Defense of the Ancients 2, most commonly known as Dota 2, is a multiplayer online team game that launched in the 2013. Successor to one of the best multi-player action RTS game ever made, Dota 2 has a huge player base upto millions. This game is quite complicated where you need teamwork, intense strategy and most importantly, skill. Two teams of five players fight against each other, with only one goal in mind i.e to destroy their “Ancient”, which is a giant building placed in their base. There are more than 100 heroes to select from, each with unique abilities.
Dota 2 is one of the most competitive and exciting esports, with tournaments all year, and ESL One Bangkok 2024 is one of the year’s final, and most anticipated events. The tournament runs from December 9 to 15, with twelve of the best teams from around the world competing for a $1 million prize pool and a treasure trove of 20,940 ESL Pro Tour points. These points are pivotal in determining who gets invited to future tournaments for the top teams.
The tournament is split into two stages: Broadcast online, the Group Stage (December 9–11), and live at the prestigious Royal Paragon Hall in Bangkok, Thailand for the Playoffs (December 13–15). Fans hope to see their favorite teams and players finish 2024 on a high. ESL One Bangkok 2024 will have so many storylines going on, so here are five players to keep an eye on.
Team Spirit’s Alan “Satanic” Gallyamov
Team Spirit’s newest carry player, Satanic has one of the most interesting narratives going into ESL One Bangkok. Team Spirit signed the young prodigy after their legendary carry Illya “Yatoro” Mulyarchuk decided to take time off from competitive play. A two-time The International (TI) champion Yatoro had left behind a legacy that seemed almost impossible to replicate.
But Satanic has already proven he’s up to it. Since joining in late September, Team Spirit has seen consistent results: He finished fourth at BetBoom Dacha Belgrade, third at DreamLeague Season 24, and second at 1win Series Dota 2 Fall. These achievements have been made possible by Satan’s ability to adapt to Spirit’s high-pressure environment.
At ESL One Bangkok, Satanic has his biggest LAN test to date. If he can take Team Spirit to victory, he will not only prove himself worthy of that mantle as a Yatoro successor but solidify Team Spirit as one of Dota 2’s elite teams going into 2025.
PuckChamp: Sukhbat “Sanctity-” Otgondavaa
Sanctity- is a story of perseverance. He is from Mongolia and started his career in Southeast Asia before moving to the Eastern European region. However, he was eventually given a place on Natus Vincere (Na’Vi), but the stint was short-lived. But PuckChamp became a new home for Sanctity, a team that gave him a chance to prove himself.
A big upset happened in the Eastern European regional qualifiers for ESL One Bangkok, where PuckChamp defeated more known teams like Virtus.pro and 1win Team. That achievement was due in no small part to sanctity, and now he’ll take the stage in Bangkok for the biggest tournament of his career.
A good result here could help put Sanctity on the map, both as a player and as a Mongolian player in Dota 2. Now he has the chance to inspire the next generation of players from his region.
Gleb “Kiyotaka” Ziryanov (BetBoom Team)
Credits: Hawk Live
Kiyotaka of BetBoom is a rising star mid-laner known for aggressive, playmaking heroes that can change the game. Kiyotaka hails from the Eastern European scene and was originally known for his dynamic style during his time with 9Pandas. The next step in his career was his move to the BetBoom Team, joining a roster of veterans hungry for the top of the region.
It’s already been clear that Kiyotaka excels under pressure. Since then, in Belgrade at BetBoom Dacha and DreamLeague Season 24 in Kiev, BetBoom has come in third and second respectively. His style can sometimes be a bit over-aggressive, but he has learned from the experienced BetBoom teammates.
ESL One Bangkok will be Kiyotaka’s chance to cement his position as one of the best midlaners in the scene as he is set to go head-to-head with BetBoom, who will challenge Team Spirit’s dominance in Eastern Europe. Here, a standout performance could start the discussion whether he can be considered one of the greats.
Shopify Rebellion’s Mark “Mangekyou” Kharlamov
Mangekyou is one of the freshest faces in the Dota 2 pro scene, at just 19 years old. He was an unknown pub star before the post-TI 2024 roster shuffle, but Shopify Rebellion noticed his huge potential. The team stumbled early on, not qualifying for both BetBoom Dacha Belgrade and DreamLeague Season 24, but finally found their stride in winning the North American qualifier for ESL One Bangkok.
This is his first LAN tournament ever for Mangekyou. It’s high stakes, but perhaps he will get the benefit of the doubt because there are no high expectations. This could be an opportunity for him to build chemistry with his teammates.
Should Mangekyou perform well, he’ll ensure Shopify made the right decision to sign him and could catch the eye of other top-tier teams in future roster shuffles. An underdog story is what fans love, and so is Mangekyou’s journey to Bangkok.
Team Liquid’s Jonáš “SabeRLighT-” Volek.
The biggest shock of the post-TI 2024 roster shuffle was Team Liquid losing Neta “33” Shapira, who helped them claim this year’s Aegis of Champions. After that mutual decision, liquid was left searching for a new offlaner to keep their momentum as one of Dota 2’s best teams. Next is SabeRLighT-, whose charismatic personality, versatility, and ability to fit into any team environment are known.
Liquid had trouble adapting to SabeRLighT- at the start, finishing 7th-8th at BetBoom Dacha Belgrade and 6th at DreamLeague Season 24 before bouncing back with a dominant victory at the 1win Series Dota 2 Fall. This win showed the potential of the new lineup and SabeRLighT- was a big part of it.
With 33 and Tundra Esports failing to qualify for ESL One Bangkok, the eyes are now on SabeRLighT- to show Liquid’s decision was not a mistake. A victory in Thailand would shut up doubters and position Liquid on the path to a second straight TI win in 2025.
Closing Thoughts
ESL One Bangkok 2024 is a tournament, but not just any tournament — it’s the grand finale of the Dota 2 year. It is a stage to prove his mettle, silence doubters and make history for players like Satanic, Kiyotaka, SabeRLighT-, Mangekyou, and Sanctity-. Whether you’re a fan of a rising prodigy or a seasoned veteran, this event will be one to remember for fans worldwide..
The Group Stage of the tournament (December 9–11) will lead into the dramatic Playoffs (December 13–15), which will be held in Bangkok’s Royal Paragon Hall with live audiences watching the players and teams compete. The stakes couldn’t be any higher with $1 million on the line.
Get ready for a jam-packed week of Dota 2 at the highest level and support your favorites as the 2024 competitive season comes to a thrilling conclusion!
