With their 2-1 win over Tundra Esports, Alliance are now assured a top three finish in the Western EU DPC League and a place at the second DPC Major.
Alliance continued their tradition of taking every series to a deciding game and putting Linus “Limmp” Blomdin on Dragon Knight in game 3 in their 2-1 win over Tundra Esports. Having lost a close first game, Alliance came back strong to win the next two convincingly to secure a top three finish in the Upper Division of the Western EU DPC League. Earlier in the day, Hellbear Smashers went down 1-2 against the surprise package of season 2, Brame, which mathematically ensured they would end up in last place. With six losses in their six series till now, Hellbear Smashers’ last series will have no effect on their position in the league, as they will be relegated to the lower division.
Alliance versus Tundra Esports
Game 1 was a back and forth game till the 43rd minute, where Tundra Esports won a team fight, leading to nearly an 8000 net worth swing, which turned the tides firmly in Tundra’s favor. Oliver “skiter” Lepko’s Medusa went through the game without a single death, and Alliance had no answer to her after she hit critical mass. But Alliance had a discussion with the wall version of Artsion “fng” Barshak, and he did predict a 2-1 comeback series win for them. Why did Tundra even try?!
Games 2 and 3 weren’t the close affair game 1 was. There was at least a time in game 2 where Tundra were level with Alliance, but in game 3, Alliance took control of the net worth from the start, even though Tundra were the ones having the Alchemist. The offlane Alchemist had gone out of favor, but after watching OG use it successfully to defeat Team Secret, Tundra tried their hand at it, but it didn’t really work out. Alliance’s last game is against Hellbear Smashers, who they should beat based on the forms of the two teams so far. The only team that can challenge Alliance for the top spot in the league is Team Liquid. But Liquid will have to defeat Secret and OG to do so, so their path is a lot more difficult than Alliance’s path. Even if Alliance lose to Hellbear Smashers and end up 5-2 in the group, they cannot fall below 3rd place, because OG and Team Nigma are yet to play against one another. After their series, one of the teams will have three losses to their name and won’t be able to finish above Alliance.
Hellbear Smashers relegated
Hellbear Smashers haven’t had the best of results in Season 2, but the team hasn’t been a pushover. Even though their series record is 0-6, they have managed to take four of their six series to a decider, having taken games off teams like Team Secret and OG. Slightly different results in a couple of those deciders and things would have been a lot more interesting in the relegation end of the table. While they will be relegated to the Lower Division, if they maintain the same roster, Hellbear Smashers could be a force to reckon with in the tournaments to come.
The final week and half remains in Season 2 of the DPC Leagues, and the Western EU DPC League is getting more interesting by the day. Besides Alliance, no other team has secured a place in the second DPC Major. On the 12th of May, Team Liquid will take on Team Secret and if Liquid are able to take down Secret, Secret could face a serious threat of relegation! From being undefeated in Season 1 to find themselves in extremely murky waters in season 2, Secret’s journey has taken an interesting detour. To add to it all, Brame – who no one would have expected to end up in the top half of the table – have given themselves a chance to make it to the playoffs of the second DPC Major; and their last game will be against Team Secret! Some amazing Dota 2 awaits us in the final week and half of the Upper Division of the Wester EU DPC League Season 2.
Standings
headline image courtesy of DreamHack
