What a smooth performance on the game 3 Nigma v Aurora. Perfect strategy and executed very well. Almost refreshing not to have a nail biting 60 minute game for once!
Agreed. This is not the Nigma I know!
Damn, I really dislike Falcons and Spirit are always exciting to watch but that game 2 was a disaster from the draft. Unhinged Morphling pick. First game was phenomenal, shame it was in a fight for 13th place and not a grand final. Also a shame we didn't get a game 3, we were so close with the backdooring in game one.
Falcons look like they have rallied, they look strong and maybe able to put up a fight against the Chinese teams. Even though I dislike them I must admit they do play really well.
We all dislike Falcons for their toxic behavior, but theirs playstyle deserves respect, from me, - they didn't buy 5 dominators and played like men.
So sad Team Spirit won't participate in play-off. It's hard to believe. I think that was the last tournament where we saw those players in one team, someone will definitely leave...
Miposhka has had health struggles before and openly talked about retiring. I know he said he would if they won this TI, but I think he might anyway.
You think Collapse and Yatoro will split up?
You think Collapse and Yatoro will split up?
I don't think so, I meant Miposhka will retire (or take a break) and maybe Larl will be replaced. If also Collapse and Yatoro will split up then I guess it will be no more Spirit we know.
I hope they stay together, they're both great to watch and play so well together. I think it would be interesting to see them with a different support core around them though. How tied are they to the Spirit organisation, think they would play for another team?
Well, for me Miposhka+Collapse+Yatoro were always kinda face (or the basis) of Spirit. When Miposhka leaves the team can't stay the same and well, the game has changed - I don't see cool comebacks often in modern dota (I watch dota since 2023, so maybe I don't know something). I don't think there is something special in exactly Yat+Col but anyway, why would they leave Spirit? Without Miposhka it's still nice team I guess.
For sure. Will be interesting to follow the post-TI shuffle. Yatoro might go on a break again too.
I don't want to comment much on the metagame as I don't play anymore, just watch tournaments. We've had some comebacks though, even massive gold leads clawed back and if you ignore the Helm of the Dominator spam it doesn't feel like the worst patch? Not as great at TI 6, but better than the Wraith Pact TI surely? TI4 was atrocious too.
PV choking again, come on guys.
EDIT: never mind, that was an insane comeback - although Wildcard did also choke pretty hard themselves.
Only watched on and off, but ya gotta trust in the late game void + enigma. PV do have the experience advantage in this kinda situation at the high level too.
Yeah, definitely felt like nerves and inexperience from Wildcard to not capitalise. Ironically somewhat similar to PV vs BB yesterday.
I didn't view the elimination round but I checked Liquipedia from time to time. My fav to win it all was Spirit, Tundra or Liquid. Then Spirit and Liquid have been out. :o
I haven't known which factor held Liquid back. :)
Chemistry issue? Do they need a position 3 who's less like Saberlight and more like 33?
Did the uncertainty of Larl's participation in this tournament very badly affected Spirit? So little time to practice before the tournament? Or chemistry issue? Many, including me, thought that Yatoro, Collapse and Miposhka were about to enter the ultimate tier. The 3-time The international champ tier. Nobody's in that tier.
So :(. Liquid and Spirit may be thinking they're strong but there's a piece missing. On the highest stage all the pieces must be there, or you'll lose.
Preparation is definitely a factor, Yatoro said somewhere that they only had like a couple of days together with Larl to prep. Even beyond that they did not quite look themselves though, although in individual matches and moments you could see their true self and both Collapse and especially Yatoro had some insane games and plays.
Liquid just look out of sorts.
I'm still upset about PARIVISION throwing against BB yesterday, I hope it won't affect their mental today. Along with Heroic they've been among the most entertaining to watch and I really what them making the main stage.
I have a question: What's the difference between 3-2 and 2-3 in Swiss-round?
I don't think there is any?
That's my feelings too.
Rollback to one day before (pre-Round 5), 1-3 teams were fighting for the last straw, and 3-1 teams were grabbing the VIP pass to stadium. These games were brutal. But for the three games between six 2-2 teams, it meant almost nothing
However you slice the group stage you'll get some bad or low-stakes games. I feel like for me at least the swiss format this year was the best in a long time with more hype matches and series than any group stage I can remember.
Yeah, I totally agree. Old group stage had too many zero-stake games. This year, every swiss game might decide if a team would go home early
I do miss the times of old where all teams got to play on the main stage at least once. I hope I'll be proven wrong next week but ever since Valve stepped away and gave the whole thing to PGL The International hasn't felt the same.
In theory, winning would mean you have an easier elimination match as you will be placed up against a 1-3 team or someone else that has lost. Looking at the matchups though I don't think there are any easy matchups, apart from maybe Wildcard. But I think that is down to how competitive it is rather than the tourney structure.