I think Execration deserves the slot more. This year, they have been consistently in the top 3 on all three tours. They just fell short to qualify for TI. It is their last chance to get on the top since the top dogs in SEA are already qualified for TI.
It will be a tough competition between the teams in this SEA qualifier. There is only one slot open, and 14 teams vying for that slot. It will not be as tough as WEU, but I am sure it will still be good to watch.
The matches for SEA qualifiers will begin a week from now so these teams still have a lot of time to prepare.
I still think they deserve to qualify for TI. They fell short of qualifying through DPC points but if they put their acts together and be consistent, they should be able to get the last slot. I enjoy how they play the game and I hope they will qualify. There is only a week left before the SEA qualifiers begins so we will see if they can be consistent enough to snatch the TI slot from other strong contenders in SEA.
CHINA QUALIFIER
Still no good competition today. Almost all the matches are 2-0 in the bottom bracket. Most games are under 30 minutes. It almost feels like the DOTA scene in China is downgrading.
The competition is not as fierce as the previous years. They are one of the powerful regions in DOTA but if this continues, SA might overtake them. SA competitiveness is improving lately.
Hopefully, it will be a different scenario in the upper-bracket semifinals. The top teams are scheduled to have their series tomorrow. The first game will be Aster vs XG and followed by IG vs AR.
I am not sure how competitive the teams will be, but I am hoping the series will not be as boring and as one-sided as the games in the previous days. Aster and Azure Ray are the favorites to win their matches but I am hoping that Xtreme and Invictus Gaming will not be easily disposed by the favorite.
This is to hope that the series tomorrow is not as boring as today and will go all the way to the third map.