Meet the ENC 26 Field: Dota 2

Dota 2's team-based nature creates several unique roster dynamics at ENC 26. The first category features national squads that resemble established professional teams, either current or former lineups with existing chemistry.

Leading the charge

China is the clearest example. The nation's top-ranked roster combines players from Xtreme Gaming and Vici Gaming, but every member has experience competing alongside one another at some point in their careers. At the center of the lineup is Wang "Ame" Chunyu, the "Uncrowned King" of Chinese Dota and one of the most accomplished players in the game's history.

The second major roster category at ENC 26 is built around elite individuals coming together to form all-star lineups. Kazakhstan, Malaysia and the United States all fit this mold, combining some of their nations' best players into championship contenders.

Kazakhstan enters as the No. 2 ranked nation, led by Alimzhan "watson" Islambekov and Arman "Malady" Orazbayev of Team Yandex, one of the world's strongest Dota 2 rosters. The lineup also features players from teams like Rune Eaters and Natus Vincere, with many having built chemistry together through years of competing on Kazakh-focused rosters.

Malaysia sits just behind at No. 3, powered by one of the deepest talent pools in the tournament. Cheng "NothingToSay" Jin Xiang, a TI finalist and one of the world's top mid laners, headlines a roster so stacked that Yeik "MidOne" Nai Zheng, an 11-year veteran and one of Malaysia's greatest players, begins the event on the bench.

For the United States, talent will not be the issue. The roster features stars like Jingjun "Sneyking" Wu, Sumail "SumaiL" Hassan and Quinn Callahan, but building chemistry quickly will be the key challenge. Many of these players have rarely competed together, making adaptation crucial in a tournament built around national pride.

Flying under the radar

Another roster filled with players with existing chemistry is Team Sweden. Ranked No. 5 entering ENC 26, this squad may be one of the tournament's most underrated contenders. The roster features significant built-in chemistry, with Michael "miCKe" Vu and Samuel "Boxi" Svahn currently competing together on Team Liquid, while Aydin "Insania" Sarkohi was part of that lineup until his retirement in October 2025.

The trio also shares a long competitive history, with miCKe and Insania forming one of Dota 2's longest-running support-core partnerships. Their connection dates back even further to Heroes of Newerth, where miCKe, Boxi, Insania and Andreas "Xibbe" Ragnemalm won the 2017 HoN Tour World Finals together. That history could give Sweden one of the strongest chemistry advantages in the field.

New rivalries begin here

The final roster category is the most common, but it may also create the most chaos. These lineups feature one or two established stars surrounded by less proven players, creating the potential for surprise runs and unexpected results.

Jordan is a prime example. Despite a lower pre-event ranking, the nation is led by Ammar "ATF" Al-Assaf, one of the world's best players, alongside his Team Falcons coach Mohammad Khalil "AfrOmoush" Abu Al Eis. Their challenge will be elevating their teammates against the deepest field in international Dota 2.

Several other nations also feature standout stars capable of changing the tournament. Martin "Saksa" Sazdov gives Macedonia a world-class presence as a TI winner and one of the game's elite position fours, while Poland features Michał "Nisha" Jankowski and Marcel "Ekki" Hołowienko. Moldova also enters with Vitalie "Save-" Melnic, whose experience with BB Team has helped push the nation into the No. 14 ranking.

Even with so many stars across the field, this only scratches the surface of the talent at Dota 2 at ENC 26. The tournament runs from November 2-8, with nations competing for a share of the $1,500,000 prize pool. Follow the action to see which nation emerges as the first ENC Dota 2 champion.