The Road to The International 2024 (TI13) Playoffs concludes with a dramatic ending as the defending champions Team Spirit get eliminated from the crown jewel Dota 2 esports event thus ending their quest for a third TI trophy.
But that’s not it, there’s plenty more to catch up on. Let’s take a closer look at how it all unfolded:
In the final series of the day, two top contenders, Team Spirit and Xtreme Gaming, faced off for a spot in the next round. Team Spirit, the reigning champions who had just defeated G2.iG, aimed to eliminate the last remaining Chinese team and secure their place in The International 2024 (TI13) main event.
The opening game was a fiercely contested match featuring unconventional hero selections from both teams. Collapse's Night Stalker proved to be a decisive factor, punishing Xtreme Gaming's slow-paced draft with heroes like Muerta, Storm Spirit, and Doom. Team Spirit claimed victory in the first game but faced a devastating turn of events in the subsequent series.
Seeking redemption for their earlier loss, Xtreme Gaming opted for familiar heroes for Ame in the next two games – Luna and Medusa – and the legendary carry player delivered exceptional performances. He had zero deaths in the following two games, receiving crucial support from Xm and Dy, who effectively neutralized Yatoro and other cores of Team Spirit.
As a result, the Chinese quest for another Aegis continues as Xtreme Gaming secures its place in The International 2024 (TI13) Main Event. But that also signals the end of the journey for Team Spirit at this year’s TI.
The final day of The Road to The International 2024 (TI13) witnessed the elimination of both South American Dota 2 teams.
Heroic and Beastcoast faced off in the initial elimination series of the day in the lower bracket. While Beastcoast took the first game, Heroic's impressive strategies and resilience led them to a comeback victory, eliminating their South American rivals from the event.
Heroic's subsequent match against Aurora was a crucial battle between two regions – Heroic representing South America and Aurora representing Southeast Asia. Heroic secured an early advantage by winning the first game, but Aurora engaged in their characteristic late-game-focused Southeast Asian style of Dota.
The series was a clash between two distinct strategies – Heroic's focus on K1's farming prowess and Aurora's disciplined team play. K1 dominated the series, achieving remarkable farming statistics, including an incredible 500 creep kills at 26 minutes in the third game. Despite Heroic maintaining a substantial 10k gold lead in both games, the majority of that advantage was concentrated on K1's hero, while Aurora's farm was more evenly distributed among their players.
Aurora capitalized on Heroic's inability to close out games effectively or convert their lead into victory. In both games, Aurora staged impressive comebacks, ending Heroic's hopes for a deeper run at TI13 and ensuring that Southeast Asia remained represented at The International 2024 (TI13) Main Event.
Eight teams have secured their spot at The International 2024 (TI13) Main Event. They are:
The competition resumes on September 13, 2024, at the Royal Arena in Copenhagen with the lower bracket matches, followed by the upper bracket matches.
Stay tuned to BLAST for the latest coverage on TI13.
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