Esports community hails new DOTA 2, VALORANT Champions
The Asia Pacific (APAC) Predator League 2024 concluded with Blacklist Rivalry and Team Secret winning the title for DOTA 2 and VALORANT for the Philippines at the Mall of Asia Arena on January 13–14.
Blacklist Rivalry stood proud and claimed their first DOTA 2 title as they fought Execration in a best-of-three win. Meanwhile, Team Secret revealed that It Lies Within as they battled Fav Gaming in a best-of-three match-up.
Journey to the Finals
For DOTA 2, Blacklist Rivalry won the Predator Shield and received 65,000 dollars. Execration, on the other hand, came in second and received 20,000 dollars. Third-placer teams, Team Aster and IHC Esports, received 7,500 dollars as a runner-up prize.
For VALORANT, Team Secret won the Predator Shield and received 65,000 dollars. At the same time, Fav Gaming came in 2nd and received 20,000 dollars. Third-placer teams Boom Esports and Team Flash received 7,500 dollars as a runner-up prize.
Connecting Esports to the World
In collaboration with Intel and XBOX PC Game Pass sponsorship, the APAC Predator League made history as they opened gates for a live audience to watch the finals for the first time.
This year also marks the Philippines’ second time hosting this groundbreaking event. So, fans across the Asia Pacific gather to witness the highly anticipated crowning of their new champions.
More than a massive day for the gaming community, this year’s tournament widens its horizons by fusing music with esports. ACER invited OPM artists such as Ylona, Felip, Al James, Urbandub, SB19, Sarah G. to perform on Day 1. Meanwhile, Spongecola, Franco, Pablo, and KZ Tandingan performed on Day 2.
Moreover, to release the tension in the arena, Team Payaman and SB19 battled up for a show match, bringing the audience cheers, laughs, and kilig.
A Sweet Treat to Fans
To maximize fans’ experience, Predator League made the event more exciting by providing eight challenges fans can do around the arena, such as the Shock Dart Challenge, Predator Brawl, and Indie Game Booth. Furthermore, every audience member received their Predator merchandise aside from the prizes they could win from the challenges.
The APAC Predator League casts the 26 best of the best DOTA 2 and VALORANT teams to compete for the highly coveted Predator Shield. For 2025, ACER announced that Malaysia will host the next Predator League.
As the gaming community expands and evolves, tournaments like the Predator League bring players, games, and fans together for an earth-shaking event. It does not only celebrate players’ journey to the crown but also the game’s existence. It also aims to thank fans for their unending support for gaming and dedication to cheering on their teams!
