Digital Chaos Triumphs Over Team Freedom to Secure Spot at The International 2017
Last night, Digital Chaos emerged victorious over Team Freedom in a thrilling match, earning themselves the last spot for a North American team at The International 2017.
In the past, Evil Geniuses dominated the North American Dota 2 scene, leaving other teams scrambling for second place. However, at The International 6 last year, Digital Chaos proved that the region was no longer under the absolute rule of Evil Geniuses. Since then, more and more North American teams have shown impressive performances in international competitions, solidifying the growth of Dota 2 in the region.
Vowing to support the rise of North American Dota 2, Valve allocated two qualifier slots and a direct invite to Evil Geniuses. Team NP claimed the first qualifier slot earlier this week after winning a closely contested match against Team Freedom, who surprised everyone with their exceptional gameplay throughout the qualifiers.
The matchup between Digital Chaos and Team Freedom showcased moments of exceptional skill, but overall it wasn’t considered TI-caliber play. Lee “Forev” Sang Don’s Enigma in game two executed impressive Black Holes, while Mason Venne’s Bristleback proved to be an impenetrable challenge for Team Freedom. However, there were also mistakes made, like Forev wasting a Black Hole on a solo Lina due to lack of detection. Moreover, Mason made a costly blunder by throwing away his godlike streak to Team Freedom. Nonetheless, winning isn’t always about greatness but rather defeating your opponent, and Team Freedom stumbled when it mattered most.
Unfortunately for Team Freedom, they missed their chance to attend The International 7 during the qualifiers and now blew their second opportunity. Despite exceeding expectations, the squad will have little chance to capitalize on their newfound status as a serious contender, as there are no new tournaments until the fall.
Dota 2 is a game that heavily rewards winners and harshly punishes the rest. There is a significant gap between the top teams and the rest of the competition, and tonight’s match reflected that. Although the series felt evenly matched at times, Digital Chaos proved to be the superior team, securing their spot on Dota 2’s biggest stage and vying for the largest prize in esports history. On the other hand, Team Freedom walks away with nothing but the bitter taste of defeat. In Dota 2, winning only holds value when someone else loses, and this series exemplified that truth.
As Digital Chaos celebrates their victory, they can also take pride in the fact that their predecessor, ex-Thunderbirds (now Planet Odd), did not qualify for The International. With just over a month remaining until the tournament, Digital Chaos now faces the challenging task of preparing for their journey to KeyArena.