Team Liquid vs. Team Secret in The International 2022 Small Finals: The Most Dramatic Match of the Year
Yuriy SheremetTomorrow the final day of The International 2022 will start in Singapore. There are 3 teams left in the race for the champion title.
At stake is nothing less than the Aegis of Champions. The decisive day of confrontations will be opened by Team Liquid and Team Secret .
The derby of title European clubs is in danger of becoming the most epic match of the competitive year and one of the most spectacular confrontations in the history of competitive Dota 2 . The point here is not only in the level of performers, but also in the storyline of the match.
We have found several reasons why you should definitely watch the match.
From Last Chance Qualifier to TOP-3 The International
Team Liquid and Team Secret had a frankly bad season: both teams experienced difficulties after the transfer window at the end of The International 10, both teams did not reach the heights in the majors, both clubs approached the event in the status of "dark horses" - nothing more. And now, they are here, in the TOP-3 of The International.
Secret and Liquid have come the longest way to this place: they went through the closed qualifiers of Western Europe, in order to then make it through the Last Chance Qualifier to the small finals of The International 10. The most persistent, the players with the strongest character, the clubs with the longest history. Tomorrow five of them will fight for the title.
Battle of former teammates
Liquid and Secret have a close relationship, and the boiling point was the period after The International 10. In Bucharest, Puppey, Zai and MATUMBAMAN were already fighting for the right to reach the grand finals, but then they stood next to each other.
Tomorrow Puppey will face his old friends: zai and MATUMBAMAN will try to keep the legendary captain out of The International finals. And for Clement it has a sacred meaning
The fourth final of The International for Puppey
Puppey is a peremptory current Dota 2 legend. It is unlikely that anyone from the current players is able to come close to the Estonian in terms of significance and scale of the person:
- Puppey played at all eleven The Internationals;
- Clement was in the Grand Final of The International three times and was in the TOP-3 twice;
- The Estonian became the world champion at the first The International, and any place other than the first one is tantamount to defeat for him.
Under the leadership of Puppey Secret, they have always been a “contender” for the championship, but they have not risen higher than third place. This year, the Estonian cap will have another attempt to rewrite history. Exactly like Team Liquid
Second Team Liquid Club Championship
Team Liquid is a monumental organization and one of the most titled clubs in competitive Dota 2. The International 2022 reminds us of that again.
Over the years, Team Liquid have forged glory for themselves: starting from the extravaganza of the North American Liquid roster in the match against LGD at TI3, continuing with the 2017 championship and the 2019 grand final, Liquid have deservedly entered the pantheon of the most prestigious organizations.
The victory of Liquid in this tournament will allow the club to repeat the record of Natus Vincere: the banners of Liquid were represented at two finals of The International and it is likely that tomorrow the current squad of Liquids will take the organization to the decisive match for the third time in history for the third time.
This year Liquid is played by MATUMBAMAN, the man with the most epic storyline in the tournament.
Captain's Last Dance
MATUMBAMAN, one of those who could equal Puppey. There are chances, in case of success in a duel against an old comrade.
For Lasse, The International 2022 will be the final chord of professional Dota 2. After the Singapore tournament, the player will pack the keyboard, hide the mouse and go sailing on his boat.
The history of MATUMBA is worthy of mention: starting as an average performer, MATUMBAMAN quickly grew into the status of one of the best. The career of the 27-year-old Finn has been everything from euphoria to betrayal followed by a comeback story.
Lasse became the world champion with Liquid in 2017, after which he was kicked by his teammates. He managed to return to his former level only with Team Secret in 2020. With them, he finished third in the tournament last year.
Access to the grand final, and then a possible championship. MATUMBAMAN is nearing retirement at its zenith.
historical chance
In the match between Team Liquid and Team Secret, not just a pass to the grand final is played out. History is being written here.
In both teams he plays the world champion. Whoever goes further will have a chance to become only the sixth double champion of The International in the world.
Puppey and MATUMBAMAN will fight for this chance with all their might, of that I'm sure.
"Last of the Mohicans". Resolut1on once again the last hope of Eastern Europe
Of the 15 remaining 10 players at The International, only two, Zayac and Resolut1on, are representatives of the champion region, Eastern Europe. If for the first this match can become the main one in his career, then the second has already experienced a feeling of hopelessness.
Resolut1on made it to the grand final of The International in 2016, was the last hope of the CIS in 2017 and is now back in the spotlight as the only Ukrainian at the event and the hope of Eastern Europe.
The battle begins
The most hyped match of the year will start tomorrow, October 30 at 05:00 CET. You should not miss such an event.
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The International 2022 runs from October 15th to 30th this year. The top 20 teams from around the world compete in LAN format for the title of world champion, as well as the largest prize pool of the year. At the moment, its amount is $18,490,932. The venue is Suntec Singapore and Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore.
Interim results of The International 2022
- 1st place: TBD
- 2nd place: TBD
- 3rd place: TBD
- 4th place: TBD
- 5th-6th place: Thunder Awaken, PSG.LGD - $621,829
- 7th-8th place: Beastcoast, OG - $444,209
- 9th-12th place: Evil Geniuses, BOOM, Gaimin Gladiators, Entity - $342,468
- 13th-16th place: Hokori, Team Spirit, Fnatic, Royal Never Give Up - $254,672
- 17th-18th place: Soniqs, Talon Esports - $42,361
- 19th-20th place: TSM, BetBoom - $42,361
Yuriy Sheremet – Expert in mobile gaming and esports among shooters and MOBA games.
At EGamersWorld, Yuriy, as in 2020 when he joined the portal, works with content, albeit with adjustments to his area of responsibility.