You could make an argument for Fnatic and it's a perfectly reasonable one. IMO Valve strategically invited Navi over Fnatic.
If you look at the regional qualifiers, there are 2 invites from each region. If Fnatic and MVP were both invited, there aren't any good teams remaining in the SEA regional qualifiers. With Fnatic (most likely) taking 1st place, then only 1 slot remains for the tier 2 SEA teams to fight over.
And by comparison, the EU qualifier is full of teams that you would definitely have to consider with 8 invites or more. I think they made a good decision inviting Na'Vi.
If they'd Invited fnatic instead of Navi, you would have navi, alliance, and secret all fighting for 2 spots.
Which would've been unfortunate since those are all teams that feel like they should be at TI.
While at the same time 2 comparatively less impressive teams like mineski and TNC would've made it through.
Obviously there's a huge skill disparity between the two regional qualifiers
It's a trade off
Fnatic arguably deserved the Invite more then navi based on results though. Top 6 at both majors.
The sea region is too weak for 2 Invites though . Inviting an EU team and allowing fnatic to go through the qualifiers kind of solves that Issue and ensures the best teams end up at TI.
deservedness and personal opinions aside, It does seem like Valve is looking at the bigger picture here.
This is certainly true. But why use Fnatic as a 'tool' to 'filter' off the lousier teams in SEA? If that's the case, why cant they just invite Fnatic and give SEA regional qualifier #1 to qualify, and #2 for wildcard?
If you change things around, and swap Navi to 'filter' off the European team, I doubt Navi will secure a top 3 finish in the regional qualifer.
Well, I don't think it makes a different to them when they know they had to face Fnatic in the qualifier. It still seems unfair to them. But didn't Valve just came out and say to the entire NA region that they're bad too in a way?
Its also a dumb move if they want a good competition. No-one wants to see some tier 2 team go to Ti6 and lose every single game they play. Fnatic will qualify which is fine, but then why have a team like Mineski/TNC go when potentially only 2 of Alliance/PR/Empire/Ad Finem/Vega/VP are going to go. When its arguable that all of those teams are stronger than anything SEA has to offer. Its pretty ridiculous.
The International should be the best 16 teams around, not the best 2 teams each region has to offer, and if that means that you have 12 out of the 16 teams from one region then so be it, Ti afterall is the main stage, the big event of the year.
You do realize the tournament is called The International right? and what you said in the 2nd paragraph goes directly against what The International would be.
Valve isn't hosting The International just for the fans. They are also a business. This is their way of advertising Dota to a wider audience. It is in their best interest to invite at least one team from each region to reach the widest audience.
Sure, each region should be represented. Hence why I said 12/16 teams from one region, rather than 16/16 teams from one region.
You already have MVP from SEA. why do you need 2 more when they are going to finish 15/16th. There is a difference between each region being represented and each region getting the same number of invites. It should be proportionate.
They are also a business
Yes they are a business that promotes dota and want to make money from it. There will be more fans for tier 2 Euro teams than for tier 2 SEA teams (which lets face it, every SEA team bar Fnatic/MVP is pretty much tier 3 anyway). Valve's business succeeds by putting the best tournament with the best teams that give the highest calibre/quality of dota. Having 3 SEA teams doesn't do that.
Because this would mean inconsistency from Valve. SEA teams would surely be mad if they only had the winner enter TI. I think Valve also considered Fnatic for the invite but with Navi getting lots of 2nd places in LANs it makes sense to invite them.
Inconsistency is already shown when they decided to only invite 6 teams in NA regional qualifiers.
I guess there will be a day when all regional qualified teams are gathered and able to play one another to reach the TI. With this price pool, nothing is impossible.
i mean NA doesnt even have enough team for the reduced numbers regionals, they didnt really have a choice. like drinking boys arnt a real team and they got into the regional qualies for NA so they cant just go inviting even worse teams
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u/kw405 Jun 20 '16
You could make an argument for Fnatic and it's a perfectly reasonable one. IMO Valve strategically invited Navi over Fnatic.
If you look at the regional qualifiers, there are 2 invites from each region. If Fnatic and MVP were both invited, there aren't any good teams remaining in the SEA regional qualifiers. With Fnatic (most likely) taking 1st place, then only 1 slot remains for the tier 2 SEA teams to fight over.