Team Secret, Nigma reach DreamLeague Season 13 Closed Qualifiers

In a day that saw numerous upsets, two of Europe’s finest Dota 2 teams avoided defeat and will advance to the Closed Qualifiers of DreamLeague Season 13.

While other regions saw upsets and surprising Dota 2 teams rising through the ranks, Europe had two juggernauts returning to the game for the first time this season. And they both looked ready to continue their dominant performance from the past. 

Led by Kuro ‘KuroKy’ Salehi Takhasomi, Nigma, formerly known as Team Liquid, played four games during the tournament’s open qualifiers, with no match lasting longer than 22 minutes as the newly established team took out their first competitors in a 21-minute landslide before finishing up the next round in a match that lasted only 11 minutes. Despite facing off against a worthy adversary in OG Seed, Nigma proved to fans that the team hasn’t lost a step.

Taking us to the other side of the tournament bracket, Team Secret also found success to reach the final round of the competition. Despite facing off against a team of talented CIS players, Clement "Puppey" Ivanov led Secret past a team comprised of Jonáš “SabeRLight-” Volek, Milan “MiLAN” Kozomara, and Akbar “SoNNeikO” Butaev to secure their spot in the Closed Qualifiers. With low-kill game one, Chicken Fighters took advantage of the game style and took a solid lead over Secret. Secret’s secret weapon, however, came from the team’s latest addition in Lasse “MATUMBAMAN” Urpalainen and led the team to a late-game comeback. During game two, soNNeikO led his Chicken Fighters teammates to an early-game lead, but was countered by a late-game comeback thanks to the supreme play of Puppey, Lasse “MATUMBAMAN” Urpalainen, and Michał “Nisha” Jankowski to close out the round.

With today’s victories, both Nigma and Team Secret are now locks for the Closed Qualifiers with the chance to advance to the DreamLeague Season 13 Major.