We continue to review the main event of the year in the plane of Dota 2 and esports in particular. Before us is a match for reaching the second round of the playoff bracket of The International 2022.
PSG.LGD and Team Secret will challenge the right to advance in the b3 confrontation. An entertaining game awaits us, that's for sure.
This season aside, both teams are majestic clubs in the world of Dota 2. Both clubs are top contenders for the overall championship, but both clubs never raised the Aegis of Champions. This year they got another chance, but how both will use it is a matter of discoveries.
We are trying to figure out what to expect from the opposition of heavyweights, and who, following the results of this b3, will be the company of the winner of the Evil Geniuses/Thunder Awaken pair in the first quarterfinal of The International.
Form PSG.LGD
PSG.LGD will be the favorite in this match. The chance of a Chinese club to win is estimated at around 1.5.
That PSG.LGD is being rated as a potential winner is nothing new. I'm more interested in the figure itself, which in some places even reaches 1.6.
In my memory, in the case of PSG.LGD, this is a pretty impressive ratio. He says China's strongest club is losing its grip.
Throughout the season, PSG.LGD looked “silicon”: the team confidently played matches within the DPC 2021/2022 Upper Division: China Tour 1 and Tour 2. Disturbing notes appeared during the DPC 2021/2022 Upper Division: China Tour 3, when the team played loosely, losing to clubs like Dandelion, and the motivation of the team was suppressed.
With the PGL Arlington Major, the situation changed dramatically and PSG.LGD turned on: they finished second. Old problems returned during The International 2022.
PSG.LGD results at The International 2022
PSG.LGD took third place at The International 2022 in the “death group”, group A. In recent years, this is the worst result of the gold roster.
In the debut days, PSG.LGD played downright sad. The team gave cards to teams like Hokori and Soniqs. If the first at this tournament is the main discovery of the year, then the second ones have already taken off, having managed to pull the nerves of the Chinese.
Awareness of the sadness of the situation came with the second day of the group stages, when PSG.LGD turned on to the fullest.
During the group stage, the team won 4 series, drew 4 and lost once (against EG on the first day).
PSG.LGD roster
- Ame
- NothingToSay
- Faith_bian
- XinQ
- y`
Perhaps the reason for some “laxity” that has been present in the PSG.LGD game for the past few months lies in the team’s roster.
The players have been together for more than two years, which definitely leaves its mark on interactions. That's the way the human brain works.
Here we can add the fact that Faith_bian has already de facto finished his career. He spoke about this in an essay published in the summer of 2022, but written after the final of last year's The International. I have big questions regarding the motivation of such a performer in a team that clearly claims the first and long-awaited Aegis champions in the history of the club.
Heroes PSG.LGD
Primal Beast, Slark, Puck appear in spades, but there are also Zeus with Terrorblade. PSG.LGD continues to rate Tiny for XinQ, but there is no noticeable impact from him.
On the second day of the group stage, they added Natures Prophet to the first position and Pangolier for NothingToSay. Also flashed Venomancer and other "nice" heroes for the pace. However, later they came to the more standard characters listed above.
Team Secret uniform
Team Secret will play catch-up in this match. The chance of winning a club from Western Europe is estimated at around 2.5.
Secret's 2.5 against PSG.LGD this year sounded like a joke. At least until the start of The International 2022 itself.
Looking back at Secret, we can see how hard the club has had for the season. After a bronze medal at The International 2022, the team sank into the abyss of reshuffles, as a result, in fact, for a year, being in a coma.
Twice the team took 5th place in the home league, which cast doubt on their future fate in the international arena. However, starting from the summer of 2022, Secret recovered.
Through appearances at commercial events like Riyadh Master and ESL One, Malaysia Puppey found synergy with the newcomers Resolut1on and Zayac.
Questions about the viability of the roster practically disappeared at the qualifiers for The International, where Secret made it to the Last Chance Qualifier, and completely disappeared during the “last chance tournament”. The group stage of The International performed by Secret surprised, in earnest.
Team Secret results at The International 2022
Unlike PSG.LGD, it was difficult to predict Team Secret's advance to the top of the bracket this year, given all the failures of the season. Much to my surprise, Puppey and the company not only showed a decent game, they practically topped Group B, losing only to Tundra Esports in the final standings.
Team Secret finished the group stage with 5-3-1 statistics in games and 13-5 in maps. They lost only to compatriots from Tundra.
Team Secret roster
- crystallis
- Nisha
- Resolut1on
- Zayac
- Puppey
Speaking of Secret's good performance, one cannot ignore the main guarantee of this performance - the team's roster, mentioned in passing above.
It so happened that all the laurels in this five fell on Nisha, but this tournament also revealed other performers of the roster. In particular, we can note the most controversial member of the team - Crystallis. Before the start of the tournament, the Dutchman showed a mixed game and there was an opinion that he plays two or three heroes at most. As the group stage progressed, Crystallis proved otherwise.
Team Secret Heroes
Secret play their own DotA, but they don't stray far from the meta. Their most common spawns were Tusk (7 matches, 85% wins), Witch Doctor (5 matches, 80; wins), Monkey King (5 matches, 60% wins), Pangolier (4 matches, 50% wins), Death Prophet (4 matches, 50% win rate).
They love Lina for Nisha through a magical build, which is a rather non-trivial choice during this championship.
History of personal confrontations
Previously, the teams played as part of the Riyadh Masters 2022. At that time, PSG.LGD celebrated a victory with a score of 2-0.
Match outcome
In this confrontation, I expect a hot DotA, but I can't get rid of the feeling of a fast game on two maps. Both clubs are not accustomed to dragging out matches and will obviously try to take the opponent in a swoop. As for the tournament, I prefer Secret, but we will not dismiss the theory of a cunning plan to lull vigilance from PSG.LGD, and therefore they remain a serious opponent and, perhaps, the main contender for victory in the tournament.
In general, I put a handicap of less than 2.5. This duel will end on two maps.
Bottom line: handicap is less than 2.5.
OG.LATAM
EdgeWatch match
