It’s the first time in many years PSG LGD will not play in the Upper Bracket Round 2 of TI.
The stage was set for a clash of the Titans in the upper bracket. Puppey has attended every single TI till date. PSG LGD has been one of the most consistent Dota 2 teams over the past few years even though they’ve always fallen short of the final victory. And the series did not disappoint as Team Secret and PSG LGD gave fans some high quality Dota and entertainment on Day 1 of the playoffs.
You go to make coffee … and Game 1 is over
Team Secret went with the Leshrac pick in Game 1 and PSG LGD simply did not have the heroes to counter Leshrac. Yes, they had the Lone Druid, the Enigma, the Dazzle. But these are heroe with sustained damage over time and were simply unable to burst down Leshrac before he could pop his BKB.
Nisha went uninterrupted in Game 1 without even requiring a BKB. With a Bloodstone and surrounding support cast of a Silencer, a Nyx Assassin, there were very few PSG LGD players that could actually challenge Nisha.
The game went downhill for PSG LGD soon after Team Secret got their key items. It was a relative stomp with Game 1 finishing in just 23 minutes.
PSG LGD put up a fight .. But it isn’t enough
The second game was a much better start for PSG LGD compared to Game 1. The team got most of the early kills and took an early game lead. In theory, PSG LGD had much better heroes to counter Team Secret’s Leshrac.
Secret once again took Nyx and Leshrac but played much more aggressively this time. Zayac’s Nyx Assassin and Resolution’s Marci would often initiate on Faith_bian. Death Prophet, despite having more than 3000 HP, would often melt when stunned down and having five Team Secret members initiate on them.
PSG LGD did have a few comebacks, but it was often with a heavy cost. Multiple buybacks, multiple deaths just to hold a teamfight and not even win it decisively. Ultimately, PSG LGD, once again getting caught by a Secret initiation, could not survive the final teamfight.
Team Secret won the series 2-0 and advance to the top six of the TI11 upper bracket. PSG LGD, for the first time in several years will have to go through to the lower bracket so early in the TI bracket.
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