Can Team Liquid beat Gaimin Gladiators? A look at TL versus GG match histories

Riyadh Masters 2024 just ended, and Team Liquid (TL) lost 0-3 to Gaimin Gladiators (GG). Since 2023, GG have often been seen as TL's kryptonite. Can TL really overcome GG? This article will review TL's match history against GG since 2023 and see if they can make it through.

In 2023, TL had Ludwig "zai" Wåhlberg as their offlaner and captain. This year marked the start of GG being considered TL's kryptonite. In the Lima Major, TL's soft support player, Samuel "Boxi" Svahn, missed the latter part of the tournament due to illness. As a result, TL lost to GG in both the upper bracket finals and the grand finals. However, since TL didn't play with a full lineup, people didn't worry too much about these losses.

After the Lima Major, GG won against TL 2-0 in the DPC 2023 WEU Spring Tour Division I event. Later, during Dream League Season 19, Dota 2 received a significant update. TL successfully defeated GG in the upper bracket final, but narrowly lost 2-3 in the grand final. Although TL lost several more matches against GG, they also managed to beat them in the third DPC that season and made a 2-0 against GG at the Riyadh Masters 2023.

Maybe it's because TL lost all three Major finals to GG and also was eliminated by them in The International 2023 (TI 2023) that the community has a strong impression that GG is the kryptonite of TL.

But by the end of 2023, excluding the best-of-two (Bo2) series, TL's win rate against GG was 36.3%. Their best-of-three (Bo3) win rate was 57.1% with 4 wins and 3 losses. Meanwhile, their best-of-five (Bo5) win rate was 0% with 0 wins and 4 losses.

In 2024, after zai's retirement, TL brought in TI champion Neta "33" Shapira as their new offlaner and captain. He had previously been with Tundra, a team known for beating GG often. His arrival brought fresh energy to the team. Did it change TL's performance against GG?

As we can see, although TL lost their first match against GG this season, they went on a five-game winning streak against GG in the next four months. In 2024, excluding the Bo2 series, TL's win rate against GG improved to 60%, with a Bo3 win rate of 75% with 3 wins and 1 loss. However, their Bo5 win rate remained at 0% with 0 wins and 1 loss.

Based on the data from 2023 and 2024, it's clear that TL can beat GG. While GG might seem like TL's kryptonite in Bo5 matches, the data suggests that TL has a better chance of winning against GG in the Bo3 series. We wish TL all the best and hope they achieve even greater success in the future.

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