Singapore's Bleed Esports become first SEA team to qualify for Bali Major

Singapore-based Dota 2 team Bleed Esports were the first team from Southeast Asia to qualify for the upcoming Bali Major, completing an incredible turnaround after they were almost relegated to Division II during the 2023 Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) season's Spring Tour.

After a middling start to the season, Bleed generated a lot of hype when they signed star players Daryl "iceiceice" Koh and Djardel "DJ" Mampusti back in March. Despite that star power, the team only managed a 2-5 record during the Spring Tour regional league for Southeast Asia and barely avoided relegation.

Looking to right the ship, Bleed parted ways with coach Lee "Forev" Sang-don and replaced him with Danish coach Rasmus "MISERY" Filipsen. After coaching North America's TSM last season, MISERY moved to Southeast Asia to join Bleed at the request of Kim "DuBu" Doo-young, who was also with TSM last season before joining Bleed as position 5 support and captain.

With over two decades of experience in Dota and a finals appearance in The International (TI) under his belt, MISERY's veteran presence seems to have finally unlocked the huge potential in Bleed's roster.

Bleed had a flying 4-0 start to the Summer Tour regional league, taking back-to-back 2-1 wins over Execration and Team SMG before soundly sweeping Talon Esports and BOOM Esports.

While they stumbled to start the final week of the league after losing 1-2 to Blacklist Rivalry, Bleed quickly bounced back with a 2-0 sweep over Army Geniuses to punch their ticket to Bali.

Bleed will be looking to finish the league with a 6-1 record as they face bottom-feeders XERXIA in their final match on Friday (2 June).

In an interview with the broadcast panel after their match against Army Geniuses, MISERY explained his role within Bleed was to take over as drafter and free up the players to focus more on their gameplay.

"This time I'm drafting and I'm a bit more in charge, whereas previously when I was coaching [TSM] I didn't have that. I have more responsibility and I am more able to see my vision and my ideas through," said MISERY.

"If you're not the drafter as a coach, it's harder to have influence. Dubu requested this, because he wanted to focus on his gameplay, so that's a plus as well that he doesn't have to worry about drafting or preparing. It's generally good to have somebody outside to take care of that stuff so that the players can just focus on their thing."

Bleed's results can attest to MISERY's impact on the team. With their coach handling the draft and game preparations, the players could do what they do best.

Iceiceice is once again looking like the star offlaner he once was while DJ continues to be one of the best position 4 players in the entire scene. Souliya "JaCkky" Khoomphetsavong is also shining as a reliable carry player while rookie midlaner Teng "Kordan" Tjin Yao is looking to break out. Of course, DuBu rounds out Bleed's well-oiled machine from the position 5.

MISERY admits he had doubts things would work out this well, but so far Bleed has proven they have potential for greatness.

"I was not sure if it would work out, maybe there would be some cultural differences. I didn't really know what to expect, but it has been really easy and really nice, this team is really good," said MISERY.

But just how good can Bleed be? MISERY says we'll all find out in the Bali Major.

Bleed Esports will be among the 18 teams competing in the Bali Major from 29 June to 9 July. Aside from Bleed, TI11 champions Tundra Esports from Western Europe as well as PSG.LGD and Team Aster from China comprise the first four teams to secure a spot in the upcoming Major.

While the Bali Major will feature a US$500,000 prize pool, the teams will really be fighting for DPC points. Those DPC points will go towards securing direct invites to this year's The International, Dota 2's annual multimillion dollar world championship tournament.

The Bali Major will be the last chance for teams to earn DPC points, so the competition is sure to be intense.

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