TI5 Main Event Day 3 Recap: Techies Is A Hero, Two More Teams Eliminated, and A New Carry Emerges
EG last picked Techies in their game 2 against EHOME and the audience roared. Complexity and IG were eliminated, but as a consolation prize both teams will receive nearly $815,000 in prize money. Sumail strengthened his case for being one of the best, if not the best, mid players of this tournament. And Secret established a new meta by picking Luna twice in must-win games. To be fair, VG did it first.
VIRTUS.PRO VS COMPLEXITY GAMING
Game 1
Virtus.Pro snowballed throughout the mid game off an excellent laning stage by G’s Queen of Pain (by minute 6, his cs count was 33/16 to Storm Spirit’s 13/2). They won all their lanes, despite a dual lane mid with Winter Wyvern and Storm, and against an aggressive trilane.
However, their pocket strategy of Phoenix Egg during Naga Sleep was a neat idea but in hindsight it isn’t that effective. First, you lose the significant damage of the ultimate’s DOT as well as Fire Spirits. Second, without fire spirits, if the channel isn’t well timed, the enemy team can just pick off the egg. And even if they didn’t, the combination results in what is essentially Warlock’s ultimate without the golem.
Complexity wiped four of VP’s heroes in the mid game off a quickly dispatched egg, and it opened up a hole that allowed them to climb back. Storm finally was able to find the farm he needed, and VP’s Phoenix lost its effectiveness. Complexity executed one of the largest come backs of the main event.
Complexity wins game 1
Game 2
Facing elimination, VP went back to their carry Silencer. The early game was a game of musical lanes. Broodmother started mid, so VP rotated their Silencer and Earthshaker top, which then prompted Complexity to move their Anti-Mage back to bottom lane. Then Silencer followed him bottom.
VP’s Naga set them up for many successful fights, and we saw the philosophy behind their lineup. Naga sleep is easy set up for Earthshaker’s echo slam, as well as Silencer’s global ultimate. In addition, the global is also an excellent counter for Winter’s Curse.
Moonmeander on Broodmother helped Complexity set off to a good start, but they were unable to secure their advantage. At minute 31, VP took three kills with their Naga and Echo Slam initiation. Complexity had spotted the smoke, but their defense was countered by a global silence.
VP’s lineup may not have the best catch, but they used their gold advantage to pick up three hexes and secured the game.
Virtus.Pro wins game 2
Game 3
G dominated on his Queen of Pain and his 14 minute Orchid forced swindlemelonzz into a Eul’s first build on Storm. However, swindle blundered and lost the item by dropping it on the ground to use his soul ring. He was ganked, and fng destroyed the item in front of him. It wasn’t until 38 minutes that swindle picked up his 2nd item, a Bloodstone.
The heat wasn’t only on the Storm but also the rest of Complexity, who only managed to get one kill by 23 minutes and never had enough farm on their Ember Spirit to counter either Broodmother or Phantom Lancer. VP secured the game off a Blink-Echo Slam by fng, who also nailed a five man fissure afterward.
Virtus.Pro wins series 2-1. Complexity Gaming is eliminated
SECRET vs IG
Game 1
Secret took the pesky Winter Wyvern that plagued them yesterday against EHOME. However, they also let Gyro through, which was another hero that troubled them in the same series.
It’s safe to say that Secret dominated most of the game, but unfortunately it wasn’t the part that mattered. By 38 minutes there were only 14 kills on the map, 11-3 in Secret’s favor. Secret had a 16k gold lead, and IG scrambled to delay the game as long as they could for Burning’s Anti-Mage.
Secret were unable to seal the map off, allowing Burning to find what farm he could. Secret was able to take IG’s top melee rax, but their future efforts were continually rebuffed by IG. In one pivotal fight, Ferrari’s ethereal blade, on his Gyro, saved Burning, buying enough time for him to get a mana void that hit both S4 and Arteezy.
By minute 53, with a 30k gold swing, IG climbed back to gain their first net worth lead since the first eight minutes of the game. Burning has also not died since then.
IG wins game 1
Game 2
Secret picked Luna, a hero who VG picked to win when they faced elimination. With Zeus and Lina, Secret had massive burst potential that put Phantom Lancer at risk in every fight.
At min 15, IG had aegis on SF and decided to respond to Secret’s push on their T2 top tower. A clockwerk hook, Arteezy’s ultimate on his Luna, and the burst from Lina and Zeus picked off IG one by one as they came in. Burning, pressured on his PL, had the 3rd lowest net worth, beneath all of Secret’s heroes.
