Chinese Dota in decline

The group stage of PGL Wallachia 2024 Season 2 for Dota 2 is almost complete, and both Chinese teams — Azure Ray and Invictus Gaming — have failed to qualify for the playoffs, signalling a concerning trend for the region. While PGL Wallachia's results can be taken lightly, particularly regarding positive outcomes, defeats to tier-2 teams highlight a significant issue.

China's esports scene has struggled for years, previously managing to rebound through the resurgence of veteran players. Despite two representatives making the top four at The International 2023, the region now lacks viable teams for TI13, leading to its worst "TI" performance in history without a single top-four representative.

The new season reveals a shortage of teams and players in China. If part of the "old guard" takes another break, it may be challenging to form enough squads for qualifiers. In the absence of an officially announced roster for Xtreme, Azure Ray and iG have emerged as the top two teams in China, making their failures at PGL Wallachia 2024 particularly telling. While CIS and European teams (excluding Falcons) sent lower-tier squads, North and South America, along with China, fielded their best players. Fly, Parker, and payk have advanced to the playoffs, while China has not.

Azure Ray and iG are essentially the second and third top teams in China, yet neither has defeated any strong opponents. Their performance is alarming; Azure Ray lost to beastcoast with a stand-in, while iG struggled against Alliance, also fielding a stand-in.

This situation cannot be dismissed as bad luck; the reality is that Chinese teams are underperforming. For instance, Luo "lou" Zheng, once a formidable carry, now struggles despite being only 23 years old, failing to secure kills as a six-slot Dragon Knight. Mid-laner Gu "Han" Jiahang, relatively unknown and inexperienced, has shown he is unprepared for even tier-2 competition.

iG's issues are similarly concerning, particularly with their core players. Offlaner zeal was swiftly removed from LGD due to poor performance, while flyfly, in the carry role, has been in the scene for a decade without being regarded as top-tier. Zhou "Emo" Yi, once a top player, has only occasionally performed at the tier-1 level in recent seasons.

As a result of declining competition, China has lost its identity in esports. Previously, teams introduced unique strategies and heroes, but that is no longer evident. Azure Ray may have selected over 40 unique heroes at the tournament, but introducing unexpected picks like Wraith King or Night Stalker does not reflect a strategic approach.