The big match took place on the third day of the group stage of The International 8 (17/8). The most awaited course is the meeting of Evil Geniuses who constantly reap successive wins and the defending Liquid champion who still seems not hot with a lot of reaping draw in the previous match.
But a different story happened in this meeting. In order to maintain Liquid’s prestige, get the best out of it and EG finally feels trouble. The first game was pretty outdrafted by Drow’s Strat from Liquid who all-in used ranged heroes to maximize the Drow Ranger aura. EG, which relied on three melee heroes, Ursa, Tiny and Specter, found it difficult to shorten the strike distance because the damage from Liquid line up was so brutal.
The first time in this game Sumail lost a landslide in control of the midlane because of dealing with Miracle – which uses Clinkz. Kuroky also cleverly took the favorite hero from EG, phoenix to simultaneously counter melee carry from EG using the fire bird + Radiance.
The second game of bigger blunders was done by EG, releasing the mainstay Invoker and Earth Spirit from Miralce and GH. The result is that the EG laning phase is far away. S4 became Liquid’s main target because they knew his big influence in improving the game of EG while Miracle – again did not make Sumail develop in laning. Duo IO-Necro / Tiny is easily crushed with the Invoker skill combination. Sun Strike Miracle – also landed right with the help of an adequate stun from gh. EG finally fell in front of the ruler. This result leads Liquid to second in the standings, stalking EG tightly in position 1.
OG also performed quite well today with 5 points won. Winstrike, which is currently dealing with Liquid and EG, is getting stuck in the last position. It is obligatory for them to win 2-0 tomorrow if they want to stay in the lower bracket and send Invictus Gaming to go home because their game has finished first. Similar to the PPD dream that was threatened because at this time they were ranked distended at Group B due to swalowing a 2-0 defeat to Secret and a draw against Serenity. Faced with Vici Gaming and paiN Gaming tomorrow, the possible result is getting a draw from both teams and hoping to get Vici Gaming slaughtered 2-0 by Virtus.pro.
Towards the end of the group stage, the superior team began to heat up and sit on the top of the standings. VP has been ranked second in Group B accompanying VGJ.Storm and PSG.LGD has nailed the number three at Group A under EG and Liquid. The most fierce board battle and until the fourth day there was only clarity as to who the first two teams would go home.
Today’s best-selling hero is held by Vengeful Spirit, this hero increases damage from the Drow Strategy and push strategies in general. Tiny, Mirana and Wraith King are still in the top five and there is Dark Willow that has been predicted to sell well and finally made it into the top pick last night.
