Cloud9 and 
Team Tinker! After a 3-1 and a 3-2 in the respective semifinals against 
Evil Geniuses and 
Alliance. Who will take the major share of the $15,000? Tune in to find out!
Pregame thoughts:
Looking at the previous matches, Team Tinker definitely has the upper hand, as they lead by 3-0 in the direct comparison, winning 2-0 in the D2CL Qualifier and 1-0 in the SLTV Starladder. This time however they have to play a Best-of-Five, where comebacks are bound to happen. Cloud9, while having the worse record, showed what they are capable of earlier today, as they took down EG to claim revenge for the WEC finals, and why stop there?
The early game orientated playstyle of Cloud9 could be just what it takes to bring down TT, as they often rely on greedier lineups that come online later. On the other hand, this means if TT is able to withstand the initial onslaught, they could easily turn the game around. Especially
Max 'qojqva' Bröcker seems to be on fire today, with spectacular play on his Tinker and Faceless Void.This grand final will most likely be worth watching, with no team havin a clear highground going into it. Prepare for an amazing amount of Dota coming up right now.
Game 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5 Cloud9 vs Tinker0:0Pregame
Cloud90:0Tinker And here we go! Team Tinker starts their draft with the tanky, teamfight orientated combination of Tidehunter and Death Prophet. Cloud9 take a rather pickoff orientated approach as they get their hands on Batrider, Skywrath, Centaur and Mirana. The answer to all these disables comes in form of a Shadow Demon, combined with a Leshrac from TT. This gives them a crazy amount of pushing potential. A Slark for TT and a Puck for C9 finish the draft.0:30 Cloud90:0Tinker With Shadow Demon and Leshrac checking the top rune, we nearly got an early first blood, as they caught out Batrider. However, as support was rotating in, they were unable to follow up on their initiation.
Cloud91:2Tinker DOUBLE FIRSTBLOOD! This time it is for real! Mirana tries to backstab Sing's Death Prophet but gets caught out, resulting in her and Puck dieing, but TT trading their Leshrac for it.5:00 Cloud93:4Tinker Team Tinker starts out aggressive, with early rotations from Leshrac and SD, but get overly eager as they try to bring down Centaur and Puck, feeding themselves for only one kill. This gives Centaur an early level 6 and a Stampede.9:00 Cloud93:4Tinker The game cooled down a bit, despite both teams are looking for kills with some early rotations. An early Blink on Envy and bone7 and a Midas for Pajkatt are the results of the farm. The action should kick off any minute now.12:00 Cloud95:6Tinker With the Blinks up and running, C9 manages to bring down the Slark and the Death Prophet, but trading Mirana and Skywrath, as well as their Tier1 bottom tower for it. Puck is the third person of C9 to get a Blink.
Cloud96:7Tinker C9 initiate on TT in the middle lane, but get the fight turned upon them by a Blink and Tide Ravage. A good Disruption of SD manages to save Sing's Death Prophet. THe middle tower gets brought down afterwards by Leshrac.
Cloud98:9Tinker Sing doesn't have a good time, as he dies again to C9's rotations but of course this comes at a cost, as Slark and Tide have a good time farming.18:00 Cloud912:13Tinker Yet another time, C9 initiates on Sing this time on the top lane and bring him down quickly, but get the fight turned upon them, as Tinker fights back with a good Ravage by Tide, bringing down all of C9's core heroes.
Cloud912:13Tinker After scouting out C9 on the other side of the map, TT take the opportunity to take an easy Roshan with DP's ultimate. This gives them the Aegis and the possibility to push once the Exorcism is back up.22:00 Cloud912:16Tinker TT is fighting back with Pajkatt's Slark catching C9's supports out left, right and center with a score of 8-2. A quick kill on Puck secures an early Eul's Scepter for the Leshrac.23:00 Cloud912:19Tinker Pajkatt's Slark is going to town, taking out two more supports of C9, giving TT the opportunity to bring down the Tier 2 top tower.
