OG Esports has secured its place at The International 2026, returning to Dota 2’s biggest stage after a four-year absence from the tournament.
The organisation, a two-time International champion, earned qualification through the Southeast Asia Qualifiers earlier this 2026 season.
OG famously became the first organisation to win The International back-to-back, claiming the Aegis of Champions in both 2018 and 2019.
Rather than chasing short-term results after their absence, OG chose to undertake a complete rebuild of their competitive Dota 2 programme.
In a move that surprised much of the esports world, OG relocated to Southeast Asia and fielded its first-ever all-Filipino roster.
For an organisation long associated with European Dota 2, this regional shift represented a bold and genuinely challenging strategic decision.
The Philippines has long been recognised as one of the world’s strongest Dota 2 communities, producing players who consistently shape the professional scene.
OG advanced through the upper bracket of the Southeast Asia Qualifiers, defeating Grind Back 3-1 in the qualification match to secure their berth.
That result did more than book a plane ticket; it validated the organisation’s calculated decision to invest fully in Southeast Asian talent.
The International 2026 will be held in Shanghai, the same city where OG lifted their second Aegis of Champions back in 2019.
Returning to Shanghai with a new roster, a new region, and a new identity, OG carries its storied legacy into an entirely different chapter.
MelBet, an official partner of OG Esports, has backed the organisation throughout this journey, supporting long-term development and investment in local talent.
With the first all-Filipino lineup in OG’s history now set to compete on Dota 2’s grandest stage, the organisation’s rebuilt identity faces its defining test.
