Day 1 of the premier Dota event showcased undefeated teams, strong performances from Team Liquid, and some surprising upsets. Let’s dive into the details.
Undefeated teams
Only two teams remained undefeated after the first day of the $23 million event. Both teams, LGD Gaming and LGD.Forever Young, are competing under the LGD banner. They won all five of their series with flawless scores.
LGD Gaming had an impressive day, defeating Fnatic, Team Empire, and Team Secret in back-to-back 2-0 series. Lu “Maybe” Yao, the star midlaner, played exceptionally well with heroes like Timbersaw, Ursa, and Leshrac. LGD will face Invictus Gaming Vitality and Team Liquid on the second day.
LGD.Forever Young also had a successful first day and secured a top spot in Group B. However, they played against less established teams like Execration and HellRaisers. Their performance on the second day will determine if they can maintain their flawless record.
Team Liquid shines
The European team, Team Liquid, put on a great show. They faced tough challenges from Invictus Gaming Vitality but managed to win both games. Miracle- and MATUMBAMAN played crucial roles, and their Troll Warlord and Necrophos picks secured the victory.
In their second series, Team Liquid dominated the Southeast Asian team Fnatic in two quick games. They split their final match of the day against Evil Geniuses.
Interesting outcomes
Apart from the expected results, there were some surprising upsets:
Evil Geniuses struggle
The most successful North American Dota 2 team, Evil Geniuses, had a shaky start. They couldn’t win a single series on the first day, despite their previous tournament victories. TNC outsmarted them in draft, and Invictus Gaming Vitality took advantage of their mistakes. They managed a split series against Team Liquid.
Infamous surprises
Infamous, the winners of the South American qualifier, had a solid performance, splitting their series against Team Secret and Team Empire and earning a 2-2 record.
Fnatic struggles
Fnatic, who finished fourth at The International 6, had a tough day, losing all three series. They currently sit at the bottom of Group A. They have a chance to bounce back with a single game against Infamous.
Dota, premier event, LGD, Team Liquid, undefeated, strong performance, upsets, Evil Geniuses, Infamous, Fnatic.