Talon Esports secure final SEA slot for Lima Major

via Talon Esports

Hong Kong-based Dota 2 team Talon Esports secured third place in the recently concluded Southeast Asia Dota Pro Circuit Division I Winter Tour. This makes them the third and the region’s final representative for the upcoming Lima Major this coming February. Talon Esports duked out a display of skill against debuting team Blacklist Rivalry.

Reaching from the depths

Talon Esports started the first week of the SEA DPC at a rather low place, clinging to 5th place by the end of week 1. The team was in a tight spot, nearing the edge of 7th-8th place, a spot reserved for teams to be relegated to Division II of the Dota Pro Circuit.

Screenshot from Liquipedia

The team continued to uncomfortably sit in 5th place for week 2, saving themselves from the fall by sweeping Malaysian team SMG. Things started to take a turn in week 3, as Talon started sweeping powerful teams like Geek Slate and newcomer Bleed Esports, their streak barred only by a sweep from the bottom-dwelling Fnatic.

Against all odds

Talon Esports met with Blacklist Rivalry yesterday, January 30, after the latter lost to Geek Slate and failed to secure their spot in the top 3. Both teams fought each other for the chance to claim the last SEA slot for the upcoming Lima Major. The odds were strong against Blacklist Rivalry, stacked with five veteran all-Filipino Dota 2 players against Talon’s rather young set of players. But, with a twist of fate, Talon Esports came out victorious and swept Blacklist Rivalry out of the running for Lima. 

MISSION: ACCOMPLISHED 😏

We broke the code. GGs @BLACKLISTINTL , favor returned.

We're going to the major. #SOARWITHTALON #Dota2 #M88MansionEsports pic.twitter.com/KUFnJjc5sK

— TALON (@Talon_esports) January 30, 2023

Game 1 had Talon dip their claws into Blacklist Rivalry’s skins, as Nuengnara “23Savage” Teeramahanon sowed terror as Terrorblade. Flaunting a deathless 8-0-8 record along with Worawit “Q” Mekchai’s masterful supporting on Rubick. Meanwhile, Blacklist Rivalry opted for a safer line-up, with a mid-lane Puck to dish out early game damage, while a Lina safe lane carry attempted to scale for the team into the late game. However, the winds of victory failed to blow their way. The game ended with Talon leading with nearly 30,000 in gold and a final kill score of 19-5.

The second game, unfortunately for Blacklist fans, told the same story. 23Savage took Lina for Talon and slayed Blacklist into oblivion. Marc “Raven” Fausto’s Drow Ranger could not gust away the flames of Talon, losing both the laning phase and the game. The game closed with a 23,000 gold deficit on Blacklist Rivalry’s side and a kill score of 28-7 in favor of Talon Esports.

The final three

Photos via Geek Slate, Execration, and Talon Esports

The tie-breaker match between Talon Esports and Blacklist Rivalry closed out the final list of teams to represent Southeast Asia for the Lima Major this coming February. First on the list is Execration, rampaging through the ranks fresh off their promotion from Division II. Next is Geek Slate, who has had an impressive run this season, dropping only 2 losses in the entire tournament. Finally, Talon Esports complete the line-up of SEA representatives, with their impressive underdog run a tale to be remembered for at least a few months, until the next underdog rises.

The Lima Major will start on February 22 and will run a whole week, culminating in a grand finals match on the 26th. 

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