DOTA 2

I like the summary but don't agree across the board by any means cyr.

Group is group and as long as you continue, all is basically well. I don't buy into the everyone is keeping pocket strats meme but there sure is a bit of that going on.

I was amused to see Synderen actually play again and hell, props to the guy for not completely shitting the bed. He's a personality and I fucking really love what he's been to the community but it's kinda like if Day(9) were taking on Jaedong in the day... anything that isn't a complete holy_fuck_stomp is a kinda victory and I think he actually played competently. Kicked ass? Hell no but still, Esc isn't where they are because of him alone by any means.

DC's success is likely the biggest story. I doubt they can keep it up but I love that we've got a peoples' champion going on.

Overall? Weird but great meta. I'm leaning slightly towards it being a drafter's meta over the execution meta we all love but so many, many games to go. Don't sleep on Navi yet though and Wings is far from done too of course. Boringly, OG is still my pick right now. Solid dota is good dota and they seem to have the supporting team that keeps them doing good shit. Plus, what *we* think is talent doesn't mean it is. RTZ, Sumail, Puppey, Dendi, Miracle, W33, S4 etc etc are names of course but we've all seen how that works out. Sometimes.

EDIT: Fucking amazing games though so far. I've watched this shit for as long as it has existed and still, these have been really, really, really, good matches. Not always balanced but fucking great skill level. Makes me feel even older than I am but that's fine, I've not even played the game in years!

Brackets and prize pool breakdown. Grand champs are 8.6 million!!!


Lots of people are tinfoil hatting the EG vs Alliance game, indicating that EG threw on purpose because both teams have the same owner.

I don't even want to think about the potential for fuckery given that dota is worth what it is and is played in RUS, SEA, brasil, KOR, so on and so on.

Starcraft and then SC2 almost got gutted over betting scandals and in Korea you can leave your wallet on the scanner in the subway and it'll end up back in your hotel. Not quite the same of course (the Japs are fucking insanely honest but will screw you over on other shit) but I wonder about the TI thing getting too big.

Nice assessment Cyrus. Only thing I disagree with really, and this is coming from an Alliance fan boy, is that they could probably win their first loser bracket series. I don't give them much of a shot at beating EHome, but they can definitely take a series from Fnactic or Escape. After that it'd be either Liquid, Navi, EG, or Newbee which I'd give them 60-40 underdogs at most against any of those teams.

Navi definitely has a tough road head. TL in a BO1, then they get either EG or Newbee if they get past the BO1.

Ding, Ding, Ding MOTHER FUCKER

Im a huge DC fanboy, so I am pretty biased towards their chances. I think Misery and w33's experiemce really helps them. My main worry about DC is Misery does get outdrafted sometimes. It is also super important to get reso a hero that has good movement, I truly believe when he gets a stagnant carry where he cant move into the fight the way he is comfortable with, he suffers.

They added a bracket prediction to the compendium that locks in about a day. Make sure to fill in your predictions.

About to pass the 20 mil mark.

Gabe rocking them sandals

Needless said:

there better be some mother cucking pudge action in this tournament~

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He was picked in the group stage.... and lost.

Cap's suit is a grand slam. Fuckin sweet.

Needless said:

nobody plays pudge pudge is da bes'

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yes but would you take him into a tournament deciding game? I'd be REAL hard pressed to agree with someone going in on him.

Best week of the year for me!

Letsss gooooo....

Ha! I wondered if they'd censor the ding ding ding motherfucker.

I can't believe that it was #3 best of the group stage. I forgot about that Miracle Invoker though. That shit was just so sick.