Teams are not ready: how TI2026 reshuffles affected 1Win essence and PGL Wallachia 9

Following the conclusion of The International 2026, the prolonged transfer period has begun to affect upcoming tournaments. 1win Essence III has already been postponed because many tier-1 teams were unable to finalize their rosters, while the organizers of PGL Wallachia Season 9, according to the source, had to expand registration options for participants.

PGL Wallachia Season 9

Previously, the participant list for PGL Wallachia tournaments was formed through direct invitations from the organizers. Professional teams that are ready to compete at the tournament can now also submit applications. The changes were reportedly prompted by ongoing roster changes and difficulties with obtaining visas for the trip to Bucharest.

PGL Wallachia Season 9 is scheduled to take place from 17.09.2026 to 27.09.2026 in Bucharest. The tournament is expected to feature 16 teams competing for $1,000,000. However, the participant list has yet to be officially announced.

The rosters of many leading clubs have yet to be announced following the end of the season. Team Liquid coach William Blitz Lee said that the organization plans to unveil its updated roster only between 14.09.2026 and 20.09.2026.

Meanwhile, Aurora Gaming owner Valeriy L3rich Kharitonov confirmed that the club's new roster has already been finalized, although it has yet to be officially unveiled.

In addition, there are growing rumors within the community that Team Falcons could shut down its Dota 2 division and disband the roster.

The previous season of the series ended with a victory for BetBoom Team. In the grand final of PGL Wallachia Season 8, the team defeated Aurora Gaming 3:0 and earned $300,000. Aurora received $175,000 for finishing second.

1win Essence III

A similar situation has already led to the postponement of 1win Essence III. The organizers explained that many tier-1 teams were unable to finalize their rosters before the start of the tournament. New dates have yet to be announced.

1win Essence III was originally scheduled to take place from 02.09.2026 to 14.09.2026, featuring 10 teams and a $200,000 prize pool.

Meanwhile, EPL Masters II is currently underway, with most of its participants representing the tier-2 scene. The tournament runs from 30.08.2026 to 10.09.2026. MOUZ and Hulligani have already received direct invites to the playoffs, while two more teams will receive similar invitations later. A total of 20 teams are competing for $100,000.

Earlier, CyberScore reported the results of the closed qualifiers for BLAST Slam VIII.