The decisive race before TI10 starts with the T1 match against Team Aster. And that's great.
In the opening match of the playoff stage, we will face a duel between the opposing regions. Be that as it may, but the COVID-19 pandemic temporarily divided the world into parts.
In the competitive Dota, one of such units is the paired region of Southeast Asia and China. Although teams from both regions played their local championships, they at least had a chance to cross each other and play against each other in official matches.
Now this opportunity falls in the main event before TI10. We are trying to figure out who will be stronger: the first team in Southeast Asia or the best team in China?
Team Aster Form
Let's start with the nominal favorite of the confrontation, which I see as Team Aster. Bookmakers agree with this.
In principle, this is a very reasonable position. Although the teams did not play with each other, conclusions are drawn solely on the strength of the regions, which was formed after the first major.
Then in the TOP-3 we had 2 Chinese teams at once (and one of them won), and in SEA, although it surprised me with OB Esports x Neon, do not forget how Fnatic (the best team at that time) performed at that time. That is why Aster is the nominal or, better to say, the absentee favorite.
Team Aster Recent Results
- Lost to Invictus Gaming with a score of 1-2
- Lose at Vici Gaming 0-2
- Defeat Elephant 2-1
- Defeat EHOME 2-1
- Lost to PSG.LGD with a score of 0-2
Looking at the statistics, you might think that Asters lose to everyone and everything. This is, in part, true.
At the end of the season, Aster clearly "got hooked" at i-League 2021, the team did not play very well, to put it mildly: Vici, IG, PSG.LGD were losing. It's not that the teams mentioned are weak, quite the opposite, but still the TOP-1 of China...
However, before the Major, Aster had a lot of time to reboot and complete preparation. I think LaNm and the company have made good use of this time and are ready to show their best game in order to protect themselves from playing in the qualifiers in China.
Form T1
Let's move on to a very interesting team that has already appeared in the last Major and has shown a confident game in this. T1 along with the talent 23savege.
We remember very well how last season Kuku didn't make it to Singapore and T1 had to play with Forev. The result was quite expected and the team left Wild Card without any idea.
This season, T1 has arrived fully armed, and as Team Aster, you really need to show a good game in order to guarantee yourself a direct ticket to TI. You need to start by defeating Team Aster.
Recent matches T1
- Beat TNC Predator 2-1
- Defeat Execration 2-1
- Defeat Fnatic 2-0
- Defeat OB Esports x Neon 2-1
- Beat TNC Predator 2-0
As we can see, T1 literally has no competitors in Southeast Asia. Let's see how promising players cope with a formidable opponent.
Personal meeting history
Previously, teams did not meet in official games. The match within the upper bracket of WePlay AniMajor 2021 will be the first face-to-face match.
The outcome of the fight
At first glance, there should be no intrigue in this match, but if you dig deeper, it turns out that not everything is so simple. We are waiting for a duel between teams with a very similar playstyle: both clubs play late, finishing victorious games in 30+ minutes.
Both carries (Monet and 23savege) play mainly on "classic" characters like WK, Void and so on. But there will still be one winner.
Honestly, it is difficult to predict a duel between two dry teams. Taking into account the experience of the previous Major (which is not very relevant, but still) I will bet in favor of Aster, but I will not be surprised if they lose, and this is no idea.
Bottom line: Aster's victory.
One Move
Cyber GooseWatch match
