posted by Sun_Tzu,
Three full days of the highest level of western Dota 2 finally culminated in the wee hours of Sunday morning, as us Evil Geniuses took on se No Tidehunter to see who would follow in the footsteps of eu mTw as the champion of DreamHack Winter 2012.


[B]us Evil Geniuses vs. se No Tidehunter
Commentators: au TobiWan & au GoDz
[/B]

[B]Path to the Grand Final
[/B]


us Evil Geniuses


WON - 2:0 eu Fnatic.EU (Semi-Finals)
WON - 2:0 ua Na`Vi (Quarter-Finals)
WON - 1:0 se 4F+C (Group B)
LOST - 0:1 se No Tidehunter (Group B)
WON - 1:0 fi Rigg3D (Group B)


se No Tidehunter


WON - 2:0 ru Team Empire(Semi-Finals)
WON - 2:0 eu aL (Quarter-Finals)
WON - 1:0 fi Rigg3D (Group B)
WON - 1:0 us Evil Geniuses (Group B)
WON - 1:0 se 4F+C (Group B)



Grand Finals Result
Evil Geniuses vs. No Tidehunter

1:2



Game 1

Both teams took no chances, sticking to mostly conventional picks. The one thing of note was the aura stack coming out of No Tidehunter, with Vengeance Aura, Inner Beast and Warcry.

Both teams seemed intent on starting off playing it safe and trying to get their key items up before big really engaging. EG were the first to feel comfortable enough to apply some aggression, and it payed off great dividends at 21 minutes in, when they traded Rubick for a full team wipe. This allowed Fear to get a very early Battlefury and Butterfly.

Unphased, just a few moments later, a big Primal Roar by Admiral Bulldog gave NTH the time they needed to turn the tables and take down Faceless Void, and fight back with a 4 for 1 trade. EG still felt comfortable to claim a Roshan due to the cover of their ultimates, and in particular DeMoN who managed to pull Loda up on a cliff, just as the Swedes were coming to contest.

With the Aegis of Immortality on Faceless Void, EG felt secure to take the high ground and claim the bottom Melee Barracks. Meanwhile, Loda tried to force a trade at EG’s top lane, but had to turn away after taking out the Tier 3 Tower with EG giving chase, eventually using both a Black Hole as well as a Chronosphere in order to secure a kill on Sven.

Backed into a corner and feeling a need to get back into the game, tried to force the top lane Barracks, but EG split them up with another well placed Chronosphere, halting the push and allowing them to pick off the heroes as they were forced to turn and flee. Now confident of impending victory, EG rushed down the top lane, and did not stop until they had another set of Barracks, which prompted NTH to call the ‘GG’.


Game 2

The notable choice in the draft for the second game was a gamble by No Tidehunter, giving away Magnus in trade for Sven and Dark Seer.

The game started with Admiral Bulldog suiciding to Roshan, in order to bait Evil Geniuses to think that there was a level 1 Roshan attempt going down. As EG rotated to check, NTH came from behind and caught them out, scoring two kills, setting them up for a good start to the game. After this both teams settled into their lanes, which were mirror offensive trilanes.

NTH felt slightly ahead, playing an active game and finding some pick-ups around the map. The first big fight going their way came at 17 minutes, and a near wipe of EG allowed them to get the Aegis of Immortality onto Sven. This allowed them to establish their control of the map, and EG were forced to fall back, trying to turtle until they felt confident to take a fight.

After a long and outdrawn siege at bottom lane, NTH finally take out their first set of Barracks at 34 minutes, despite Magnus best efforts. A few minutes later, NTH used a smoke to take out Enigma at EG’s base, and rotated to siege the middle lane while the bulk of EG’s forces were out killing Nature’s Prophet. EG still made it back in time, and were able to fight off NTH, extending their lease on life.

Playing it safe, NTH decide to take another Roshan, and with yet another Aegis of Immortality on Sven, as well as a Cheese passed to him by s4 mid-fight, they take the deciding fight in the middle lane, forcing EG to admit defeat.


Game 3

Going into game 3, Evil Geniuses sent Nature’s Prophet and Chen to the offlane. This turned out to be a failed experiment, as No Tidehunter was able to find DeMoN out of place time after time. Especially s4 on Queen of Pain got off to a great start, which he further capitalized on as EG went to take the top Tier 1 Tower at 11 minutes. A great Chronosphere by Loda bought NTH the time to come in, and with the s4 leading the way, EG was wiped off the map. With a 10-1 kill score, things were looking fairly one-sided.

When in doubt, use your Dire advantage and secure a free Roshan kill. Aegis of Immortality went to Templar Assassin in an attempt to beef up their early game fighting power. Just as it looked as if the Aegis would expire without seeing use, NTH take the aggression to EG at the bottom lane, and while they blow all their abilities to kill Jeyo once, as he came back to life, EG proceeded to turn the tables on them, finding that important teamfight to get themselves back in the game. After this it felt as if the floodgates were blown wide open, and smaller fights went back and forth in the bottom lane, with EG coming out the stronger for it, and managing to secure the next Roshan as well.

As has been the story so many times with these two teams, an Aegis turned into a siege and a Tier 3 Tower, but before EG were able to secure themselves the first Barracks kills of the game, a great Chronosphere by Loda allowed him to take out Chen before the fight even started, which made all the difference, and EG were wiped off the map.

A good fight around Roshan goes EG’s way, but NTH buys back, and are able to secure themselves an Aegis on void. DeMoN made great use of Necronomicon units true sight to deward the map, hindering NTH from making good use of the advantage brought by the Aegis. As Nature’s Prophet completed the Scythe of Vyse, EG felt confident to try and force the bottom lane, NTH pushed them back and picked off three retreating heroes.

As NTH went to scout the Roshan, EG smoked and sniped the Melee Barracks that they had been looking for. NTH did get back in time to pick a few more kills, and used this opening to finish off Roshan. This turned into a push on the middle lane, and EG lose their middle set of Barracks. A short while later, NTH proceeded to siege up the top lane. Out of answers for the massive farm lead NTH had amassed, EG buckled, and as the second set of Barracks fell, the 'GG' was called.

No Tidehunter win DreamHack 2012 Winter Dota 2 Vengeance Cup!


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