Southeast Asian players failed to get the job done as they made early exits in the prestigious The International 11 in Singapore.
Talon Esports became the first Southeast Asian team to get the boot following a 2-2-5 outing in the group stage of this DOTA 2 event that is considered as the biggest, richest in the world.
On the other hand, Fnatic, which is composed of four Filipinos in Marc “Raven” Fausto, Armel “Armel” Tabios, Djardel “DJ” Mampusti and Jaunuel “Jaunuel” Arcilla with Anucha “Jabz” Jirawong of Thailand, barely made it past the group stage with 3-3-3 standing.
Fnatic, however, fell prey to European powerhouse Gaimin Gladiators in a hotly-contested sudden-death match in the lower bracket that lasted for 50 minutes.
Still, Fnatic will be going home with 1.5 percent of the $17.1 million — or around P1 billion — prize pool.
Meanwhile, North American super power Evil Geniuses, an organization that is being powered by Filipino mid laner Abed “Abed” Yusop, had an anti-climactic performance in this tourney that will run until 30 October.
Evil Geniuses punched a ticket to the upper bracket of the main event following a 7-0-2 run in the group stage but choked in the crucial stretch, leading to a 2-0 beating against Thunder Awaken in the opening match of the Playoffs.
Evil Geniuses crashed to the lower bracket, but it suffered yet another sweep at the hands of Beastcoast for a top 9 to 12 finish.
With Talon, Fnatic and Abed gone, BOOM Esports, which has three Filipino gamers in Timothy “Tims” Randrup, Erin “Yopaj” Ferrer and Rolen “skem” Ong, emerged as the last Southeast Asian team to gain a chance to win the Aegis of the Immortal.
It had a roller coaster performance in the group stage but still made it to the lower bracket, where it shocked reigning champion Team Spirit.
But its journey eventually came to an end when it bowed to Chinese powerhouse PSG.LGD in Round 2 of the lower bracket to exit the tourney with a top 9 to 12 finish.
