Alliance and OG Keep Hopes Alive at EPICENTER Major
Alliance and OG emerged victorious in the final three matches of the lower bracket elimination round at the EPICENTER Major, keeping their dreams of an invite to The International 2019 alive.
Ninjas in Pyjamas secured their spot in the TI9 qualifiers after defeating paiN Gaming, who will now have to compete in the qualifiers if they want a chance to make it to The International in August.
Zoning was the strategy for Ninjas in Pyjamas, with their picks of Dark Seer and Sand King allowing them to poke at opponents and retreat easily. On the other hand, paiN Gaming went for a more direct lineup with Grimstroke and Warlock.
paiN Gaming’s Anderson “444” Santos performed well on Warlock, but they struggled to block Ninjas in Pyjamas in the lanes. In the end, Ninjas in Pyjamas broke through and forced paiN Gaming onto the back foot, sealing their victory.
Alliance faced off against Infamous in a match where both teams desperately needed a win. Unfortunately for Infamous, they had a tough group stage and couldn’t turn things around in the playoffs, finishing at 0-5 and becoming the second South American team to be eliminated.
Alliance had been performing well throughout EPICENTER, managing to stay competitive against Vici Gaming and Virtus Pro in the group stage. With Mars and Storm Spirit in their lineup, the European team took on Infamous and came out on top.
Alliance’s Michael “miCKe” Vu excelled on Troll Warlord, contributing to the team’s victory. This win keeps Alliance in the race for a top spot in the Dota Pro Circuit rankings, while Infamous will have to face paiN Gaming in the SA qualifiers for TI9.
In the final elimination match, OG faced Evil Geniuses, who had been upset in the group stage by Gambit Esports. With their coach Titouan “Sockshka” Merloz standing in, OG managed to turn the tables on EG and secure the win.
Despite EG’s early lead and kill advantage, OG’s more passive playstyle worked in their favor as they punished EG’s aggression and eventually came out on top.
Evil Geniuses doesn’t have to worry about their TI9 spot, but this loss did allow Vici Gaming to reclaim the third spot on the rankings for the season.
Infamous and paiN Gaming will likely receive invites to the closed regional qualifiers, where only six teams will make it through to TI9. Unfortunately, one of these South American teams will miss out on a spot at The International.
Alliance, OG, Ninjas in Pyjamas, paiN Gaming, Infamous, Evil Geniuses, EPICENTER Major, The International 2019, TI9 qualifiers, Dota Pro Circuit