Team Falcons soars the sky with impressive debut at ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023

Team Falcons have marked their debut at ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023 with an impressive start, securing victories in their first two Group B matches on Monday.

This debut is notable in the $1 million Dota 2 tournament held in Kuala Lumpur, where twelve teams compete for not just the prize money but also for 4,800 ESL Pro Tour points. The grand finale this Sunday also offers a substantial $300,000 reward for the winning team.

Falcons’ Strategic Wins in the ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023 Group Stage

Team Falcons have taken a strategic approach in the group stage, understanding the importance of each victory.

Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the upper bracket of the double-elimination playoffs, while the third and fourth-place teams move to the lower bracket. The Falcons’ two initial wins are significant as they were against LGD Gaming and Team Liquid, both participants in the International 2023 (TI12).

These wins are particularly noteworthy. However, scepticism remains regarding the strength of LGD Gaming following the Dota 2 Roster Shuffle Tracker 2023-2024. Team Liquid, on the other hand, has had minimal roster changes since TI12, making Falcons’ victory over them more significant.

Day 1 Recap at ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023

In addition to Falcons’ success, Tundra Esports also performed exceptionally well in Group B, winning against G2.iG and 9Pandas. This left G2.iG and Liquid with mixed results (1-0-1), while 9Pandas and LGD Gaming faced challenges, both standing at 0-0-2.

In Group A, Azure Ray and Blacklist International emerged as the top teams after the first day, each with a 1-1-0 record. BetBoom Team and Gaimin Gladiators struggled, both recording 0-2-0, whereas Team Secret and Wawitas Sagazes ended the day with a 0-1-1 record.

Team Falcons’ Entry into Dota 2

The Saudi Arabia-based esports organization, Team Falcons, recently announced their venture into Dota 2 esports with a high-profile lineup. This includes former Tundra Esports carry player Oliver “skiter” Lepko, well-known free agent offlaner Ammar “ATF” Al-Assaft, and former Shopify Rebellion position 4 support Andreas “Cr1t-” Nielsen.

Completing the lineup are Wu “Sneyking” Jingjun and Stanislav “Malr1ne” Potorak. The team, with its blend of experienced and prominent players, has drawn considerable attention and expectations in the Dota 2 Esports community.

Our journey to #ESLOne Kuala Lumpur trophy begins tomorrow. 🏆🇲🇾Be there to support us

رحلتنا في بطولة ESL بكوالالمبور 2023 للعبة دوتا 2 تبدأ غداً، كُل التوفيق لأبطالنا 💚#FalconsAreHere | #ESLProTour pic.twitter.com/FLkhlelugk

— Team Falcons (@FalconsEsport) December 10, 2023

Word from Cr1t-

Cr1t- shared insights into his decision to leave Shopify Rebellion and the North America for Middle Eastern and North Africa (MENA) scene. He reflected on the challenges faced in the past two years and how these impacted his friendship with former teammate Artour “Arteezy” Babaev.

Cr1t- expressed relief at the change, citing the preservation of their friendship as a positive outcome. He also revealed the origins of the Falcons lineup, which began during discussions at TI13, emphasizing the team’s quick formation post-tournament.

“It doesn’t feel bad because it feels like we kind of both knew it was time to split up. Because it’s been two rough years, and it was weighing on our friendship. So it’s kind of a relief that we can be friends now and don’t have to worry about being teammates. So yeah, it was nice.” – quoted from Andreas “Cr1t-” Nielsen

Fans and followers can watch Team Falcons in their upcoming matches against 9Pandas, G2.iG, and Tundra Esports in the remaining group stage of ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023, as they continue their promising journey in the tournament.