The International 2017 champions and the favourites of many Dota 2 fans, Team Liquid, won’t be at full strength during the Dota 2 Chongqing Major. It is the first Major of 2019 and an extremely important tournament for those hoping to qualify for The International 2019. Unfortunately, Team Liquid will be without their superstar, Amer “Miracle-” Barkawi.
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It isn’t uncommon to see some fans, for example, say “oh look, it’s Miracle- versus LGD” when Team Liquid plays against an opponent. I, for one, have said so jokingly many times in the past, but there’s a reason for that. Miracle- is Team Liquid’s flashy, extremely talented mid/carry that entertains the crowds with his amazing plays throughout a tournament. That’s why it is without a doubt a big blow that Miracle- won’t be attending the Dota 2 Chongqing Major.
The Dota 2 Chongqing Major kicks off on 19 January for those who have been living under a rock and it boasts a $1 million prize pool as well as (and more importantly for many pro teams) a whopping 15,000 DPC points. Team Liquid announced this news on Twitter, stating that:
We would like to confirm that Miracle is unable to attend the Chongqing Major. He was excited to play; unfortunately, an urgent personal matter occurred at the last minute. We request that fans respect his privacy during this time, and we will provide updates when possible.
Even though Miracle- won’t be attending, Chu “shadow” Zeyu will step in so Team Liquid still has a full team, as he was without a team and in China already. Chu “shadow” Zeyu, for those who don’t know, was the position 1 player for Wings Gaming, who happened to win The International 2016 as the dark horses of the tournament. Therefore, one TI champion is standing in for another, so Liquid fans definitely still have hope.
How do you think Team Liquid will do in the Dota 2 Chongqing Major without their star player? Let us know in the comment section below.
