ESL One Dota 2 Major 2022 to see TSM, Tundra Esports and OG in Finals

The ESL One Dota 2 Major 2022 is approaching its end, with just two matches remaining before the Major Champions will be crowned in Stockholm, Sweden. The conclusion of the event will see a battle of Tundra Esports against OG in the semifinals, with the winner advancing to the grand final against TSM FTX.

Teams are fighting for the main prize of $200,000. The first, semi-final match is set to take place on Sunday, May 22 at 12:00 CEST. The grand final will follow at 16:00 CEST. 

TSM 

The team already waiting in the grand final bracket is TSM FTX, who’s the only representative of the North American region left. TSM had a gratifying run through the Major’s group stage, and as a third-place finish within Group B, started the playoffs in the upper bracket. They showed a perfect run through the bracket, defeating OG, Gaimin Gladiators and Tundra Esports, who had been, until then, considered the strongest team of the tournament.  On their way to the grand final, TSM lost only one map against Tundra. 

TSM’s performance doesn’t seem to be affected by the absence of Jonáš “SabeRLight-” Volek, who’s been unable to attend because of testing positive for COVID. His replacement, Quinn “Quinn” Callahan from Quincy Crew, seems to have been a good choice for the team. 

This will mark the first time Team Solo Mid will appear at a Dota 2 Major, as the team only entered the Dota 2 scene in January 2022. Furthermore, the team will make sure that for the fourth time in a row, North America will be represented in a Major grand final.

Tundra Esports

Tundra Esports, the favourite of the tournament and the leader of Group A started its upper bracket run with a match against Team Spirit, scoring a 2-1 win. A clear win against Thunder Awaken followed before TSM sent the British team to the lower bracket, where they will clash with OG in tomorrow’s semi-final. 

Throughout the entire tournament, Tundra have dropped only two maps — one in the group stage against BetBoom Team and one in the recent upper bracket final against TSM. Not only does their performance put a target on their backs, but it seemed that TSM, one of the hardest working teams this season, have figured them out.

OG

Group A’s second-place OG have come to the ESL One Stockholm with two stand-in players, as the team’s captain Mikhail “Misha” Agatov and coach Evgenii “Chuvash” Makarov were denied visas to travel for the event. 

OG had a long journey to the semi-finals. After losing their first playoff match against TSM, they moved to the lower part of the bracket, where they clashed with BOOM Esports, Fnatic, Thunder Awaken and most recently, Gaimin Gladiators. They showed incredible determination and lost only one map against Fnatic on their way to the semi-final. While OG’s performance in this Major has been nothing short of remarkable, it would be a surprise to many if the squad came out victorious against Tundra.

Image credit: ESL