Outsiders defeated RNG 2-0 in the lower bracket of the PGL Arlington Major to keep alive their hopes of securing a direct invite to TI11.
It’s that time in the DPC season when the teams have their calculators out to see who gets enough DPC points to make the top 12 and secure a direct invite to the most coveted Dota 2 tournament of the year – The International. We are in the playoffs of the final DPC Major of the year, the Arlington Major, and two teams who were clutching to their calculators were the Eastern Europe team, Outsiders and the Chinese team, RNG. The two teams squared off in the first round of the lower bracket with the winner having a chance to secure a direct invite to TI11, and the loser having to go back to their regional qualifier to secure a spot to fight for the Aegis. On this particular day, it would be Outsiders who came out on top.
Outsiders, coming from the upper bracket after a loss against the reigning TI champions, Team Spirit, defeated RNG 2-0 to advance to the second round of the lower bracket. RNG, who would have qualified for TI11 had they won against Outsiders, will have to do it the hard way through the TI11 Chinese qualifiers.
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Royal Never Give Up
Royal Never Give UpGame 1 was an amazing display of Dota 2 by both teams. It was Outsiders’ outside the box thinking that got them the win. RNG’s position 1 was a Terrorblade, who is susceptible to burst damage. Outsiders went heavy on magic damage and especially burst damage, with Tiny going Dagon 5 and Ethereal Blade to send the demon back to the deepest level of hell. Watch out for Dagon 5 Tinys in your pubs for the next few days.
Game 2 was a one sided affair, where the EEU team out drafted and out played their Chinese opponents to end the game in just under 35 minutes.
Even though Outsiders have crossed a major hurdle, they still have one more daunting elimination game to face before they can secure the direct invite to TI11. Their next game will be against the winner of Fnatic and beastcoast, and only if they win that, can they start packing for Singapore. beastcoast have already secured their direct invite, but Fnatic are still in the running. One team which will be paying close attention to this part of the bracket is Evil Geniuses, who’s fate now rests in the hands of beastcoast. Dota 2 statistician Ben “Noxville” Steenhuisen has a good summary of the situation.
Of the 12 teams that will secure a direct invite to TI11, 10 have been decided. Only two slots remain, and which two of Outsiders, Fnatic and EG secure them will be decided in the next couple of days.
The Arlington Major continues tomorrow with one lower bracket game, and two upper bracket games which will decide who goes to the upper bracket finals.