Cloud912:22Tinker TT is going to town and shuts the window of opportunity that was only slightly open for C9, as they catch three in the Radiant jungle, bringing them down without contest. this is now 13k networth for Slark and 19k for both Sing's DP and the Tidehunter.27:00 Cloud914:23Tinker C9 is showing signs of life again, as they catch both Tide and Leshrac in the Dire jungle, only trading one for it. However, this doesn't stop the bleeding, as even the support Leshrac has nearly finished his BKB: Once the BKB's are up and running, C9 will have a hard time contesting Tinker.29:00 Cloud914:23Tinker Tinker spots C9 once again, as they push the top lane and sneak a quick Roshan, again with the Exorcism. To put a cherry on top, TT manages to deny two towers, not giving C9 any space to breathe.31:30 Cloud916:25Tinker Centaur and Puck engage on Shadow Demon and blow him up, but trade the Warrunner in the process, after an amazing predictive Earth Split by EGM's Leshrac. Shortly afterwards, C9 finally manages to get a high reward kill, as they bring down Sing's DP once again.34:30 Cloud918:26Tinker TT pushes down the bottom lane, bringing the last Tier 2 down low, before C9 jumps in. Even without expending the Ravage, TT drives them back and brings down the Tower.
Cloud917:29Tinker After the push, TT linger around, smoking in the Radiant jungle, waiting for C9 to come out of their base again. With a Double Ravage of Tide and Pajkatt going ham, they bring down three, giving Pajkatt a Godlike spree.
Cloud918:32Tinker Tinker catches out two of C9 in the middle lane, quickly eliminating them. As Mirana falls as well, C9 is too far behind in map control and networth and decide to finally the 'GG'.
Cloud918:32Tinker Team Tinker starts with a furious game. Despite C9 went head to head with them as the game started, it just wasn't enough for the mid to lategame centered lineup of TT. Especially Pajkatt just got out of control after picking up a couple of solo kills on Aui at the beginning. With Cloud9 focusing a bit too much on SingSing, the rest of the team had a lot of space to get up their items and just steamroll through in the end. Cloud9 vs Tinker0:1Pregame Tinker0:0Cloud9 Cloud9 learn from the mistakes of the last game, as they pick up Death Prophet and Enigma, securing some lategame potential as well as good pushing power. TT answer with a Skywrath Mage and a Nature's Prophet, not revealing too much as of now. In the second phase, C9 get their hands on a Viper and Clockwerk, toughening up their lanes. Tinker answers with the unusual combination of Luna and Venge, getting a lot of damage from the aura combinations. A support Alchemist for C9 and a DK for TT round up the draft.
Tinker1:0Cloud9 FIRST BLOOD! Eny's Viper gets brought down by Nature's Prophet and a rotating Dragon Knight with a haste rune on the bottom lane. This benefits both of them, as they weren't doing so well in their own lanes.6:00 Tinker3:0Cloud9 Aui rotates bottom with his Enigma to help Envy's Viper bringing down qojqva's Prophet but fail to do so and transition into a push. As TT rotates in they manage to get two kills, bringing down Viper and Enigma. This is the Hand of Midas for Prophet.6:30 Tinker4:2Cloud9 As Envy respawns, he teleports to the top lane, catching the supports of TT off guard, getting a double kill.
Tinker7:2Cloud9 TT turns up the heat again, bringing down the Death Prophet in the middle lane, as well as Viper top. Despite they don't pressure towers yet, they surely will start with that soon.9:30 Tinker9:4Cloud9 Enigma gets caught out in the Dire jungle, but as TT lingers around, C9 rotates in and manage to engage on Sing's DK, bringing him down in the process. Pajkatt barely makes it out with a nice TP.
Tinker10:4Cloud9 With TT far off, C9 use the opportunity to sneak a Roshan with a Medallion and the Exorcism. TT however manage to get a quick kill, as well as more time for their Nature's Prophet to come online.14:00 Tinker11:5Cloud9 Clockwerk gets caught out on the bottom lane and quickly brought down, but C9 get a return kill, as they kill off Sing's DK in the middle lane yet another tiem. However, qojqva becomes more and more of a threat, as he can farm pretty much uncontested.
