On Day 4 of The International 2023, Dota 2 fans around the world were treated to a remarkable surprise as North American (NA) underdogs, Nouns Esports, pulled off an astonishing victory against the reigning champions, Tundra Esports. The stunning turn of events left professionals, analysts, and the Dota 2 community in awe, prompting a flurry of reactions on various social media platforms. Earlier, Talon Esports also shocked the world by defeating Gaimin Gladiators and securing a safe passage to the Upper brackets.
Nouns Makes Heads Turn at TI12
When Day 4 of TI12 concluded and the sixteen teams were drawn into the upper and lower brackets of TI12 Playoffs, one team remained the talk of the town.
In game 1, Nouns’ player David “Moo” Hull was seen exuberant and delighted after securing an ultra-kill against Tundra in game 1. His jubilant celebration took the form of the iconic Witch Doctor dance, reflecting the sheer joy and enthusiasm that defined the moment after an ultra kill at the 38th-minute mark sealing its victory.
In game 2, Héctor “K1” Rodríguez’s Chaos Knight put on an impressive show of his skills as he marched on with his band of illusions and was on the top of the net worth chart throughout the game. K1 showed his class in this game, as he effectively outfarmed and outplayed the enemy team and sealed a dominating victory over the defending TI champion.
Here’s what some of the most notable names in the Dota 2 esports community had to say about the nouns and Tundra Esports encounter at TI12.
Nouns’ pride and happiness were evident following the clean sweep against Tundra Esports. It boasted on social media, “NOT EVEN CLOSEEEE ⌐◨-◨ THE BOYS RUN AWAY WITH A 2-0 AGAINST @TundraEsports! GGs all around, upper bracket never felt so good.”
Meanwhile, Tundra Esports Jingjun “Sneyking” Wu reflected on the loss and attributed it to poor drafting and performance. He tweeted, “Drafted and played poorly today, will be better for our next series.”
Peter “ppd” Dager, a well-known advocate for the North American Dota 2 scene, expressed his excitement following Nouns’ triumph. His tweet signified the significance of the win for the North American Dota community.
Even two-time back-to-back TI champion OG expressed its astonishment at Nouns’ remarkable victory. The organization tweeted “HOLY BASADO” under nouns’ social media post.
In the aftermath of the games, prominent figures such as Johan “N0tail” Sundstein, Janne “Gorgc” Stefanovski, and Manuel “Grubby” Schenkhuizen did not hold back in their analysis of Oliver “skiter” Lepko’s gameplay. They pointed out misplays and critical moments throughout the matches, providing insights into the strategies and decisions that contributed to Nouns’ victory against Tundra. In Notail’s own words, he called skiter “Shi*ter”.
It was not just the former pros and esports teams that celebrated Nouns’ win. Dota 2 esports fans were excited to see an NA team knock out the defending TI champion.
On Reddit, one user lauded Nouns, commending its creative playstyle. They said, “Damn who would think that Nouns will be able to kick 1 of the fans’ favorite, Tundra to Lower Bracket!? Orge mid!? This team is so entertaining to watch! Lets go Nouns! The true NA powerhouse!”
Another user commented, “Friendship ended with shopify rebellion, now nouns is my best friend.”
Nouns Esports’ victory over Tundra Esports left the Dota 2 community in shock and awe. The surprise upset serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of competitive gaming and the potential for underdog stories to capture the hearts and imaginations of fans and professionals alike. The unpredictability of the tournament has kept the viewers engaged as one never knows what might happen and what’s coming next.
