Match Prediction: Darkside - NaVi | Dota 2

Big Dota 2 returns to the terraces of Eastern Europe. The region kicks off DPC 2023: EEU Upper Division - Tour 2.

The second round of the DPC will be particularly important for representatives of the local professional scene. The past Lima Major 2023 has called into question the capacity of the local teams, and the balance of power within the region is completely shattered.

Natus Vincere and Darkside will open the new series. The match is not of the first magnitude, but it promises to be hot.

Natus Vincere are back in the first division of Eastern Europe in the new season. At the end of DPC 2022: EEU Upper Division - Tour 1, the team was relegated to the lower division, but thanks to a buyout of the PuckChamp squad, they regained their place in the elite division.

Darkside retained their slot following their performance in the first round. The team of Ramzes and SoNNeikO was placed 6th then.

Let's see which of the teams will start the season with good news and earn their first victory in DPC 2023: EEU Upper Division - Tour II.

Natus Vincere form

Let's start the parsing of the match by analysing the playing form of Natus Vincere. They will be something of a favourite in this match.

It is not worth rushing into the pre-match formation. The bookies themselves are not ready to give their estimates, but about that a little later.

In any case, NaVi should play at number one in this match, which is indicated by several factors. One of the main ones, if not the main one at all, is the roster of those "born to win".

Natus Vincere line-up

At the start of the 2023 season, NaVi unveiled a revamped roster. Back then, the team was led by V-Tune, but they didn't look like that for long and therefore the team underwent the expected changes.

Natus Vincere players

• shigetsu
• mellojul
• Malik
• Danial
• Malady

This is what the newest era of Natus Vincere looks like these days. All in all, nothing supernatural or interesting. The club is trying once again to concoct something that works, and relies on the younger generation of dodgers.

The backbone of Natus Vincere for the second cycle of DPC 2023: EEU Upper Division - Tour II is made up of former PuckChamp members. The whole five previously played in the roster of the young team, and the most "fresh" players are mellojul and Malady.

NaVi performance

Last season with the old team NaVi finished in last place in the first round. Disgracefully relegated to the second division, "born to win" decided to cheat by buying out the PuckChamp squad, and therefore it is rational to understand why they took hopeful players to a top Eastern European club.

PuckChamp spent all of last season in the lower division of Eastern Europe. There the team finished in 2nd place, winning 5 matches and losing 2.

Before the start of the 2023 season, the PuckChamp played in the BB Xmas Show Commercials, where they finished in the Top 8.

Natus Vincere Heroes

In patch 7.32e NaVi have most often chosen Clockwerk (7 games, 57% wins), Drow Ranger (6 games, 83% wins), Primal Beast (6 games, 66% wins), Ember Spirit (6 games, 66% wins).

With the release of 7.32e the preference for yellow and black will likely change dramatically. We will watch with interest to see what will surprise or disappoint Natus Vincere.

Darkside uniform

Let's proceed to the parsing of the Darkside's uniform. One of the key and perhaps the most principled rival of NaVi from the last season we will start the tour with the match, where we will play as the outsider.

It remains to be seen how much the bookies will believe or vice versa, but for me Darkside are number 2 here. They didn't look like a team last season and I don't think anything will change in the new one.

After a failed performance in the first round, and the top 6 for a team positioning itself as a top team is really a collapse, the team has left 2 members, which will obviously spoil the form of the team for a few matches so exactly.

Darkside line-up

The project under the tag Darkside may be considered a failure, for it lasted only 1 season. Now the team will be looking for new players, and at the time of writing (10.03.23) is still in an active (or not) search.

Darkside players

• re1bl
• RodjER
• SoNNeikO

"Darkside" has been abandoned by Ramzes and DKFogos. The first is likely to seek refuge in a top team from Western Europe or somewhere else, and the second has already joined the cybercats.

Who will replace the players who left the position, it is not clear yet. In my head comes the nickname of a conditional Daxak, recently retired from HR, but somehow such a candidate does not inspire confidence. Like the whole Darkside idea in general.

Darkside's performance

On the last DPC 2023: EEU Upper Division - Tour 1 Darkside finished 6th. The team managed to win 2 out of the 7 games they played.

On the cards, the Darkside fared much better. Collective managed to squeeze out 7 cards at once, with 11 lost: Team Spirit, BB Team and HellRaisers each took a card from the top 3 that season.

After the regular season, Darkside went to the replay for 5th place. There team SoNNeikO met with One Move and already being in a tilt failed with 0-2 score, after which the team actually fell apart.

Darkside Heroes

As part of the DPC Darkside have been playing in a methodical manner, without coming up with a wheel. Picked Tiny (5 games, 40% wins), Crystal Maiden (4 games, 75% wins), Dark Seer (4 games, 75% wins), Leshrac (4 games, 75% wins), Death Prophet (4 games, 50% wins).

As you can see - it didn't help. Let's watch SoNNeikO, because it's interesting if the experienced captain can prepare the modified team to a presentable appearance, and at the same time come up with fresh ideas, so as not to fall in the mud.

History of personal confrontations

The teams have not previously played in these line-ups. The tag team met in the first round of the DPC, and Darkside won then, but now this fact does not matter at all.

The outcome of the matches

I'm not expecting any revelations in this encounter. The level of play of the clubs is still in question.

It is unclear who Darkside will get there, but it seems the overall picture will not change. I don't see what they can win from.

NaVi would like to give them credit, but I'm afraid. I don't see NaVi competing against top clubs like Team Spirit or BB Team, but still not Spirit or BB here, so I'll take my chances.

In favour of betting on Natus Vincere is NaVi's conditional chemistry. The team has managed to build intra-team synergies since PuckChamp.

Bottom line: victory for NaVi.