From Division II to a Major stage appearance and now qualifying for The International 2023 (TI12), Quest Esports had a marvellous year and the story is not over yet.
Quest Esports players started the 2023 Dota Pro Circuit season under the Ooredoo Thunders as a Division II team in the Western Europe league. They went 6-1 on the first Tour to promote to Division I and by the end of the third season they were signed by Quest Esports and qualified for their first-ever Major tournament. Given the start in the second division, Quest needed a second place finish at Bali Major, which at that time seemed like an impossible mission. However, they got extremely close by placing fourth. The end of the DPC season came with roster change drama that could have led to a complete disaster, as they ran into a long discussion around contractual and monetary disagreements with Ammar "ATF" Al-Assaf.
Nonetheless, they focused on their mission and signed a new offlaner just a couple of weeks before the TI12 regional qualifiers.
With Tobias "Tobi" Buchner, former Entity offlaner, joining them on the 10th of August, Quest came with guns blazing and took down two of the biggest contenders at a ticket to Seattle, OG and Team Secret, to reach the lower bracket finals and take revenge over Luna Galaxy and qualify for TI12.
With Quest Esports claiming the second spot to TI in the Western European region, the region qualifiers are done and dusted and all the 20 teams set to participate at the pinnacle Dota 2 tournament of the year are now known.
The International 2023
The International returns to the US after four editions held around the world. TI7 was the last edition hosted by the Key Arena in Seattle, where Team Liquid lifted the Aegis of Champions. From there on, each year TI went to different parts of the globe. Key Arena, which now is Climate Pledge arena from Seattle will be the home for The International 2023.
The top eight teams will play at the Climate Pledge Arena, for a shot at the most wanted Dota 2 trophy, the Aegis of Champions.
Friday and Saturday, October 27, 28 will feature the upper bracket semifinals, finals, and the first round of elimination matches. The top three teams will return to the arena on Sunday, October 29 for the lower bracket finals followed by the best-of-five grand finals.
