Azure Ray Qualify for The International After a Clean Upper Bracket Run

Azure Ray is the first team to qualify for The International from the Regional Qualifiers. They will be the 2nd & final team to enter TI representing China, the other being PSG.LGD. Azure Ray has risen to the high ranks quickly, defeating big names like IG and Xtreme Gaming. They beat Xtreme Gaming 3-1 in the Grand Finals, proving to be capable of international competition.

Azure Ray's Formation

Joining Dota2 as Xtreme Gaming's 2nd roster, YBB Gaming started the 2023 DPC in the Open Qualifiers. The team then secured the top spot in the Closed Qualifiers and Division II. After qualifying for Division I, YBB Gaming performed poorly but stayed back in Division I. Post Berlin Major, YBB Gaming split up. With three members leaving, lou and 天命, along with four Dota2 veterans, formed the Azure Ray roster.

1. Lou
2. Somnus
3. chalice
4. fy
5. 天命
6. LaNm (Coach)

Somnus & chalice retired after TI11 and LaNm the previous year, but they became active again and joined Azure Ray. Their return to the pro scene was well-received. Defeating BetBoom at the Bali Major showed the team's strength. Somnus, chalice, and fy have two years of experience playing together in PSG.LGD, it was only natural the team would synchronize without much effort.

Grand Finals: Azure Ray Vs. Xtreme Gaming

Azure Ray faced off against Xtreme Gaming in the Upper Bracket finals and Grand finals. Azure came out victorious both times, making them the 2nd strongest Chinese team in the current meta.

Game 1

Azure started Game 1 with a first-pick OD, which is not a current favorite. Though the laning stage was even, Xtreme Gaming managed to capitalize on their early team fight advantage. With Mirana, Mars, and Treant, their ganks were successful, giving them control of the mid-game. However, as the game progressed, AR's Terrorblade out-farmed the enemy and won a team fight after 30 minutes. Managing to take a lane of barracks, Azure got back control, and then team wiped Xtreme gaming.

Game 2

Xtreme Gaming won Game 2 of the series. With a Morphling draft, Ghost carried the game exceptionally well. He was unkillable throughout the game, finishing with a 20-0-11 KDA. Brewmaster made it hard for Azure Ray to kill, always managing to deny dual wins for them. And with XinQ constantly looking for the enemy carry, AR had no answer, finally tapping out at 47 minutes.

Game 3

AR stuck to their Terrorblade third game in a row. However, they picked a mid Lina and offlane Silencer. Though it did not seem good at the start, Silencer's mid-game damage against PA, along with Doom, was enough to burst her. Without PA in the fights, the rest of Xtreme Gaming had no way of fighting Azure Ray.

Game 4

Somnus finally popped off in mid on his QOP and stayed on top until the end of the game by dealing the most damage. After the laning stage, Azure had complete control of the game. With constant ganking from AR, Xtreme Gaming could not keep up with the pace. Their mid and carry were shut down forcing them to call 'gg' before 30 minutes. Azure Ray scored 40-18 in kills.

Featured Image: @ioesportsgg