With just five days remaining until Dota 2’s The International 2023, Team SMG has made an announcement regarding the addition of TI-winner Ivan “MinD_ContRoL” Ivanov as a temporary stand-in.
This decision comes as Natthaphon “Masaros” Ouanphakdee encountered difficulties in securing a US visa for TI 2023. Despite multiple attempts, Masaros was unable to obtain the required visa.
In the interim, MinD_ContRoL will assume the offlane role for Team SMG during the group stages of TI12. However, the organization has assured fans that they are actively working to resolve Masaros’ visa situation. This suggests that the Thai offlaner may still have the opportunity to join the event in its second or third week, provided Team SMG progresses to the latter stages of the tournament.
Under the revamped format of TI 2023, the event is set to commence on October 12 with a three-day group stage period. The playoffs weekend will start on October 20, giving Masaros an additional 13 days to secure his visa.
In the 2023 season, MinD_ContRoL faced challenges while playing for Nigma Galaxy. However, he took on the role of a mercenary, standing in for OG at the Berlin Major and DreamLeague Season 21. Despite not qualifying for major events with Nigma, MinD_ContRoL’s remarkable performances served as a reminder of his skill to fans.
Visa-related issues have been a recurring concern leading up to TI 2023, and additional problems could arise before the tournament commences. Given the difficulty of qualifying for Dota 2’s premier event, missing it due to visa complications would be a significant setback for those affected.
However, despite the special significance of The International in the hearts of Dota 2 players, it is unlikely to be the biggest Dota 2 event of 2023 due to its stagnant prize pool. Riyadh Masters 2023, for instance, has increased its prize pool to $15 million, a figure that TI 2023 is unlikely to match, primarily due to the absence of a Compendium with substantial content.