9 out 10 Pinoys to Support Biggest eSports Tourney Despite Lack of PH Representatives

IT HAS been four years since the Philippines had a flag-bearer in what the gaming community has dubbed as the World Cup of Dota 2: The International.

The International (TI), Dota 2’s premiere tournament organized by the game’s developer Valve, is one of — if not the most — sought after eSports tournament today. According to Valve, last year’s TI — TI4 — was streamed by at least 20 million. The event was also aired by ESPN on their online platform and on ESPN 3.

But the past four years have been a roller coaster ride for the Filipino Dota 2 community. Four years of enduring the tightropes of regional qualifiers. Four years of struggling with slow internet connectivity. Four years of hoping to see a Pinoy team slaying a global titan in the biggest stage.

Being one of the first countries to send a gaming squad in the inaugural TI1 was an honor but since then, sending another representative has been an ordeal.

“I feel very disappointed that it has been 4 years (of) absence for a Philippine team in The International. I have been trying to work closely with the events team to tweak tournament formats and layouts in order to breed a local team to be ready for the major events like this,” Ronald “Roro” Robins, CEO of Mineski, the first Filipino team to compete in The International, told eSports by INQUIRER.net in an email interview.

In a survey conducted by eSports by INQUIRER.net, 94% or 327 out of 347 respondents said that they will still watch TI5 even if there are no Filipino teams representing the country this year.

138 of which or nearly 40% will watch TI5, mainly  to support the game and the tournament itself. 84 (24.21%) answered that they will be watching TI5 to support their favorite European team and 10% or at least 37 will watch for enjoyment and learning.

At least  291 Pinoys or nearly 84% of the total respondents  have watched The International more than once and  116 (33.43%) of which have watched all four The Internationals.

In terms of team support, 167 or 43% of the respondents roots for Team Secret from Europe.  At least 73 will cheer for Ukrainian team Natus Vincere and 13% or at least 49 will support American powerhouse Evil Geniuses.

“(eSports) as a spectator sport is the big thing nowadays. There is no doubt why (Filipino Dota 2) gamers would still watch even if there is no local representative in the main event of Dota 2 (The International). As it is as exciting as any other sport where the best teams in the world play for the title called ‘world champion’,” Roro said.

Team Mineski was first team to represent the country in TI1 last 2011. Since then, it has become the dream of pinoy Dota 2  players to watch a Philippine Team make it to TI. This year’s TI5 may be one of the most painful gaming years for Filipinos as we have not only failed to send a squad yet again to Key Arena, but we have also been shut out from other major eSports tournaments.

The Filipinos witnessed how Rave Dota, the Korea-based Overseas Filipino Gamers, created waves in Dota 2 as they climbed the ranks and became one of the biggest threats in the SEA region.

And the Filipinos weren’t the only ones hoping for the team to get a direct invite in TI5. When Rave didn’t receive a direct invite into the event (the invite that would eventually be extended to then Team Malaysia or Team Fnatic as they are called now), it caused a minor uproar among not only the Filipino Dota 2 community, but also members of the global Dota 2 scene.

But despite the shut out, the Philippines remains a Dota 2 country. With Dota 2 viewership on Twitch.tv, a popular videogame streaming platform, strongly represented by Philippine viewers, it is not surprise that this year’s event will still be watched even without a Philippine team playing in the grand stage.

But more than just watching the event, Filipino players are showing their support for the tournament through their wallets.

Since it’s inception, The International has been solely funded by Valve until they released a virtual item called “Compendium” during TI3 in 2013.

The Compendium became the crowdfunding mechanism in order to boost the tournament’s prize pot. The compendium costs $10 (P450~), 25% of which or $2.50 (P110~) goes to directly to the prize pot. Compendium owners receive exclusive in-game rewards such as hero cosmetics and gaming privileges.

Six out of 10 Filipino Dota 2 players own a Compendium. 58% of them or at least 113 answered that they bought it to support TI and Dota 2 as a whole, while 24% or 47 out of 197 compendium owners said that they were after the in-game freebies.

With this year’s prize pool reaching $17 million on the back of community support and an announcement that a more equitable payout to support teams that have spent a year’s worth preparation just to compete at The International, there may be time for Philippine teams to train up and return to the big stage.

If the support from Filipino fans any Valve’s new commitment to building a meaningful industry is any indication, then all is not lost for another bid to re-qualify for TI6.

Until then, fans of the insanely popular eSports title will have to do with being spectators — not participants — to the largest gaming event in history.

*$1 = P45.32

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