Ukrainian esports team B8 have managed the impossible after escaping relegation with a 12-hour tiebreaker marathon to retain their first division of North American Dota Pro Circuit status. The team manages to achieve this while battling with high ping and a huge difference in time zones.
B8 found themselves in a dire situation after winning just a single series in the regular season, as Danil “Dendi” Ishutin’s B8 found itself in a three-way tiebreaker versus Alpha and Sand King Gomez.
The first two rounds saw SKG lose to Alpha, while Alpha lost to B8. However, B8 failed to beat SKG in the first two rounds, as the tiebreakers went to the third round.
A lot of viewers logged out of the game due to sleep, and the viewers declined, but B8 got victories in back-to-back games against Alpha and SKG in back-to-back matches. B8’s European location made the ping difference between them and the other teams noticeable.
B8 bought their slot to migrate to the league in NA, and many doubted their survival and presence, but the half-day-long tiebreakers should have impressed and convinced NA Dota fans to appreciate B8.
B8 relocated to NA at the start of the 2023 season, and they returned to Europe only for the Berlin Major time-off. Travel restrictions meant that the team wouldn’t return to NA, but thanks to Valve, who then decided to make an exception by allowing them to compete due to unforeseen circumstances.
Meanwhile, Valve’s decision caused controversy in the eSport as it was against the travel rulings of the DPC.
Elsewhere, the Call of Duty League may return to YouTube gaming next season, dumping Twitch coming just months after the CDL stated that the 2023 season matches will be on streamed on both Twitch and YouTube.
Reports also stated on Tuesday that the CDL is signing a new broadcast deal with YouTube, which will get underway next season, but Hector “H3CZ” Rodriguez, who is the co-founder of OpTic Gaming, is finding it difficult to believe as the team owners will meet next week.
Daniel Ademiju Idowu
