It is an interesting game format, that a group has to play two matches back to back and not switching with the other group!

//edit:
Also: Game two of Aster vs. TP is 18min in and killscore is 19:26! Just running at each other!

Rufus Dupres

Germany1071 Posts

August 23 2022 08:06 GMT

The groups seems to be pretty imbalanced. In group A we have three teams basically fighting for the two slots in the upper bracket while the remaining three teams are not trying to lose all of their games. All series are stomps so far.

Nigma playing without one of their players, Miracle having health issues (again) and cannot compete. Can just hope he will be at 100% when qualifiers are starting...and wondering if Nigma is able to pull out some wins.

Geisterkarle

Germany3257 Posts

August 23 2022 08:23 GMT

Yeah... they were soooo fast, we have to wait an hour for the next games

btw. the Aster-TP game ended 27:53 in 33min!
If you enjoy teamfights, watch the VOD

Rufus Dupres

Germany1071 Posts

August 23 2022 11:38 GMT

Liquid still looking pretty bad. Rough times ahead for them in the qualifiers.

Nigma easy win in game 1, but Saberchad turned it around in game 2 on his Brewmaster.

Rufus Dupres

Germany1071 Posts

August 23 2022 12:25 GMT

Okay...what an outdraft from Liquid. Nigma first picking Puck and not banning out one of boxis better heroes with Skywrath Mage which counters this hero completely. Big yikes. Can only get better in the second game.

giftdgecko

United States2126 Posts

August 23 2022 13:48 GMT

#10

Insania getting called out by Lacoste for not being able to get his teams to close out games... Bums me out but he's not wrong.

Rufus Dupres

Germany1071 Posts

August 23 2022 13:55 GMT

#11

Hard outdraft again in Game 2, but Liquid could not close this one out, but having zero tower damage and getting some objectives makes things difficult...great comeback by Nigma tho. Hopes are alive that they will make it out of the group stage.

Geisterkarle

Germany3257 Posts

August 24 2022 06:42 GMT

#12

Secret picking Techies against Entity! Zayac is hell of a Techies player, but I'm not sure if that is correct; entertaining it is!

Rufus Dupres

Germany1071 Posts

August 24 2022 10:43 GMT

#13

Watching games when a huge patch has been dropped right in the middle of a tournament is always so entertaining...Liquid still looking lost, their next series against Boom may already determine if they will survive the group stage or not. Except for matu, I feel like the whole team is in a slump.

Sumail and GH popping off against Boom in Game 1 giving Dreamocel the space to carry the game on his Bloodseeker. Especially, GH...holy crap...how many times did he zone out 3-4 heroes out of a teamfight by casting huge ults. The usage of buybacks from Sumail was superb, securing two big teamfights for Nigma.

Game 2 ready for some Io-Action by GH.

Rufus Dupres

Germany1071 Posts

August 24 2022 12:37 GMT

#14

What is it with Kuro that he is pulling out these wonky drafts against OG in every single occasion? Holy shit...Offlane Void?

EDIT: And as usual OG crushing Nigma on all lanes and during the whole game. Come on you can do better than this shitshow.

Geisterkarle

Germany3257 Posts

August 24 2022 13:28 GMT

#15

Is that the Primal Beast Nigma are picking?? Wtf? I want to see that!

Rufus Dupres

Germany1071 Posts

August 24 2022 14:18 GMT

#16

Good start and they should be winning, but Dreamocel played his worst game in this tournament so far. So much space and farm just to be caught out of position multiple times and handing over the game to OG on a silver plate. All comes down now to the series against Fnatic. Luckily, they have their faith in their own hand. If they win, they have secured the upper bracket. No matter how the other parties are playing...

emperorchampion

Canada9496 Posts

August 24 2022 14:48 GMT

#17

I forgot how atrocious most tournament times are for North America after living in EU for 5 years. It's gonna suck come TI time

Geisterkarle

Germany3257 Posts

August 25 2022 09:50 GMT

#18

A solo 1vs1 mid to do the tiebreakers! That's crazy :D

emperorchampion

Canada9496 Posts

August 25 2022 20:36 GMT

#19

Cool games from secret, I thought they were done for when I woke up to them being 0-1 vs OG. Nisha looking really solid again. I hope that Secret can make it through the qualifiers!

emperorchampion

Canada9496 Posts

August 25 2022 20:43 GMT

#20

Also reso beast mode in games 2/3 on enigma - especially in game 2

emperorchampion

Canada9496 Posts

August 26 2022 05:27 GMT

#21

moonmeander did not look happy with his team after that game 1 loss

Rufus Dupres

Germany1071 Posts

August 26 2022 06:44 GMT

#22

His mood will not be better after that second game...bryle and moonmeander are the weak link on this team. On the other side, Entity played sooo goddamn well. Cant wait for the TI-qualifiers...Secret and Entity in top form and currently looking like the favorites. Nigma looking decent as well, although Kuro still got these wonky drafts from time to time making it far to hard for themselves.

Now, let´s see what Nigma is up to against Thunder Awaken.

Rufus Dupres

Germany1071 Posts

August 26 2022 08:36 GMT

#23

Wow Kuro, giving TA all their comfort heroes and being slammed to the ground so hard that they may not be able to crawl back to the surface in time before the qualifiers start. Holy crap...Sumail on Pango with a lot of missed spells and no impact overall, perhaps his worst performance so far on this Team.

Geisterkarle

Germany3257 Posts

August 26 2022 09:35 GMT

#24

I can't watch (stupid work) but as I saw the picks, I was sure Sumail is playing his incredible Dawnbreaker. Why would they switch??

Rufus Dupres

Germany1071 Posts

August 26 2022 09:58 GMT

#25

The drafting was not on point, we can keep it that simple. First phase Wyvern and Timber in both games and Kuro keeps picking heroes which are countered so hard by their five by Pango and Faceless Void. Their spell usage was also hit or miss in so many times and felt really off.

MC played a really good Dawnbreaker in the past as well.

They should start grinding pubs again and adapt to the new patch, otherwise it will be a short TI-qualifier run.