Patryk Stachowiak
With the group stage days away, the EWC has locked in its English, Arabic, and Ukrainian broadcast crews — and the names on the list read like a who’s who of Dota casting.
The voices are set. Days out from the Esports World Cup 2026 Dota 2 opener, the tournament has unveiled the broadcast talent that will carry fans through two weeks of Paris action — and it’s a heavyweight lineup. Familiar desk faces, elite analysts, and a deep caster bench span multiple languages, all in place before 24 teams begin their run on July 7. Here’s the full rundown.
A Broadcast Built for the Big Stage
This is the last major stop before The International takes over in August, and the EWC has assembled a talent roster to match the occasion. The English coverage blends on-site hosts with remote casters across the tournament’s near two-week span, backed by dedicated Arabic and Ukrainian productions. The result: whichever language you tune in, you’re getting seasoned, recognisable voices from the Dota 2 scene.
The English Desk: Sheever and Raynday Anchor It
The heart of any broadcast is its hosting desk, and the English production leans on two of the most trusted names in the game. Sheever returns to steer the studio alongside Raynday, the pairing tasked with tying the whole event together between series.
| Role | Talent |
|---|---|
| Desk Hosts | Sheever (NED), Raynday (USA) |
| Stage Hosts | Milosh (LBN), Slacks (USA) |
| Reporter | Purge (USA) |
Down on the floor, Milosh and Slacks handle stage hosting duties, while Purge works the reporter beat — a role that puts one of the community’s most encyclopaedic voices right in the mix.
The Analyst Desk: Firepower From Ceb to BSJ
The analysis panel is where a broadcast earns its stripes, and this one is loaded. Ceb — a multiple-time TI champion turned analyst — headlines a four-strong desk that brings genuine pedigree to the breakdowns.
- BananaSlamJamma (USA) — one of the scene’s most prolific analytical voices
- Ceb (FRA) — TI-winning player bringing elite-level insight
- Ephey (JOR) — sharp tactical read on the games
- Lacoste (CRO) — a versatile analyst and host
That’s a panel with the range to dissect both the macro strategy and the moment-to-moment drafting battles that define an event this deep.
The English Casting Bench: Twelve Deep
You don’t cover 24 teams across a group stage, Survival gauntlet, and playoffs without a serious casting rotation — and the EWC has assembled a dozen commentators to share the load.
| Caster | Country |
|---|---|
| Cap | United States |
| johnxfire | Philippines |
| KheZu | Germany |
| malibujesus | United States |
| MLPDotA | Australia |
| Otomo | Iraq |
| permasneeze | Singapore |
| rkryptic | United States |
| SUNSfan | United States |
| SVG | United States |
| WinteR | Malaysia |
| ZQuixotix | United States |
It’s a genuinely international bench spanning five continents’ worth of talent, with the observer slot still listed as TBA ahead of the opener.
The Arabic Broadcast
Revealed on July 2, the Arabic production fields a five-strong casting crew drawn from across the region — a nod to the Esports World Cup’s roots and its strong MENA following.
- Asimco007 (KSA)
- Sandstorm (PSE)
- SilenceDota (JOR)
- Stupid_Cat (KSA)
- TheVeryFamous.ar3a (EGY)
The Ukrainian Broadcast: The Deepest Crew of All
The Ukrainian production is the most extensive of the announced lineups, pairing a full hosting-and-analysis desk with a sprawling commentary team — reflecting the enormous CIS and Ukrainian presence in competitive Dota.
| Role | Talent |
|---|---|
| Hosts | Aelnis, Kraken |
| Analysts | Connor, Daed, Goblak, IHTL, Rakuzan, Sm1ley, Tony |
| Commentators | Bafik, BromKet, CaspeRRR, DoubleE7presso, Droog, f3nRir, FlunkyFlame, GodHunt, Totus |
With seven analysts and nine commentators, it’s a booth built for wall-to-wall coverage — fitting, given how much of the top of the bracket draws from the region.
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Also read: Esports World Cup 2026 Dota 2 Schedule: Every Key Date From Group Stage to the Paris Final
Why the Talent List Matters
A stacked booth is more than window dressing. The EWC format is a demanding one — a Bo2 round-robin group stage, a single-elimination Survival gauntlet, and a knockout playoff bracket ending in a Bo5 grand final. That’s a lot of high-leverage Dota to contextualise, and the difference between a good watch and a great one often comes down to the desk explaining why a draft or a smoke gank swung a series. With analysts of this calibre and a casting bench this deep, the storytelling should keep pace with the stakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the talent announced?
The English lineup was revealed on July 3, the Arabic crew on July 2, with the Ukrainian roster also confirmed ahead of the event.
Who is hosting the English desk?
Sheever and Raynday anchor the desk, with Milosh and Slacks on stage and Purge reporting.
Who’s on the analyst panel?
BananaSlamJamma, Ceb, Ephey, and Lacoste.
How many casters are on the English broadcast?
Twelve, spanning the US, Europe, and Asia-Pacific — with the observer role still TBA.
Which languages have dedicated broadcasts?
English, Arabic, and Ukrainian crews have all been confirmed.
The Bigger Picture
The talent reveal is the final piece clicking into place before the games begin. With Sheever and Ceb headlining a deep English booth, plus full Arabic and Ukrainian productions, the Esports World Cup 2026 has built a broadcast to match a $2M, 24-team spectacle. As the last major LAN before The International, this is where the storylines of the season get their loudest telling — and when the first series fires up on July 7, this crew will be the ones turning two weeks of Paris Dota into must-watch television. The stage is set; now the voices just need the games to deliver.