ESL One Birmingham 2019 Qualifiers Done, Four Dota 2 Teams Join Tournament

Four Dota 2 Teams have hurdled their respective qualifiers to get the chance to join the ESL One Birmingham 2019. The teams join eight others to fight it out in Birmingham on May 28 to June 2. Up for grabs is a prize pool worth $300,000.

The first is Forward Gaming, who beat out three other teams at the North America Qualifer. Forward Gaming initially dropped to the Lower Bracket courtesy of a 0-2 loss to Team Team. Forward Gaming worked its way to the Grand Finals by sweeping J.Storm. In the next round Forward Gaming met back up with Team Team, but this time around Yawar "YawaR" Hassan was unstoppable. He ended the first game with 10 kills and two deaths on a Troll Warlord while he racked up 19 kills and no deaths on a Phantom Assassin on the second game. The Grand Finals were against compLexity Gaming and, despite a one game advantage, Forward Gaming won the series 3-2.

For the China Qualifier, the slot went to Keen Gaming, who swept Royal in the first round of the upper bracket and then Invictus Gaming in the Upper Gaming Finals. This gave Keen Gaming a one again advantage going to the Grand Finals. For the Grand Finals, they again met Invictus Gaming and won the qualifier. Dota 2 team EHOME again showed rather dismal performance, winning one game against Invictus Gaming in round one of the upper bracket and then losing 0-2 against Royal.

The Southeast Asia Qualifier saw TNC Predator dominating the region. While the team beat the Tigers, it would take them an average of almost 50 minutes each game. For the Upper Bracket Finals, TNC Predator was able to sweep Mineski 2-0. Mineski would have another shot against TNC in the Grand Finals, but TNC would not be denied its slot for ESL One Birmingham.

The final qualifer was the GG.Bet Birmingham Invitational, which saw eight team from Europe and CIS. In the Group Stage, Alliance and Gambit Esports led their respective groups. However, Gambit Esports was unable to find an answer to Old but Gold, dropping 0-2. Going to the Finals, Alliance had a one game advantage against Old but Gold. Old but Gold won the first game, but Alliance would later win the next three.

The eight teams who received direct invites to the tournament are Evil Geniuses, Ninjas in Pyjamas, OG, PSG.LGD, Team Liquid, Team Secret, Vici Gaming, and Virtus.pro.