group Stage. There, eight teams will duke it out over four days in a single round-robin Bo2 format for six spots leading to the Playoffs.

The Playoffs will use a double-elimination Bo3 format, seeding the teams based on their placement in the group stage. Teams who reach the final stage of the tournament are guaranteed a share of the prize pool and DPC points.

WePlay AniMajor Prize Pool and DPC Points

1st – $200,000 + 500 DPC Points
2nd – $100,000 + 450 DPC Points
3rd – $75,000 + 400 DPC Points
4th – $50,000 + 350 DPC Points
5th-6th – $25,000 + 300 DPC Points
7th-8th – $12,500 + 200 DPC Points
9th-18th – Nothing

Which Teams are Competing at AniMajor?

WePlay AniMajor will feature 18 teams from four regions. Depending on the size of the region, WePlay awarded some more seeds for the tournament.

Western Europe and China have received four seeds, while Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia have three teams in attendance. North and South America only have two apiece.

The teams are divided into three groups – Playoffs Seeds, Group Stage Seeds, and Wild Card Seeds. Their group dictates where they’ll begin their journey to the WePlay AniMajor title.

Playoff Seeds

Alliance – have been showing excellent form this season, winning almost every match in their region. They’re billed as one of the main betting favorites to hoist the trophy and win their first Tier-1 tournament since DreamLeague Season 1 in 2014.
Team Aster – newly crowned China’s top Dota 2 team, looking to keep their wheels spinning and showcase their strength on the international stage.
T1 – emerged as the top Southeast Asian team. They finished ahead of TNC Predator, Execration, Fnatic, and OB Esports x Neon.
Virtus.pro – went undefeated in the entire DPC Season 2 and are the main favorites to win the Major title. Once a CIS powerhouse, Virtus.pro struggled over the last few years, but they’re back and ready to prove their worth.
Quincy Crew – were undefeated in the North American qualifiers, beating Evil Geniuses, Undying, and 4 Zoomers.
NoPing e-sports – are the top South American team at WePlay AniMajor, hunting their first Tier-1 tournament title.

Group Stage Seeds

Team Liquid – looked good during the second season of DPC but failed to catch up to Alliance, who edged them out. Liquid have always been a formidable team in international tournaments and are viewed as such heading to Ukraine.
PSG.LGD – Chinese powerhouse with a rich history of international success. PSG.LGD finished behind Aster in season 2 but are more than capable of taking on any team.
TNC Predator – after a streak of poor results early into the year, they finished as the second-best team from SEA. TNC Predator will hunt their second Major title since MDL Chengdu Major in November 2019.
Team Spirit – showed strong form this season, finished inside top-four in all four tournaments they have attended in 2021.
Evil Geniuses – lost only one match during DPC Season 2, against Quincy Crew, who travel to Ukraine as NA’s top team. EG made it to the finals of the Singapore Major and will hope they can take one step further in June.
Beastcoast – punch-up underdogs, whose core wrote history in 2019, when they lead Infamous to a seventh-eight place finish at The International 9.

Wild Card Seeds

Team Nigma – the former core of Team Liquid that finished inside top-four in all of the last three TIs. Nigma enter WePlay AniMajor as the third-best team from Western Europe.
Team Secret – were the top team in season one, but finished only fourth this season. Team Secret field of the most stacked rosters at the tournament, but haven’t been showing good form of late.
Vici Gaming – are the fourth-strongest Chinese team at the tournament. Vici finished seventh-eighth in Singapore and are now chasing their first tournament title since OGA Dota PIT S3: China in October 2020.
Invictus Gaming – the reigning Singapore Major champions secured a ticket for Ukraine by the skin of their teeth. Form has been an issue for the team, but the individual quality is still there.
Execration – punch-up underdogs who have done well against some of the strongest SEA teams.
AS Monaco Gambit – won four out of seven games this season and finished third in Eastern Europe. In Singapore, Gambit have not made it out of the group stage – now they need to earn their right to even compete at that stage.

WePlay AniMajor Outright Betting Odds

Odds courtesy of BetOnline Sportsbook:

Virtus.pro +400
Team Aster +500
Evil Geniuses +500
PSG.LGD +500
Invictus Gaming +700
Alliance +1000
Team Secret +1000
Team Liquid +1400
T1 +1400
Quincy Crew +1600
NoPing e-sports +1600
Team Spirit +2000
TNC Predator +2000
beastcoast +3500
Team Nigma +4000
Vici Gaming +4000
AS Monaco Gambit +10000
Execration +15000