Image courtesy of MarsTV
Regional qualifiers for Wallachia Season 2 are starting to wrap up. In Western Europe, some new teams and names are emerging.
PGL Wallachia Season 2 is the second event planned in a three-year plan from PGL that includes eight Dota 2 tournaments -- each with one million dollars on the line to be held across 2024, 2025, and 2026.
A total of 10 teams received direct invites to the event based on their performances early in the year at various other tournaments. Regional qualifier winners will fill the remaining six slots – 1 per region.
For Western Europe, it won't be either of the two teams fans either expected or hoped for. OG were knocked into the lower brackets by Dandelions in the Upper Bracket finals but eliminated later on by AVULUS – both teams that ended up facing off in the grand finals.
Team Secret's hopes lasted a bit longer – after also dropping to the lower brackets by Dandelions, they were eliminated by AVULUS in the lower bracket semi-finals.
Ultimately it was AVULUS that took the 3:0 sweep over Dandelions for the coveted spot.
So who ARE Dandelions and AVULUS that caused so much trouble in Western Europe?
Dandelions are an emerging/Tier 2 team comprised of newer and more familiar names in the scene. They were just off from a top 4 finish at CCT Series 2 when we got to sit down to chat with Ivan "Kidaro" Bondarev in a very candid and interesting conversation
AVULUS is another interesting mix of newer and veteran players from both Eastern and Western Europe – most notably Akbar "SoNNeikO" Butaev. This motley crew took the championship title at CCT Series 2 under the name Team Tea.
As exciting as it is to see these two teams surge, there is a certain amount of trepidation in getting too attached and too excited. In just over two weeks The International 2024 will begin and once that is over – all bets are off. Teams will undergo shuffle madness and anything goes in terms of poaching, alliances, and deserters.
PGL Wallachia Season 2 Invited Teams
Team Spirit
Team Falcons
Team Liquid
Xtreme Gaming
Heroic
nouns 
G2.iG 
Tundra Esports
PSG Quest
Cloud9
PGL Wallachia Season 2 dates and format
The event will take place only weeks following the conclusion of The International 2024 in Copenhagen, when most TI bound teams are expected to be shuffling rosters or heading out for a well-deserved holiday.
Just like with last season, PGL will host the event at their studios in Bucharest, Romania, from October 4th to 13th with no live audience. The 16 teams will start the competition in a modified "Swiss System" group stage featuring five rounds of best-of-three series.
At the end of the group play, the top eight teams will advance to the playoffs. The playoffs stage will be played in a double elimination bracket, best-of-three series with the grand finals being a best-of-five battle for the title.
For more match results and updates on the go don't forget to check out our Telegram channel.
