TI8 team preview: Winstrike Team, the embodiment of the CIS region’s spirit

This is the first in a series of articles profiling the 18 teams attending The International 8, which kicks off on Aug. 15.

Although Southeast Asia is known as the land of zealous Dota 2 fans and equally passionate players, the community nowadays tends to forget about the CIS region’s own fondness for the game. Russia, Ukraine, and their neighboring countries all love Dota 2, and that devotion can be seen whenever StarLadder, Epicenter, and other such events are held in the region.

The very same fervor for the game can be found in Winstrike Team, formerly known as FlyToMoon.

Wizened men of Dota

This squad, composed of CIS veterans and rising stars, has the work ethic and drive of champions. Their efforts bore fruit earlier this year in the form of a third-place finish at Epicenter XL.

They have many of the factors that make up a tier one team: Veteran experience, a clear star player in the form of Bogdan “Iceberg” Vasylenko, and obvious team chemistry that was formed over the course of the Pro Circuit season. Despite having the right mix of players, their results have been less than stellar, with the glaring exception of their Epicenter bronze medal.

Regardless of their overall lack of impressive tournament performances, however, it’s clear that the Winstrike organization sees something special in them—and we’re inclined to agree. The potential for this squad to turn into something great is certainly there, and there’s no better place for them to hone their skills than at The International 8.

Player to watch

Iceberg is the driving force behind this team, with a reputation for becoming more aggressive and more effective as teams try to take him out of the game. While others such as Amer “Miracle-” Al-Barkawi are more renowned for Invoker play, Iceberg is no slouch with the hero either.

Biggest challenge

Their distinct lack of results over the Pro Circuit season has us less than confident about their combined skill compared to most of the field. They have shown signs of brilliance, though—and if they can tap into their well of hidden power, we could see more than a few upsets coming from them.

Team grade

We give Winstrike Team a C+ for showing decent potential that translated into a top three finish at a Major. Potential isn’t everything, however, especially at TI—so they still have to pull out something special at the event itself.