The champion might be topped this weekend and with an entire week to organize and research their opponents, we really feel like the extent of competitors within the high 4 this yr needs to be distinctive. This format won’t be to everybody’s liking, however the stress is palpable, the stage is ready and it’s time to take a look at the 4 finest Dota 2 groups on the earth.
The one non-Western European squad left within the High 4. Group Aster is thought for performing very nicely in their very own area, however failing on the worldwide stage.
Has the curse been lastly damaged? Not solely has Aster managed to 2:0 Group Liquid within the higher bracket first spherical, however additionally they eradicated PSG.LGD — one the event’s favorites.
We expect it’s nonetheless too early to inform. On one hand, the staff is unquestionably exceeding expectations. They’re the strongest Chinese language staff this yr and the area’s solely hope. On the opposite, they are going to be going through Group Liquid within the decrease bracket grudge match.
Their highway to the decrease bracket semi-finals was fairly quick, in comparison with their opponent. Liquid needed to undergo the entire decrease bracket to get to the place they’re now and they’re a really totally different staff proper now.
Aster didn’t must adapt as a lot and their victory in opposition to PSG.LGD was considerably anticipated, given how they at all times carry out rather well in opposition to Chinese language groups.
With three Western European opponents to beat, we really feel like Group Aster is likely to be in a really disadvantageous place. It’s also their finest probability to without end silence all of the naysayers and at last get the worldwide recognition they deserved for the final two years.
The final trip for MATUMBAMAN and one of the improved groups of the Worldwide. Their highway to this decrease bracket semi-final was lengthy and painful, in order that they gained’t go down simple. That’s, in the event that they do go down.
After crushing the hopes of the South American area in top-of-the-line bo3 collection within the historical past of Dota, it felt like Liquid had been unstoppable. Nonetheless, will the momentum of it carry over the lengthy break we had?
Then again this break may need helped them as nicely: they greater than double the typical map rely of their opponents, with ten video games performed in the course of the playoffs. Maybe resetting and refocusing allowed them to get some relaxation and analyze how and why they had been so profitable.
The staff is in a traditionally distinctive place: at this level they’ve probably the most “the Worldwide” expertise and not one of the normal fatigue related to it. “Higher bracket is for losers” nonetheless appears to be the motto of the group.
Group Secret has been on a year-by-year upward trajectory, so it isn’t stunning to see them doing so nicely. What’s stunning, is the completely soul-crushing dominance they stomped by way of the higher bracket with.
Two constant victories in opposition to Thunder Awaken and an absolute stomp that despatched PSG.LGD into the depth of despair had been marvelous, however now they should face Tundra: a staff they had been crushed by in the course of the group stage.
They do have expertise on their aspect, which is a vital issue proper now. With how easy their run was up to now, enjoying in opposition to an opponent you don’t match up nicely in opposition to can be a dying sentence for anybody, however Group Secret.
With Puppey on the helm, an entire week to organize and completely supercharged core gamers, Secret will certainly show extra problematic. In addition they have an opportunity to make a mistake and nonetheless stay in competition, which might are available very helpful.
We really feel like it’s secure to say that Tundra are the favorites of the event proper now. They’re but to lose a collection and so they’ve solely misplaced a complete of 4 maps all through the entire event.
Tundra is a staff that can be very simple to root for: they’ve gamers from all around the world and are coached by a really lovable former TI Champion. They’ve additionally been fairly constant all through this DPC, apart from the Arlington Main, elevating questions of whether or not their loss there was strategic.
At present, the one staff Tundra misplaced a map to nonetheless in competition is Group Aster, which is an attention-grabbing bit of information. Theoretically, Aster is Tundra’s most awkward opponent, however Aster should undergo a really lengthy collection of challenges to get to them, no less than in idea.
For Tundra, doing what they did and never altering course would have been the very best technique, if it wasn’t for the event break. They is likely to be a staff that different opponents put together probably the most for and maybe having an additional couple of aces up their sleeve might be obligatory.
Very like Secret, they are going to have one other life even when they lose their opening collection after the break, however additionally they have a large goal on their again. Their Arlington Main fiasco may have fooled different groups initially, however nobody within the high 4 will underestimate them.
