The International 2018 Group Stage Day 1 Schedule / Stream / Caster Info.
— Wykrhm Reddy (@wykrhm) August 15, 2018
The primary stream at https://t.co/JFpIgmwCbT during the Group Stages will be a multistream bringing you the best of all games that are currently happening. #TI8 pic.twitter.com/LxjGyVRIkU
Twenty matches in a packed Day One
The fight for seeding begins in earnest, with twenty best-of-two matches taking place over the next twelve hours or so. And boy, are there some great matches to kick things off. The first series of matches sees two of the favourites in action with PSG.LGD facing off against OG, while Team Liquid get underway against the Southeast Asians of Fnatic.
Although it will be hard to predict after the first day, we should have a snapshot of what kind of form the teams are in. Will we see Liquid defend their title, and become the first org in history to do so? Can an underdog such as Team Serenity or Winstrike take the Aegis?
We have one goal. https://t.co/9exPF6ss03#LetsGoLiquid pic.twitter.com/2lgEGEYXhW
— Team Liquid (@TeamLiquid) August 13, 2018
We have the privilege of being in one of the opening series of The International 2018 Group Stage later today!
— LGD Gaming (@LGDgaming) August 15, 2018
For our first battle, we will be squaring off against @OGesports. #TI8 #PSGLGD pic.twitter.com/kwyevrxFCf
The teams are ready – let the games begin!
Hype is understandably real amongst the teams and their players as they take to the greatest stage in Dota 2. For them, the Aegis is not just a trophy to be won or prize money to be banked. It’s a chance to go down in the annals of history as one of a very select few to have stood in the same position, hoisting the shield aloft. To have their name used in the same sentence as ‘legend’, and to be looked up to by the next generation of Dota 2 pros.
It will be tense. It will be challenging. Most of all, it will be war. Which teams will come out on top? The next two weeks will reveal all — and for us, the fans, we’ll be on the edge of our seats all the way. This is what we have been waiting for.
Today we start our journey towards immortality.
— Evil Geniuses (@EvilGeniuses) August 15, 2018
Our #TI8 begins with three group stage matches — we take on @Team_VGJ Thunder (11AM PST), @invgaming (2PM) and @MineskiProTeam (7PM) in BO2s for Day 1.
We'll be updating and highlighting the whole way. Get ready to #BleedBlue. pic.twitter.com/SVfafAQZT4
Our picks of the day’s action
There’s only one choice which rises above all when it comes to ‘game of the day’ — the epic Group A battle between Team Liquid and PSG.LGD. Both teams are heavily favoured to go far in the tournament, and this should be an acid test of just where each team is coming into the tournament.
Other notable matches include paiN Gaming*’s first ever TI match, a tough one against Chinese powerhouses Newbee, and the “Vici battle” between Vici Gaming and Forward Gaming.
Virtus.pro open their account versus OpTic Gaming, looking to carry their DPC form into the tournament, while the Europeans of Team Secret will be looking to make an impression against Serenity, who will provide a stern test after their amazing Chinese qualifying run.
As always, you can follow all the coverage of TI on joinDOTA, thanks to Rivalry.gg! Which games are you most hyped for?
Header image © Valve
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