Title image courtesy of DreamHack
Vici Gaming salvaged what appeared to be a potentially devastating day for Chinese Dota by emerging victorious in the final series of the day.
PSG.LGD and Keen Gaming were struck down and eliminated by DPC powerhouses Virtus.pro and Team Secret, respectively.
PSG.LGD was able to take an early lead in the series with a lineup designed to scrap with their opponents. Virtus.pro opted for a cooldown dependent, team fight lineup which did not enable them to maintain pace with the aggressors. In games two and three, these roles appeared to reverse but the trend did not. Every game was decided in favor of the lineup that was least dependent on cooldowns. PSG.LGD were eliminated having secured a 5th-6th place, $60,000 but only 540 DPC points, opposed to the 900 they would have earned if not using a stand in.
Keen Gaming proved to be a force not to be trifled with in the early days of the Major. They beat out Team Liquid for the second upper bracket slot in the group and dispatched Evil Geniuses to the lower bracket. Subsequent to being relegated to the lower bracket themselves, Keen Gaming was scheduled to square up against Team Secret. They struggled to hold their own in the group stages against Team Secret and this circumstance was no different. The cinderella story was cast asunder in two games once more. Keen Gaming collected a $60,000 cash prize and a full 900 DPC points.
These events culminated in a series between Virtus.pro and Team Secret which we are all accustomed to witnessing this season; just not in the lower bracket. Enigma was picked first phase of the draft in all three games, indicating just how much these two teams prioritize the hero. Rightfully so because the team which drafted the hero won every game. The series was every caster’s dream, but certainly not Team Secret's as they lost this battle to Virtus.pro. The question is which of these teams will lose the war? At this point, both are guaranteed a spot at The International and it seems likely that these two will face off once again further down the road. Team Secret earned $80,000 and an additional 1,350 DPC points.
The next series was crucial for the redemption of Chinese Dota on the day. Vici Gaming dropped the first game of the upper bracket finals to Fnatic. With their backs against the wall and additional pressure to make the Chinese region proud, Vici Gaming beat back Fnatic in dramatic fashion. A loss would not have eliminated Vici Gaming, but it would have capped a long, grueling day for the region. That subject is now moot as they bag the first Grand Final slot. Vici Gaming are one series away from being the first team to win a Major after qualifying for the event by emerging triumphant in the preceding Minor.
The finale of DreamLeague Season 11 Major is scheduled to kickoff tomorrow, March 24th at 14:30 CET with the Lower Bracket Final and the long-awaited climax of the event in the Grand Final.
DreamLeague Season 11 Stockholm Major playoffs format
- Playoffs - March 16th - March 24th, 2019
- Sixteen teams play in a double-elimination format over eight days, with the final three days being in front of a live crowd.
- Eight teams begin in the upper bracket, eight in the lower bracket.
- All games except Grand Finals and Lower Bracket Round 1 are Bo3.
- Lower Bracket Round 1 are Bo1.
- Grand Finals is Bo5.
