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The champion can be topped this weekend and with a complete week to organize and examine their opponents, we really feel like the extent of competitors within the high 4 this yr needs to be distinctive. This format may not be to everybody’s liking, however the stress is palpable, the stage is ready and it’s time to have a look at the 4 greatest Dota 2 groups on the earth.
The one non-Western European squad left within the Prime 4. Group Aster is thought for performing very properly 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 in addition they eradicated PSG.LGD — one the match’s favorites.
We expect it’s nonetheless too early to inform. On one hand, the group is unquestionably exceeding expectations. They’re the strongest Chinese language group 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 completely different group proper now.
Aster didn’t must adapt as a lot and their victory towards PSG.LGD was considerably anticipated, given how they at all times carry out rather well towards Chinese language groups.
With three Western European opponents to beat, we really feel like Group Aster could be in a really disadvantageous place. It’s also their greatest likelihood to without end silence all of the naysayers and at last get the worldwide recognition they deserved for the final two years.
The final experience for MATUMBAMAN and one of the vital improved groups of the Worldwide. Their highway to this decrease bracket semi-final was lengthy and painful, so 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 among the best bo3 sequence within the historical past of Dota, it felt like Liquid had been unstoppable. Nevertheless, will the momentum of it carry over the lengthy break we had?
Alternatively this break may need helped them as properly: they greater than double the common 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 group 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 shocking to see them doing so properly. What’s shocking, is the completely soul-crushing dominance they stomped by the higher bracket with.
Two constant victories towards Thunder Awaken and an absolute stomp that despatched PSG.LGD into the depth of despair had been marvelous, however now they must face Tundra: a group they had been crushed by in the course of the group stage.
They do have expertise on their facet, which is a vital issue proper now. With how easy their run was up to now, enjoying towards an opponent you don’t match up properly towards could be a loss of life sentence for anybody, however Group Secret.
With Puppey on the helm, a complete 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 may are available very useful.
We really feel like it’s protected to say that Tundra are the favorites of the match proper now. They’re but to lose a sequence and so they’ve solely misplaced a complete of 4 maps all through the entire match.
Tundra is a group that can also 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, aside from the Arlington Main, elevating questions of whether or not their loss there was strategic.
At present, the one group 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 must undergo a really lengthy sequence of challenges to get to them, a minimum of in concept.
For Tundra, doing what they did and never altering course would have been the perfect technique, if it wasn’t for the match break. They could be a group that different opponents put together probably the most for and maybe having an additional couple of aces up their sleeve can be obligatory.
Very similar to Secret, they may have one other life even when they lose their opening sequence after the break, however in addition 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.
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