Na’Vi is back: Ukrainian team wins StarSeries title after two-year drought
After nearly two years without a major title, Na’Vi has made a triumphant return by winning the StarSeries championship and taking home a $135,000 prize. Their victory came after defeating Team Secret in the grand finals.
Breaking their curse, Natus Vincere secured their seventh StarLadder trophy, reaffirming their dominance in this tournament series. Their last win in this tournament was in 2013 during StarLadder Star Series Season 8, where they triumphed over Alliance in the finals. Not only have they claimed the title seven times, but Na’Vi has also been the runner-up twice, with their most recent loss occurring just a few months ago at the StarLadder i-League Invitational.
The journey to victory was no easy feat, as Na’Vi faced strong opponents along the way. In the upper bracket, they defeated Fnatic with a 2-1 score. They then proceeded to sweep TI5 Champions EG with a decisive 2-0 victory, advancing to the winner’s bracket finals against Team Secret. Despite falling short in a 2-0 loss against Team Secret, they regrouped and emerged victorious with a clean 2-0 win against Fnatic in the loser’s bracket.
In the grand finals, Na’Vi faced Team Secret once again, this time as the underdogs. Team Secret secured the first game, putting Na’Vi’s chances at a disadvantage. However, Na’Vi rallied in a tense second game, equalizing the score 1-1. With a newfound confidence, Na’Vi then dominated Team Secret, winning with a final score of 3-1 and reclaiming the coveted title.
This victory comes as a relief for Na’Vi just weeks before The International 6, boosting their confidence as they head into the tournament. Perhaps we may even witness a team winning The International for the second time in the history of Dota 2.
Na’Vi, StarSeries, StarLadder, championship, Dota 2