I know a lot of people here play LOL but here is a rundown of all the teams. Putting off work stuff so happy to do this to avoid work. It should be another fun event.

Prize pool looks like it will finish out around 25 million just over last years.

Should a be a big tournament with very clearly defined tiers. Here is a (long) run down of tiers and thoughts on them.

Regions in parentheses.

Tier 1-Teams that are favored to win it:
Virtus Pro (CIS) - Best in the world throughout the whole season. Pretty simple playstyle, they are just better mechanically than everyone else. They win all three of their lanes and then run over you for the next 20 minutes if it takes that long.

Team Liquid (EU) - Defending champions and boast the best player in the world in Miracle. Have one of the best captains and won the final major before TI to end the season. World beaters and have challenged VP all along the way

PSG.LGD (China) - Became one of the top teams this spring after struggling a bit. Really the only team that can compete and regularly beat or stay competitive with the top two.

Tier 2-Teams with outside shots to in:
Team Secret (EU)-They could be in the tier above but they are noticeable the 4th team where the other three are all interchangeable. A strong team led by captain Puppey. All around the strong team. They crush everyone below them but struggle against the big 3.

Mineski (SEA) - Led by legends Mushi and IceIceIce. They complement those two veterans with three young players. Won SEA's first major at the Dota Asia Championships but like Secret struggle against the big 3.

Tier 3 - Darkhorses:
Optic Gaming (NA) - Could be a tier up. Led by legendary salt lord captain PPD, Optic Gaming is a tale of steady improvement. Struggling heavily at first they hit their stride when they added offlaner 33. They have beaten both LGD and Liquid in the past but got crushed by VP both times they played them. Good, not great team that can sometimes play up.

VGJ.Storm (NA) - Led by star player Resolut1on, the team has shown the ability to keep up and beat the big dogs, but can't do it consistently. If they get hot, they are one of the top 6 teams in the world, but remain hit or miss.

Newbee (China) - TI runners-up last year they continued to show good form early in the season but man did they sputter out to end the season. Really only here because of their talent and being runners-up last year.

Evil Geniuses (NA) - This team formed two months ago added two talented played in Fly and S4. Have talent across the board as you can argue almost every position has a player that is top 5 in their spot. It is just a matter of putting it together and if they can make it work. Dota is a team game and many extremely talented teams have failed because of lack of chemistry. Have a shot at being a dominant team on VPs level if they can put it together, probably won't tho because RTZ and Sumail (their mid and carry) still have playstyles that don't work together.

Tier 4 Cinderellas:
Team Serenity (China) - A complete unknown, just ran through the China qualifiers but are a completely new team to the scene. They could be the second coming of TI6 champion Wings or could flame out, nobody really knows.

Finatic (SEA) - They have talent in EE, Universe and Abed but they also are so inconsistent. Can take series off of anyone but also capable of throwing easy wins against lower competition. Just never know what you will get.

ViCi Gaming (China) - See above

Tier 5 Happy to be there:

Team Winstrike (CIS) - For some reason, this is the only team that consistently plays well against VP, beat them at a major to boot. But outside of brief flashes of greatness, a relatively mediocre team.

TNC Pro Team (SEA) - Pretty consistently beat teams worse than them, but lose to those better. Really struggle to adjust mid-series.

OG (EU) - Had two of their best players poached by EG and quickly replaced them to qualify through EU. Pretty much EG but with less talent.

paiN Gaming (SA) - They are the best of the worst region and have young talented players with a veteran mid. Can maybe pull an upset here or there but generally also one of the most likly first teams out.

VGJ.Thunder (China) - Team won the right tournaments to qualify but almost lost that spot late. If they had they probably are not getting through China's qualifier. One of the first teams out most likely, just overall not very good.

Invictus Gaming (China) - Snuck in and grabbed China's second qualifier spot. Really not a great team and will probably be bounced early.