Title image courtesy of EPICENTER
Groups A and B were played out in their entirety, setting the playoff stage for eight teams so far at EPICENTER Major.
The last Major of the DPC 2018-2019 season kicked off in Moscow, Russia with the first two groups competing for their spots in the playoffs. Groups A and B were played out from start to finish.
Team Secret dominated Group A, ending the day undefeated and claiming the first upper bracket spot of the event. It wasn't all easy, both paiN Gaming and RNG each gave Team Secret a run for their money in one game per series. paiN pushed the limits and fought hard in the opening match of the day - a series that was over 50 minutes and filled with swings back and forth. RNG forced a 67-minute bloodbath of a game as they tried to tie up the series between them, but were not able to turn the tides into their favor.
While Team Secret and Fnatic - who had a lackluster performance so far - have a TI9 invite already secured, everything is on the line for RNG and paiN Gaming. The two hopefuls went into the event knowing they had to take a top finish in order to gain the highly coveted invite. For paiN Gaming the road is going to be a steep uphill battle. Ending the day in last place without taking a full series, they will need to survive the lower bracket best-of-one elimination series next.
RNG has had an impressive showing so far and was handsomely rewarded with an upper bracket seeding. If they can get through the next series, the Chinese team will gain a minimum of 900 points which will thrust them into 11th place, above TNC Predator - who is also competing to this event with TI9 invite hopes in hand.
Team Liquid made their debut with their new core player, Aliwi “w33” Omar. Although they lost a match in each series, the European giants still were able to clinch both of their series and take the top seed. w33's presence on the team already shows promise but the real test is yet to come.
Evil Geniuses faltered a bit more than expected, but that is thanks, in part, to the fire raging in Gambit's veins. The North American titans crushed Infamous Gaming 2:0 and went on to meet Team Liquid. They took the first game off of Team Liquid, but then were shown no mercy as Team Liquid crushed them in the next game and then absolutely shellacked them in the deciding game. Their loss forced them into a third series against Gambit to determine the upper or lower bracket playoff route. It was here, that Gambit really proved their hunger and worth with two incredibly powerful and impressive wins over EG.
Gambit's TI9 invite dreams are still on the table. With their upper bracket placement, just like RNG, if the CIS team survives the next series they will gain at least 900 points this event. That would move them into the top 12, in a 9th place position.
Infamous ended the day without a single victory to their name. If they have any hopes of an invite, it now rests on the shoulders of a win in the brutal best-of-one elimination series up next for them.
The action resumes Sunday, June 23rd with Groups C and D.
EPICENTER Major
The last DPC event takes place in Moscow, Russia at the VTB Ice Palace June 22-30, with 16 teams competing for the lion's share of the $1,000,000 prize pool and more importantly, the highly coveted DPC points. The last four TI9 invites will be determined at the event, making this the most intense major of the season so far.
