As part of the first gaming day at the Last Chance Qualifier in Singapore, there will be a lot of matches, among which there will be both passable and worthy of at least the group stage. Our case belongs to the second cohort.
Virtus.pro and Xtreme will play in the closing match of the first line from group B. Both teams have every chance to pass to the group stage and will obviously reach the upper bracket of the LCQ playoffs. Nevertheless, the match does not become less interesting, rather, on the contrary, there will be no less adherence to principles.
We will try to figure out who will be stronger in this match and earn, frankly, not the most needed LCQ points, but still.
Xtreme Gaming Uniform
Let's start the analysis of the match with Xtreme Gaming, but in random order. Here we have absolute equality.
The victory of Xtreme is estimated by the bookmakers with odds around 3.45. For bo2, such an indicator is a witness to parity. A draw in the match is more likely - the bookmaker gives 1.85 for this.
Let's move away from the numbers and talk more about the team. As I noted above, I call Xtreme the favorite of LCQ not just in my group, but in general. I'll try to explain why.
Firstly, Xtreme is a representative of China, where serious clubs have been playing for centuries and the competition is the highest. Xtreme cope with the latter, as evidenced by the results: the passage of the second DPC division, twice 2nd and 3rd place in the following rounds.
It's a shame we didn't see Xtreme at the Major this season. They missed the only available tournament for teams from China due to technical reasons.
Secondly, it's composition. Roster at Xtreme - see for yourself.
Xtreme Gaming Roster
- lou
- paparazi
- old eLeVeN
- Pyw
- Dy
The names here speak for themselves. The team was obviously not going to fly to the LCQ and it will not happen.
Xtreme Gaming Heroes
Xtreme's most picked heroes are: Earth Spirit (6 matches, 50% win rate), Death Prophet (4 matches, 100% win rate), Lina (4 matches, 75% win rate), Omniknight (4 matches, 75% win rate), Marci and Shadow Fiend (4 matches each and 50% win rate).
Form Virtus.pro
Virtus.pro, formerly Outsiders, will stand on the other side of the barricades. The chance of VP success is estimated by bookmakers with odds around 3.45.
VP will appear here as an equal team in relation to Xtreme Gaming. It is not surprising.
Previously, the Outsiders, and now again VP, had a decent season in the home league. Under the auspices of VP, the team took 3rd place in the first DPC round, and then, under the Outsiders tag, played in the second (TOP-6) and third (1st place) rounds in Eastern Europe.
Unlike Xtreme, the team made it to the PGL Arlington Major, where they took the TOP-8. This is where the main incident of the season happened: the calculation of DPC points on Liquipedia and the official statistics from Valve turned out to be different.
As a result, the Outsiders, who received a direct invite to the TI10 group stage, were forced to qualify for the main tournament of the year, letting Fnatic pass ahead of them. The difference in final DPC points was half a point.
At the qualifiers themselves, VP played in the status of the main contender for a direct passage to the group stage, but in the final they lost to BetBoom with a score of 0-3.
Virtus.pro roster
- RAMZES
- gpk
- DM
- yamich
- Xakoda
After The International 10, the team underwent significant changes, changing 3 players at once. Rookie supports yamich and Xakoda managed to prove themselves at the PGL Arlington Major, and RAMZES needs no introduction.
Heroes Virtus.pro
Most Picked VP Heroes: Dragon Knight (4 matches, 100% win rate), Lina (4 matches, 100% win rate), Phantom Assassin (3 matches, 33% win rate), Undying (3 matches, 0% win rate).
History of personal confrontations
Previously, the teams did not meet each other in official matches. This fight will be the debut for both clubs.
Match outcome
In this fight, I expect a vigorous DotA with high-quality moves on both sides of the river. Bookmakers want to trust in terms of results.
In theory, a stomp from either side might work. VP are classically good in the early game and in the laning, they go into the midgame strongly with a sufficient advantage in reserve, but if they are choked, as they say in the bud, everything breaks down. They will aim at RAMZES, the player. On the mid lane, excesses can also happen: I would put Paparazi and gpk on the same level in terms of skill, but here the problem is in the supports.
It so happened that VP play statically, the soul of the lane, but roaming is not held in high esteem by them, and in general, the work of ensuring an even game falls on the shoulders of gpk. With Xtreme, it's the other way around - Pyw and Dy set the pace and develop it, able to perform flexibly.
In general, the most safe bet is +1.5. on Xtreme, but the coefficient of such an event is extremely doubtful. In this case, I still believe in a draw, but there is a feeling that 2-0 can also happen even with such nominally equal teams. We will watch.
Outcome: draw.
