1win Essence II to Launch: Nine TI2026 Teams to Engage in Final Pre-Tournament Showdown

With the conclusion of the 2026 Dota 2 Esports World Cup (EWC), the professional scene has entered a temporary break, but the top-level competition continues.

The 1win Essence II online tournament, hosted by BASED ESPORTS, ran from July 30 to August 5. With a total prize pool of $200,000, the tournament attracted 10 teams.

With just weeks to go before The International 2026 (TI), this tournament has become a crucial step for teams to refine their tactics and build momentum before the annual big event.

The lineup includes nine teams that have already qualified for TI2026. TI defending champions Team Falcons will compete alongside BetBoom Team, Team Liquid, 1w Team, and LGD Gaming. Additionally, Vici Gaming, Nigma Galaxy, OG, and GamerLegion will also participate, while MOUZ is the only team that did not qualify for TI.

It is worth noting that strong teams such as EWC champion PARIVISION, Team Yandex, Aurora Gaming, and Team Spirit chose to be absent, which created space for other teams to compete for the championship.

The tournament will use a traditional single round-robin group stage followed by a double-elimination format. BetBoom Team, fresh off their EWC runner-up finish, is considered a favorite to win the championship, with captain Save- leading the team to demonstrate exceptional tactical discipline.

Dark horse teams are also worth watching. Vici Gaming, led by veteran Faith_bian, has seen its performance fluctuate after defeating strong opponents at EWC; Nigma Galaxy, with SumaiL at the helm, hopes to continue its upward trend towards the top eight; and OG, returning to TI after four years, desperately needs to shake off its recent slump.

For the participating teams, 1win Essence II is not only the final practical test before TI, but also a testing ground to adapt to potential new versions. Who will carry the momentum into TI? The answer is about to be revealed.

Image source: Internet