While Chinese teams had a great start in Group Stages, South East Asian giants Talon Esports were not left behind either. Although most of the SEA teams have been knocked out of the tournament, hopes are still on Talon.
Talon had a great start on Day 1 of Group Stage, where they secured two series and left a statement in the community. They proved themselves in the tournament and made it clear that they are a team to look out for.
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Dota 2 Riyadh Masters: Day 1 Of Group Stage Ends On A Good Note For SEA Fans
A testament to the level Talon has brought, even Team Secret, a formidable team from Europe, could not hold their ground against the SEA squad. Nuengnara “23Savage” Teeramahanon, was largely to thank because of strong performances on day one. The Western European team’s efforts seemed to be dismantled by the SEA guards, leaving no room for comebacks. The match ended with an overall scoreline of 2-0 in favor of Talon Esports. However, the next match for Talon was a tough one as they faced the reigning TI 11 Champions, Tundra Esports. Talon lost their first game but didn't lose their spirit, digging deep in the second game.
During game two, Talon drafted an unexpected Meepo offlane which caught the opponent team off-guard. With some intelligent plays, they were able to close out game 2, equalizing the scoreline thanks to Anucha “Jabz” Jirawong having an exceptional showing.
Previously, Execration was eliminated from the tournament during Play-Ins which was a disheartening moment for SEA fans. However, Talon’s day one performance has reassured them of a potential Champions run. Earlier, Talon did not qualify for the 2023 Bali Major and had a lot of time to prepare for Riyadh Masters. As a result, their extra preparation and improved performance have instilled a ray of hope in the hearts of SEA Dota 2 fans. It will be interesting to see how they perform in the upcoming days.