Analyst, streamer, and former pro player Alexander "Santa" Koltan shared his thoughts on his Telegram channel regarding 1WIN's victory in the closed qualifiers for Dota 2's premier tournament, The International 2024.
"I feel sorry for 9Pandas. Personally, I was as disappointed as if I had lost myself. So close, yet so far. But they played well and found their game. Comparing 9Pandas at the start to now — they are like two different teams. However, their opponent was just too strong."
Santa congratulated 1WIN, highlighting their dominant performance in the region. "Congrats to 1WIN. They steamrolled through the region, dropping only 2 maps. Our region sends a worthy contender. Essentially, their real difficulties were only with Navi, who has always been their kryptonite. After defeating Navi in the winners' bracket, the team found their wings and soared high, very high. But now they face battles against other well-prepared teams, each stronger than the last. Good luck to them on their first International. This will be their final exam."
The closed qualifiers for The International 2024 in the Eastern European region took place from June 14 to 18. Ultimately, one team secured a spot in the championship.