The upper bracket action at The Chongqing Major continued as Virtus Pro faced off against LGD Gaming.
The top-ranked team in the Dota Pro Circuit, Virtus Pro, showcased their strength by defeating Evil Geniuses in the playoffs. Similarly, LGD Gaming had a strong performance in their group stage and defeated Vici Gaming to advance to the second round.
However, a setback occurred for Virtus Pro when their captain, Alexei “Solo” Berezin, was unable to compete due to severe flu-like symptoms. To compensate, Virtus Pro’s coach, Arsenij “ArsZeeqq” Usov, stepped in as a player. Despite this unexpected change, Virtus Pro performed well and secured the first win of the series against LGD Gaming.
The match remained closely contested, with both teams being aggressive and trading kills. However, LGD Gaming suffered from their trades during team fights, allowing Virtus Pro to gain momentum. After a grueling match that lasted over 50 minutes, Virtus Pro emerged victorious.
In the second game, LGD Gaming initially showed promise, but Virtus Pro was determined to engage them in fights. Virtus Pro’s relentless pressure eventually overwhelmed LGD Gaming, resulting in a 2-0 victory for Virtus Pro.
Virtus Pro’s coach, ArsZeeqq, shared his thoughts on stepping in as a player and expressed hopes for Solo’s speedy recovery.
In the final game of the day, EHOME faced off against Team Secret. Team Secret dominated the first game, not allowing EHOME to establish any strong presence. With a significant advantage in kills and towers, Team Secret secured an easy 1-0 lead.
However, EHOME composed themselves and put up a strong fight in the second game. By playing a slower and more methodical game, EHOME took control of the laning phase. Despite being behind for most of the game, Team Secret executed crucial plays to turn the tides and ultimately defeated EHOME.
With this victory, Team Secret secured their spot in the upper bracket finals, where they will face Virtus Pro in a highly-anticipated rematch. This rematch will have significant implications for the Dota Pro Circuit rankings, as Virtus Pro currently holds the top ranking and Team Secret is in second place. This match will take place on Jan. 25.
Next in the competition, Vici Gaming will play against Chaos Esports Club on Jan. 22 at 8pm CT.
