posted by SohNata,
Key Arena has closed its doors once again and now only one game remains - the grand finals. It will be NewBee up against Vici Gaming after an extraordinary day that saw everything from Level one Roshan to 15 minute wins and a Meepo to remember. Catch up on everything after the jump.
Pit of despair as C9 crash out


world Cloud9 came into Day 3 already on match point - a loss would see them eliminated from contention at the expense of cn Vici Gaming. They started out well, sticking to their exciting, unpredictable style. They went for a SingSing Meepo, setting the stage for one, if not the best games of the tournament so far in a crazy back and forth-affair with massive plays from b0ne7 on his Clockwerk, at one point deploying cogs at the fountain so that Meepo could secure mega-creeps. It ended up in a tight base-race, but Cloud9 managed to level it all up.


C9 levelled the series, but a Level 1 rosh backfired against them in game three.


However, it all fell apart almost instantly in the third game. Cloud9, fancied by the analyst panel to have the better draft, decided for a Level 1 Roshan, but got sniffed out by r0tk and his Venomancer, dashing their attempts and losing three kills in the process. They never recovered from it as Vici overran them from there. All the questions after the game where about the attempt - did the crowd tip it off? Or simply, was it just a very risky play against VG, a team who stopped the same thing against se Alliance, and used it themselves against my Titan? The conclusion was definite though - Cloud9 were eliminated. Vici progressed.


LGD's brave run ends at DK's hands


It was the morning after the night before. One of the biggest and most outstanding comebacks in the history of the game had seen cn LGD Gaming take an unexpected lead. However, cn DK suffered no hangover and got straight down to business, bringing out Mushi's Outworld Devourer, and despite a brave Sniper pick, LGD fell, evening up the scores again. It would all come down to the crucial third game in this series too.


LGD were unable to follow up the heroics of Game 1 and ended up losing the series.


DK then threw LGD for a loop with their draft, with an unusual opening of Elder Titan and Lion. It kept LGD guessing, unable to pinpoint what the plan was - but it became clear with the pick up of Shadow Fiend, again putting Mushi on a signature hero. Infact, with MMY on Lion and LaNm on Earthshaker, it was largely a draft of signatures - it meant DK were comfortable and they looked so, claiming that game too. LGD exited from the tournament, but with their head held high, having exceeded expectations and really having proven themselves across the event.


Vici punish DK in series sweep


These two returned to the stage after their earlier exploits, with DK maintaining their unpredictable drafts by opening with a Tinker and Beastmaster combination, before finishing up with an Anti-Mage for BurNIng. However, Vici had the answer - the deathball. With r0tk at the controls on Pugna, the early push that VG execute so well swallowed up the towers too quickly for DK to defend, also leaving BurNIng marooned without anywhere to farm. VG made them tap out and took the advantage.


DK fought valiantly, but were eliminated by Vici Gaming


DK returned to a more standard draft the second time around, with Mushi allowed to have Queen of Pain, but Vici were prepared. Fy was crucial on his Shadow Shaman, twice setting up kills on the QoP, seriously delaying his snowball. He was again the hero after sniffing out that iceiceice was lurking in the woods and then trapping him with Serpent Wards, killing him, which prevented him from having any effect at a key moment in the game. All the while, Sylar was able to farm up nicely and eventually take over. DK fought as hard as they could, but with a Morphling they simply couldn't handle, they had to give up and exit TI4 as the fourth place team.


Vici deathball out of control to down EG


Vici came back to the stage for the third time in the day, to face up against a fresh us Evil Geniuses, who had been away from the stage since Friday - and were departing it in near record time as they fell prey to the cn Vici Gaming deathball in game 1. With Prophet and Centaur leading the way, Vici stormed to a sixteen minute win to stun EG and leave them reeling. However, they recovered in game two, with the classic UNiVeRsE Faceless Void being played to perfection as EG hammered Vici in game two, staving off the early push with Zai also delivering a strong performance that showed why his Enigma is so feared.


The end screen from the Game 3 that saw EG go home.


So that put us into a deciding game once again today, with Vici surprisingly everybody by allowing EG to have their Void and Enigma once again. This time though, Vici would truly be in their comfort zone - their lethal Fy and Fenrir combo on Leshrac and Shadow Demon respectively, Sylar's Nature's Prophet, r0tk Venomancer and Super Dragon Knight. In a re-run of the first game, EG found themselves strangled and suffocated, Enigma too slow to get in the game and ultimately, although they snuck a Roshan, they needed the perfect team-fight. They didn't get it and as Vici took the fight, EG had to tap out in around 16 minutes. EG's time at TI4 is over, but given the talent and youth in this squad, you imagine they'll be back. After the game, r0tk spoke of his happiness, but also regret that friend BurNIng hadn't made the final. Classy words from a classy player.


The stage is now set. A grand final Best of 5 as cn Vici Gaming, fresh off taking down Cloud 9, DK and Evil Geniuses in the same day now look to carry the momentum as they take on the team who sent them to the lower bracket, cn NewBee. We've not seen NewBee since Friday after they continued their dream run from 10th, to a grand final spot. They've shown how strong they can be and will aim to prove it again with five million dollars at stake. Tomorrow, a champion is crowned.


Advertisement


This article was written by uk Jamie Donovan, a joinDOTA writer.SohNata first experienced Dota during the TI3 finals and has been hooked ever since. A massive fan of European Dota, he's probably one of the people with more tickets than wins.Location: Warwickshire, UKFollow him on @SohNata.

Comments