The fourth day of the playoffs has seen the lower bracket progress as 3 teams exit the tournament. TnC, Liquid and EHOME bid farewell as Digital Chaos clutches two convincing victories and Fnatic bounce back to dominate Liquid. Fnatic will face MVP.Phoenix and thus assure that 1 SEA team will place among the top 4, where DC is already waiting.
TnC started strong as DARK MAGICIAN's Batrider was able to dominate the game with early kills on NOUNS.Moo's Beastmaster. It forced Digital Chaos to react and rotate Tusk to the safelane, despite starting out with an aggressively orientated trilane. Sam_H eventually even led the networth chart 15mins in and with momentum on their side, TnC was able to make their first highground push in the midlane. After retreating from that push though, TnC found themselves in a situation where they were unable to pressure DC's tier2 towers, giving Resolut1on time to farm up on his Naga Siren and get back into the game.
This didn’t stop TnC from farming themselves though and the team was able to take the first tier3 tower 24mins in. They would’ve gotten more, as the teamfight seemed to end in their favor, but two buybacks on DC’s side allowed the North-Americans to hold their base. It seemed to give them a lot of confidence as they set out to take the fight to TnC, but a few pick-offs and TnC was able to take Roshan. After a bit of a slow phase, TnC pushed into DC’s base with the Aegis and DC had no response left as they tapped out.
Game 2 saw DC take the initiative to deny Fnatic.Raven’s 0 minute Bounty Rune. DC stayed active with early rotations from Misery’s Elder Titan. He was able to set up kills and disrupt Tnc’s laning stage. TnC was able to bounce back with well-timed pick-offs, but the threat of DC’s teamfight and split-push was always there. DC was able to keep up in farm, even against TnC’s Alchemist and despite losing 1-2 bigger teamfights.
A well executed Magnus and Elder Titan ultimate combination allowed DC to take a commanding lead and build up on their items further. WIth a Divine Rapier on Ember Spirit, DC wiped out TnC yet again to force a third game.
The third game started just like the second one did, with DC pressuring the runes and even killing the Alchemist. DC kept on piling the pressure, continuously forcing back TnC or killing them. TnC’s draft was too greedy to deal with the pressure and was forced to tap out within 28 minutes.
In game 1, Liquid opted for a rather flexible laning setup with rotations from KuroKy’s Kunkka. Despite his movements though, Liquid was unable to get ahead in the laning stage, as many rotations and gank attempts were either futile or hit supports. 10 minutes in, Fnatic turned a gank attempt around and was able to kill two cores. From that point onwards, Fnatic stayed ahead and didn’t give Liquid an inch. The SEA team slowly but steadily increased their advantage and only forced fights when necessary.
Despite a farmed Liquid.MATUMBAMAN, Liquid was unable to weather the storm and tapped out.
Liquid started off well in game two as their aggressive trilane was able to get three early kills. The Europeans kept building on the pressure, as they kept on killing and rolling over Fnatic. Liquid however started to trade inefficiently, giving away kills and eventually getting wiped themselves as Ohy`’s Sand King ran rampant.
BKB pickups on Liquid gave them hope to take the game back, but Fnatic was too coordinated and was able to kite around Liquid cores. Their teamfight with Epicenter and Tombstone was too much for Liquid to handle and eventually Fnatic closed out the game and the series.
Digital Chaos had a firm grip on the game, with a solid laning stage and superior rotations. NOUNS.Moo was able to dominate the midgame on his Timbersaw. Several pickoffs allowed DC to build on their advantage and take map control, whereas EHOME struggled to farm their Anti-Mage. Even their signature Kunkka was not enough to hold off DC, who kept forcing EHOME into their own base and eventually won the game 32 minutes in.
Game 2 started even more dominating for DC as the North-Americans were able to not only secure first blood and the bounty rune, but also netted a courier kill. Smart rotations by EHOME managed to salvage the terrible start of the game, however. Several successful ganks on NOUNS.Moo Timbersaw, as well as Hand of Midas for Lifestealer made for a very even entrance into the mid game.
The shut down Timbersaw took some time to get back into the game, but a very unlucky initiation by Nyx Assassin of XG.old eLeVeN gifted NOUNS.Moo enough experience and gold to put him in a comfortable position. With their Timbersaw online, DC started applying pressure on the enemy. Resolut1on Chronosphere setups were on point and with a lot of magical damage to pour into them DC managed to acquire a massive advantage in both net worth and map control, methodically dismantling the Chinese powerhouse.
There were several attempts from EHOME to make a comeback into the game, yet in fights they barely managed to break even. Severely lacking damage and unable to control Timbersaw long enough for him not to run rampant or suicide with Bloodstone they never managed to regain any control of the map or even earn enough gold to progress with their itemization.
37 minutes into the game EHOME crumbled, while DC have secured themselves a top4 position in the tournament.
DC for grand final!!
First FIRST
This day is full of disappointments. Liquid and ehome were so nervous they made so many bad decisions even though the draft went well.
Underlord PogChamp
Why no 10v10 stats?!
This article was made as soon as the ehome vs dc game 2 ended. You can notice that it is lacking of analysis and just an informative profiling so don't expect the 10v10, there may be a separate article for that. If fnatic wins the next series it'll be interesting to watch them fight DC coz fnatic and og have the same strat that makes the crowd goes wild.
i predict rtz in DC
Ever since Misery and W33ha got kicked from Secret I felt sympathy for DC. In major they were already ahead of Secret but their run got much more impressive than I'd expect.
Why in The World Players make Dragon lance on meepo?
@ayy lmao: For the stats. I heard DL is relatively cost-effective.
TI hype!
yes and the stats transfer to the meepos, so it gives good early game stats
РОМА ДЕМОН
fnatic!