TNC won two major this DPC season and in the 1st rank in terms of DPC points.
TNC is a good team and was able to give a hard game for some tier 1 teams. But actually, TNC won major 2 times because of most of tier 1 teams were not playing in those tournaments. And now they're really struggling even in just SEA regional.
I don't know how people describe their Tier 1 teams but for me, it is those teams that can win Minors and Majors, TNC did win 2 majors making them a tier 1 team. tier 1 not playing in that tournament? How about VG? EG? IG? These teams are TI contenders and I don't think they are not a tier 1 team especially EG and VG. A win is a win, and I don't think we should look at who the players are. TNC could sit comfortably right now and be ready for the TI, they don't need DPC points right now since they are automatically invited at TI10, it is a possible reason why they are not that desperate to win minors and majors anymore. To be clear though, I am not a fan of TNC but their achievements are the fruit of their hard work. They can't win a major, they would be bullied, now that they won major back to back they would be still bullied, they don't deserve it since they work hard for it. It is not their fault that those "
tier 1 teams" that you know are not invited or went through the qualifiers.