Tinker12:6Cloud9 C9 sense that they should not draw the game out for too long, as they rotate down to the bottom lane, bringing down the Tier 2 and forcing the highground only 16 minutes in. TT can't defend effectively and lose their Tier 3 tower as well to the Exorcism, but force away C9 after bringing down pieliedie's Alchemist.21:00 Tinker12:7Cloud9 As Roshan respawns, C9 rotate into the pit once again, quickly bringing down Roshan. TT come to contest just a bit too late, having to fall back again. Sing gets caught as he retreats which forces EGM to sacrifice his life for his carry.22:30 Tinker12:9Cloud9 With the Aegis and the Exorcism up and running, C9 comes in through the bottom lane once again, bringing down the supports of TT and taking tha barracks in the process, before retreating without any casualities. TT is now on the edge of defeat, as they gave away way too much.
Tinker12:13Cloud9 TT gets caught out in the midlane, after they try to initiate on C9, with a beautiful Blackhole, the first one of the game, resulting in C9 bringing down 4 and forcing out the 'GG'.
Tinker12:13Cloud9 Team Tinker did well, especially in the early game, but they never really managed to bring down the early towers to start their snowball. Cloud9 however utilised their tanky lineup perfectly, as they started their deathball once they saw qojqva pulling further and further ahead. Without any real AoE spells, Tinker wasn't able to withstand the pushing power and had to give up objective after objective. Cloud9 vs Tinker1:1Pregame Cloud90:0Tinker Cloud9 once more pick up tanky cores, in the form of Doom and Razor in the first two picks. TT seems to imitate some of C9's strategies, as they pick the characteristic Drow+Visage combination together with a Void and Skywrath. C9 answers with the rather unusual combination of Dazzle and Tusk, the latter almost never picked in the European scene as of yet. A Warlock for TT and an Axe for C9 finish the draft, with two uncommon pickups.0:30 Cloud90:2Tinker DOUBLE FIRST BLOOD! C9 goes too aggressive with their aggressive trilane, chasing TT between their Tier1 and Tier 2 tower, dropping Dazzle and Axe in the process.2:30 Cloud91:3Tinker C9 gets the revenge, as they execute their combo and manage to bring down EGM's Visage, but just shortly after qojqva gets a solokill on Envy's Doom, diving him past his Tier1.
Cloud92:4Tinker C9 turn up the heat, as they now completely creep cut on the top lane and then dive TT. As Visage takes a fall, Sing TPs in and drops his rock, getting at least one return kill.6:30 Cloud96:7Tinker Void gets another solokill on Doom, before rotating top and initiating on C9. Despite TT manage to bring down the Axe, they lose Drow and Void in the process, giving FATA's Razor a double kill. As C9 rotates towards the middle lane, their Tusk goes to work again, and they feed FATA two more kills, as they bring down the two supports, before dropping to Sing.
Cloud99:9Tinker C9 keep up the aggression, putting the Tusk to work and killing Drow Ranger once again, as she overstays her welcome on the bottom lane. Despite their good laning TT has to play patient, as C9 rotates around constantly.13:30 Cloud912:10Tinker TT is unable to withstand the slaughtler, as C9 keeps picking up kills on all lanes. The Tusk and Axe prove to be an amazing combination.
Cloud916:10Tinker As TT overstays their welcome, C9 manages to catch them one by one from behind, bringing four of them down as they chase them beyond the Tier3 towers. With TT on the sidelines, C9 takes down the Tier 2 bottom tower as well as Roshan. Razor with a Triple kill!
Cloud922:11Tinker TT gets caught out in the Radiant jungle with a beautiful execution of the Tusk+Axe snowball, immediately disintegrating qojqva. Without a Chronosphere to fall back on, TT fall back and get picked off one by one, and with 5 man on the sidelines, they are forced to call the 'GG'
Cloud922:11Tinker Maybe it wasn't the best idea of TT to try and use a signature pair of heroes of C9 against them, as they simply got outdrafted and outplayed. Despite the rough start, C9 managed to execute their combinations beatifully and completely took over in the midgame.
