The International 3!!

I am finalllllly posting updates on our TI3 journey after settling into the beautiful place and time zone!!

I arrived at Westin Bellevue Hotel in the morning of the 2nd day of the group stages. Most of the teams who were not playing were in the games viewing hall watching the live matches of the other teams.

I was blown away by how generous Valve is. Endless flow of drinks, snacks and food are available to everyone! 

We parked our 3 majestic Alienware M17x in the front table so that we can watch more games on our laptops!! 7 more for a LAN party please!

3rd day of the group stages ended early as there were only a few games left to be played. Once again, it's UNBELIEVABLE how Valve thinks of everything. Each team has a laundry bag that they can throw their clothes in and Valve will send them for cleaning!

 The huge pile of laundry bags piled up outside the viewing hall.

Presenting, the Kunkka room! Ain't he handsome? <3 <3 Used to be one of my favourite heroes in Dota1. These are the rooms in the hotel where the teams played their group stage matches. Each room is named after a different hero. Nice touch! 

 And here's Lich and Windrunner. Didn't have chance to snap photos of the other heroes. I think there were other rooms named Warlock, Clockwerk...

 Being ever so accommodating and amazing, Valve planned a visit to the Valve office for those interested! As you might or not know, last year's group stage matches were all played at the Valve office. So this visit gave a chance for the first-timers (like me) to rampage through the place.

 Donkeys lined up on the signboard, greeting us as we stepped out from the lift!

 Inflatable axes and donkeys anyone? Tammy got an inflatable donkey from NS and it's now sitting in the hotel room staring out of the window.......

Donkey plushie decided to accompany inflatable donkey.......

The amazingly beautiful Valve signboard. The patterns are hand cut according to the staff. 

Elaborate plans of Beneroya Hall pasted on glass walls in the corridors. Can't wait to be there!!

Whatchu staring at?!

Some of the merchandise that will be available for sale at the Main Event! Tidehunter polo tee, TI3 Dota2 jacket (which looks creepily similar to LGD.int's) and so-grouchy-it's-cute Furion plushie.
Dota2 balls (think Pokeballs) are gonna be on sale too! I got myself a free one at the office and guess what's in my Dota2ball!

MINI TIDEHUNTAAAAAA. Watching you.

Gonna end this post with this very well done unofficial poster for the Dota2 movie which stars Singapore's very own retired Dota2 player hyhy.

Anyway, here are the results of the Prelims. Alliance is still going strong going undefeated in the tournament. Cookies to the team who gives Alliance their first lose! Undedogs Fnatic and Dignitas exceeds expectations and earns themselves a place in the upper brackets! 

 Zenith is proceeding to the lower brackets and will be going up against VP on the 2nd day of the Main Event. All matches in the lower brackets are BO1 until the Round of Four and Zenith has to win 2 games in a row (VP, then winner of DK and iG) to be Top 8 in the tournament. It's gonna be a tough journey but I'm sure Zenith will do their very best! 

You can view more information about the brackets and standings at the TI3 website here. 

Today's a free day for everyone so I'm off to get breakfast at IHOP with Tammy~~~~ and waiting for dear Yan to arrive in Seattle~