The “Bald Buff” Superstition Continues in Dota 2
In recent times, Dota 2 teams have embraced the belief in the “bald buff,” sacrificing their hair to the Dota gods in hopes of securing victory. This tradition started with Yatoro of Team Spirit during TI10 and has since become a popular superstition among players. Before important matches, many players have been shaving their heads as a good luck charm.
Team Spirit’s Success and Other Bald Buff Attempts
Team Spirit, despite facing doubts from players who believed they would choke in the grand finals, emerged victorious against PSG.LGD at TI10. This success inspired several players in this year’s TI to follow the tradition. However, even Arteezy’s bald buff couldn’t save Evil Geniuses from a surprising loss to beastcoast, resulting in their elimination from the tournament.
Analysis and Reactions
Following their defeat, fans expected Evil Geniuses to win against beastcoast, especially after their 1-1 tie in the group stages. However, things didn’t go according to plan, leading player and Twitch streamer Gorgc to speculate that Arteezy may be regretting his decision to go bald. Gorgc and YapzOr discussed the shocking series loss on Gorgc’s Twitch channel, expressing support for EG’s draft and laning strategy.
Unconventional Drafts and Key Plays
Gorgc and YapzOr also analyzed beastcoast’s unconventional draft, particularly the Brewmaster pick into Nightfall’s Beastmaster, which statistically was considered a difficult matchup. Despite this, EG’s limited hero options, due to comfort picks and counter picks being banned, led them to choose Lifestealer against Naga Siren, which was not an ideal matchup either. Additionally, Gojira’s Nyx outperformed cr1t’s Mirana, making crucial plays that allowed beastcoast’s Leshrac and Naga Siren to dominate the game.
South American Domination
Unfortunately, EG’s unexpected downfall meant that all North American teams were eliminated from TI this year, with two South American teams showcasing impressive performances against EG. With losses to Thunder Awaken and beastcoast, it appears that this is the year for South America to shine in the Dota 2 competitive scene.
Dota 2, esports, bald buff, Team Spirit, superstition, Evil Geniuses, beastcoast, TI, tournament, South America