Cloud90:0Tinker Cloud9 pick up two burst heavy, mobile heroes in Visage and Tinker for the first two heroes. Tinker answers with the strong combination of Mirana and Bane, suggesting strong, early rotations. With a Nyx Assassin and a surprise Abaddon, C9 focuses onganking and durability. Tinker answers with a Centaur Warrunner and a Bounty Hunter. A Naga for TT and a DK for C9 finish the draft.-0:30 Cloud91:0Tinker FIRST BLOOD! C9 and TT meet in the Radiant jungle, and at first it looks like Abaddon will take the fall, but as he gets off his Aphotic shield, TT has to retreat, getting hit by the Dragon Breath, and losing Pajkatt's Bounty.
Cloud91:1Tinker TT gets their revenge, as they bring down FATA in the middle lane, after an incredible long range arrow of Mirana. Even the rotating Abaddon couldn't help out.6:00 Cloud93:2Tinker Bounty Hunter, just turning 6, rotates towards the middle lane, catching out Visage. With the help of his two supports, they manage to bring him down, but with a good 2 man Impale, Nyx manages to take revenge, making it a 2-1 trade for C9.
Cloud95:4Tinker The invisible heroes of both teams, namely Bounty Hunter and Nyx, rotate around the map and try to make the plays happen. While Pajkatt's Bounty manages to get some assists for him, bone7's Nyx is way more dangerous, feasting on TT's supports.11:30 Cloud96:5Tinker Solokills happen all over the map, as Bounty manages to bring down Tinker at the Radiant Ancients, while surprisingly Aui's Visage manages to sole TT's Bane.13:00 Cloud96:5Tinker A Dagon is picked up by Nyx Assassin, while Sing finally gets his Blink Dagger on the Centaur Warrunner.13:30 Cloud98:6Tinker C9 pressure the bottom Tier 1 tower, and TT uses their chance to initiate with their new Blink Dagger, but as they fight into the march of the machines, they drop two, while only getting a kill on Tinker. 
Cloud911:8Tinker The onslaught continues, as Nyx, Tinker and Visage go to town, bringing down both of TT's middle towers and claiming some kills one the now open map. TT doesn't seem to execute their gameplan correctly, despite qojqva keeping up the farm.18:30 Cloud913:8Tinker The top Tier 2 tower of TT falls, leaving them only the bottom Tier 2 remaining. Nyx Assassin continues his snowball, as he is now able to solokill Sing's Centaur Warrunner.20:30 Cloud914:9Tinker Cloud9 removes the last outer tower from the map, now leading by over 5k in both gold and experience, before dealing some damage to the bottom Tier 3. As TT attempts to defend, c9 retreats, happy with what they achieved.22:00 Cloud915:11Tinker With a quick kill in the Dire jungle, C9 sets themselves up for a Roshan attempt, which they successfully bring down, setting them further ahead. TT seem to die a death by thousand cuts.
Cloud921:12Tinker The Aegis in their bags, C9 attempts to push the highground on the bottom lane. As they manage to bring down the Tier 3 tower, TT engages on them, but get forced back. C9 manages to bring down qojqva's Naga Siren twice, wasting his buyback, as well as forcing two others. After taking the rax, they retreat. 
Cloud924:12Tinker With buybacks expended on TT, and the bottom barracks down, C9 come in to push down the middle lane. With wave over wave of the March of the Machines, C9 drive TT back and bring down their barracks and Bounty Hunter again. Not seeing any opportunity to comeback, Tinker calls the 'GG'.
Cloud924:12Tinker Cloud9 remarkably get their revenge on Tinker, as they absolutely demolish them in three consecutive games. With well executed drafts and creative strategies they manage to counter TT from the get go and never back down from it. Especially FATA seems to have found his place in the team. Nothing left to say: GG to C9, the first champion of the NVIDIA GAME24 Invitational! Cloud9 vs Tinker3:1Pregame Cloud90:0Tinker The game wasn't played This article was written by
Markus Fischer, joinDOTA's Senior Writer. Vekus started to follow Dota rather late, as he joined the community in 2012. From then on he tried to get a job in Esports and found it later at joinDOTA. Reallife is mostly spend at university trying to understand physics and running. Avid wearer of Bandanas.Location: Chemnitz, GermanyFollow him on @VekusDota.
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