Five teams to watch at PGL Wallachia

Nigma Galaxy

Roster:

- Amer "Miracle-" Al-Barkawi

- Saeed "SumaiL" Hassan

- Toni "No!ob" Assaf

- Maroun "GH" Merhej

- Omar "OmaR" Mughrabi

This marks the first LAN tournament for Amer "Miracle-" Al-Barkawi in two years, and Nigma seldom participates in offline events. Miracle- demonstrated impressive performance in the regional qualifiers for the upcoming tournament, making it worthwhile to observe his gameplay and potential career revival. The absence of KuroKy from Nigma Galaxy, along with the integration of No!ob and OmaR, has allowed the team to function cohesively, providing a rare opportunity to witness Nigma not only compete but potentially achieve a top-four or top-six finish.

Heroic

Roster:

- David "Niho" Flores

- João "4nalog" Giannini

- Cedric "Davai Lama" Dekmin

- Elvis "Scofield" Peña

- Mateus "KJ" Diniz

Heroic is one of the few major teams present at this tournament, having made only one roster change post-The International 2024. David "Niho" Flores has stepped in for Hector "K1" Rodriguez, bringing with him a flair for exciting gameplay that can swing from winning matches single-handedly to potential mistakes that may cost his team. Recently, Niho has been intensely grinding in pubs, indicating he is ready to make a mark in competitive play. He is known for his signature heroes like Templar Assassin, Gyrocopter, and Shadow Fiend.

Heroic showcased a strong performance in the recent regional qualifiers for DreamLeague, winning without dropping a single game. This places them in excellent form, setting the stage for a display of high-level South American Dota.

Tundra Esports

Roster:

- Indji "Shad" Lyub

- Zheng "MidOne" Yeik Nai

- Neta "33" Shapira

- Martin "Saksa" Sazdov

- Matthew "Whitemon" Filimon

Although Tundra will be competing without two of their newcomers, Saika and Lorenof, they remain a team to watch. The return of 33, following his second Aegis victory, and his reunion with Saksa could lead to exciting outcomes. Their top lane duo was formidable during TI11, and it will be intriguing to see what they can achieve together in 2024, especially as both are in great shape.

Zheng "MidOne" Yeik Nai, while not likely to bring home trophies, could deliver entertaining performances. After a few challenging years, MidOne's return could yield amusing contrasts with the focused play of 33.

AVULUS

Roster:

- Alexey "Smiling Knight" Sviridov

- Daniel "Stormstormer" Shoetza

- Andreas "Xibbe" Ragnemalm

- Marcel "Ekki" Golovienko

- Akbar "SoNNeikO" Butaev

After two years since TI11, Akbar "SoNNeikO" Butaev has finally assembled a suitable team and is eager to re-enter the competitive scene. AVULUS has proven to be a competitive squad, having won the European qualifiers for DreamLeague and the PGL Wallachia 2024. Their recent successes in online leagues further highlight their growth and potential to contend for high placements in the upcoming tournament.

As is customary for any team led by SoNNeikO, AVULUS can be unpredictable with their drafts and overall gameplay strategy, showcasing both familiar and rare heroes in their matches.

Natus Vincere

Roster:

- Artem "Yuragi" Golubev

- Bozhidar "bzm" Bogdanov

- Miroslav "BOOM" Biczan

- Bakyt "Zayac" Emilzhanov

- Clement "Puppey" Ivanov

The inclusion of Clement "Puppey" Ivanov in Natus Vincere is noteworthy in itself. Although his return did not yield results in the DreamLeague qualifiers, many are keen to see how he performs this time around. The pairing of Bozhidar "bzm" Bogdanov and Yuragi adds an element of excitement, as their synergy has often resulted in unpredictable outcomes.

While the roster presents an interesting mix, it does not necessarily indicate a serious contention for the trophy. However, with players like BOOM, who has had a tumultuous recent history, the team is certainly capable of delivering an entertaining show. Observing how this amalgamation of talents from Team Secret and OG integrates under the Natus Vincere banner will be fascinating.