After weeks of speculations, Tier One Entertainment has officially released the roster of their Blacklist International Dota 2 team, which will compete in the 2022–2023 DPC season.
Blacklist Dota 2 is now a reality!
The team, called Blacklist Rivalry, has its sights set on redemption and regaining the lost glory for Filipinos in the Dota 2 professional scene.
Blacklist Rivalry is expected to showcase an all-Filipino roster made up of some of the biggest names in the SEA region, including former T1 stars Carlo “Kuku” Palad and Karl “Karl” Baldovino, Timothy “Tims” Randrup from Boom Esports, Marco Polo “Raven” Fausto from Fnatic, and Nico “eyyou” Barcelon from TNC and Polaris Esports.
“Mission: REDEMPTION. Introducing our official roster for the upcoming DPC 2023 season. From dream to reality. We believe they are the best players in SEA. They have come together to fight under the #BlacklistRivalry banner,” posted on the Blacklist International Facebook page on Thursday, Nov. 24.
Moreover, Kuku, Eyyou, Tims, and Raven were all involved in TNC’s miraculous run at The International 2016 where the Filipinos upset the previous tournament favorites OG on their way to placing in the Top 8. It was interesting to note that this present roster was somewhat of a reunion for them all.
OG’s dominant team, who had won two Dota 2 Majors during that DPC season, was the overwhelming favorite to win TI6. However, in the second round of the lower bracket of TI6, the European lineup ultimately lost to underdog team TNC.
With a dominating 2-0 victory, the former TNC team—along with Samson “Sam H” Hidalgo and Jimmy “DeMoN” Ho—eliminated OG from TI6. Undoubtedly, it was the most celebrated victory by a Filipino Dota 2 team at an international event.
Meanwhile, Karl was familiar with the dominant Filipino esports organization since he had participated in the first Dota 2 project of team owner Tryke Guttierez, Team Amplfy.
After acquiring the spot of RSG in Division I of the DPC SEA 2022–23 Season, Tier One, known for its Filipino champion teams in the esports games Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Call of Duty: Mobile, will test the waters of the Dota 2 professional scene.
The newly created team won’t have to participate in the open qualifiers or the DPC’s lower Division II because Blacklist purchased RSG’s spot in the Southeast Asia Division I regional league of the DPC.
Blacklist Rivalry will battle against Fnatic, BOOM Esports, Talon Esports, Team SMG, Execration, Lilgun, and the organization that will take up T1’s slot.
