Twelve positions have been locked in. These are teams that earned a direct invite for The International 2022 by gaining the required number of DPC points.
All is not lost yet for those who missed out, because there are six more slots open – to be decided through regional qualifiers – ahead of the big tournament in Singapore in October. Who holds the edge in the qualifying event in North America, which begins September 8? Let’s take a sneak peek.
According to the odds at Sportsbook, Soniqs are massive favorites to win the TI North American qualifier with odds of -250. They’re followed on the oddsboard by Nouns (+220) and Wildcard Gaming (+1500) in the far distance.
Before we dig in deeper, make sure to check out our guide on everything you need to know about Dota 2 betting.
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Soniqs | -250 |
| Nouns | +220 |
| Wildcard Gaming | +1500 |
| Alpha | +1800 |
Odds as of August 25 at Sportsbook
Favorites To Win The TI North American Qualifier
Soniqs (-250)
They dashed off the blocks early in the DPC 2021-22 season by topping the league in Tour 1 to take 300 DPC points, giving them some leg room. However, when the regional finals came around, they faltered at the final hurdle to finish third, a result that yielded them no points.
In the second tour, they once again slipped under pressure and missed out on qualifying for the Stockholm Major, which meant they weren’t able to add to their DPC points again. This time, though, it was a three-way tiebreak with EG and TSM that resulted in a slip-up after ending the regular season with six wins in seven.
In the third tour, a familiar story played out. It brought out a sense of deja vu, because Soniqs were once again forced into a tiebreak. This time, the difference was they finished second and earned the right to play at the Arlington Major.
For all that they tried and executed, there was a sense of helplessness and panic around the team as they came last in their group. Without a single series win, they were the first to be eliminated from their own party. Not making it through to the group stages was a massive embarrassment and a blow to their aspirations to be a dominant force across regions.
Overall, they are still processing the losses that left them at 18th when it came to DPC points. Now, Soniqs have to channel the hurt positively to try to carve out something from the regional qualifiers that they head into as favorites. At least the bookmakers think so.
Noun Esports (+220)
Noun, formerly 4Zoomers, has been among the more consistent teams in DPC North America. They’ve consistently remained in Division 1 and have attracted a number of star players. The likes of Gunnar and Zfreek have all exhibited tremendous ability over time and have given them a sense of identity.
Sometimes, ability alone isn’t enough, as we saw at DPC NA Tour 2 where they finished fifth, their worst-ever finish. They barely managed to avoid relegation, and having hit the nadir, they’re on the road back up. For a team that at one point looked eye to eye with Quincy Crew and Evil Geniuses, this result was particularly deflating.
It led to sponsorships and funding drying up, which is when Nouns stepped in to revive the stagnant outfit. Even if Nouns do not make it to the majors or The International, you’d think they are still a cut above the average North American Division 1 outfit. But making it to a major will represent another landmark for a team looking to carve an identity.
Left-Field Picks To Win The TI North American Qualifier
Wildcard Gaming (+1500)
The odds of them qualifying aren’t as high as they are for the other two, but Wildcard has slowly gathered momentum in recent times. Formerly the D2 Hustlers, they’ve been known to display immaculate control and dominance in the lower divisions in North America.
We saw this when they topped their group with a 7-0 record to earn a promotion to the upper division this year. Among the original five players who competed under Hustlers, only Davai Lama was retained. But in signing four others who had experience competing in the DPC, the team showed glimpses of what they could achieve with more experience.
What is certain with Wildcard is they’re serious about building and expanding their esports portfolio, having already fielded teams at Rainbow Six Siege and League of Legends. The addition to the Rocket League roster and Dota only adds another chapter in their overall growth trajectory.
As such, they aren’t here for short-term results, so not making it through to the main draw of TI 2022 won’t be a defining moment. But, if they can upset the applecart and compete with the top sides to earn that coveted spot, that would classify as a victory in itself.
