The champion shall be topped this weekend and with an entire week to arrange and research their opponents, we really feel like the extent of competitors within the prime 4 this yr must be distinctive. This format may not be to everybody’s liking, however the stress is palpable, the stage is about and it’s time to take a look at the 4 finest Dota 2 groups on the planet.
The one non-Western European squad left within the Prime 4. Crew Aster is understood 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 Crew Liquid within the higher bracket first spherical, however additionally they eradicated PSG.LGD — one the match’s favorites.
We predict 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 Crew Liquid within the decrease bracket grudge match.
Their highway to the decrease bracket semi-finals was fairly brief, 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 towards PSG.LGD was considerably anticipated, given how they at all times carry out very well towards Chinese language groups.
With three Western European opponents to beat, we really feel like Crew Aster is likely to be in a really disadvantageous place. It’s also their finest likelihood to without end silence all of the naysayers and eventually get the worldwide recognition they deserved for the final two years.
The final journey for MATUMBAMAN and probably the most improved groups of the Worldwide. Their highway to this decrease bracket semi-final was lengthy and painful, in order that they received’t go down straightforward. That’s, in the event that they do go down.
After crushing the hopes of the South American area in the most effective 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 typical map rely of their opponents, with ten video games performed throughout 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 essentially the most “the Worldwide” expertise and not one of the regular fatigue related to it. “Higher bracket is for losers” nonetheless appears to be the motto of the group.
Crew Secret has been on a year-by-year upward trajectory, so it’s not stunning to see them doing so properly. What’s stunning, is the completely soul-crushing dominance they stomped via 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 should face Tundra: a staff they had been crushed by throughout the group stage.
They do have expertise on their facet, which is an important issue proper now. With how easy their run was thus far, enjoying towards an opponent you don’t match up properly towards can be a loss of life sentence for anybody, however Crew Secret.
With Puppey on the helm, an entire week to arrange 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 rivalry, which may are available in very helpful.
We really feel like it’s secure to say that Tundra are the favorites of the match proper now. They’re but to lose a sequence they usually’ve solely misplaced a complete of 4 maps all through the entire match.
Tundra is a staff that can be very straightforward to root for: they’ve gamers from everywhere in the world and are coached by a really lovable former TI Champion. They’ve additionally been fairly constant all through this DPC, except 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 rivalry is Crew Aster, which is an fascinating bit of information. Theoretically, Aster is Tundra’s most awkward opponent, however Aster should undergo a really lengthy sequence of challenges to get to them, no less than in idea.
For Tundra, doing what they did and never altering course would have been one of the best technique, if it wasn’t for the match break. They is likely to be a staff that different opponents put together essentially the most for and maybe having an additional couple of aces up their sleeve shall be crucial.
Very similar to Secret, they’ll have one other life even when they lose their opening sequence after the break, however additionally they have an enormous goal on their again. Their Arlington Main fiasco may have fooled different groups initially, however nobody within the prime 4 will underestimate them.