At min 24, Secret took the mid rax with little resistance. Zeus finished Burning with two spells. Secret immediately transitioned to the bottom lane to close it out. IG called gg without mounting a defense.
Secret wins game 2
Game 3
Secret returned again to their Luna. In the early game, IG’s Shadow Fiend and Witch Doctor ran into Arteezy at the bottom rune. Arteezy pressed R and was able to net the quick double kill. Meanwhile, Zai’s Dark Seer was able to get more out of his lane than Luo’s Clockwerk. He was level 5 and had 25cs at 5 minutes; Luo was level 3 and had 6 cs.
Still, IG took a big early game win when Secret, in a smoke gank, ran uphill into them. Luo hit a three man cog, and the follow up with AA’s ultimate melted three of Secret’s heroes.
Then, at min. 18, Secret went for Roshan with Luna and Rhasta wards. IG snuffed this one out and responded with a combination of AA blast, hookshot, and a Storm zip initiation. However, Secret was well positioned, and they traded their Luna for all of IG’s cores.
At minute 36, anticipating a rosh fight, Secret spot IG at the dire secret shop with a well placed ward. They wipe all of IG, only losing their bounty hunter. Puppey made the play of the game with an Aghanim’s ward trap on Shadow Fiend.
Secret wins series 2-1. IG is eliminated
LGD vs CDEC
Game 1
LGD grabbed the Luna, which thus far has been the new carry of the main event. Both VG and Secret utilized the hero to great success in their elimination games.
However, LGD’s draft didn’t have enough catch for PL and Dark Seer, both who narrowly escaped in a late game fight that resulted in a team wipe for LGD.
Despite a rough start, Xz pulled the play of the game with a vacuum on three of LGD’s heroes that left them stranded on the high ground of the Roshan pit. Even with LGD.Maybe’s aegis, CDEC killed the entirety of LGD and rode that momentum for a win.
Game 2
Phantom Lancer is another popular carry of the tournament. CDEC picked it early, allowing LGD to grab Ember Spirit, a natural counter. However, it may have been a bait, as CDEC, in their last phase, pick Silencer, a hero that only VP has played.
CDEC executed one of the most flawless games of the main event. After a dominant fight at 12 minutes, where they traded one for four, their momentum never stopped. By 18 minutes, CDEC led in kills 17-5 and had a 10k net worth advantage.
Undying’s utility eventually fell off, while CDEC’s Silencer grew in impact throughout the game. CDEC built their advantage to a 20k gold lead at 25 minutes, and sealed the game shortly after.
CDEC wins series 2-0. LGD drops to lower bracket
EG vs EHOME
Game 1
Both Sumail and Cty are western and eastern counterparts. They both are dynamic, aggressive, and their teams pick them the same heroes. In this game, Sumail got the early upper hand on his Queen of Pain with the solo first blood on Cty. Fear has close to perfect CS at 10 minutes.
However, EHOME showed again why Luna is becoming the carry of the tournament. They rotated from lane to lane, taking out all of EG’s outer towers and controlling the map. At min. 12 EG attempted to defend, but they lose all five of their heroes in the process.
Though Cty lost the early game to Sumail, he made a strong come back, utilizing farm from the jungle, towers, and successful kills on EG. He used his mobility to corral EG within their base.
At 29 minutes, EHOME took out Fear, who was alone in the Roshan pit, and claimed the aegis. Kill score 3-19, in favor of EHOME.
Then, EHOME completed the dream. Final score 3-22. Final time: 32:22.
EHOME wins game 1
GAME 2
We finally get a Techies. Off the bat, Aui_2000 picked up an auspicious invis rune and helped Sumail grab the first blood on Cty, in what should have been an unfavorable Ember vs Razor matchup. At five minutes, Sumail killed Cty again, solo, with a triple spirit initiation.
The impact of Techies was undeniable, as wherever Aui was, EHOME was not. EG was winning every fight 4vs5, while Aui quietly pushed the bottom lane. At 20 mins EG had a 10k, 36% gold advantage. Techies was out-farming EHOME’s Phantom Lancer.
It was the Sumail show again on his Ember Spirit. Though against EHOME’s lineup he didn’t have the chance for highlight plays, he showcased his decision making by pressing EHOME on their side of the map. On the other side of the map was Aui_2000, placing mines and pushing towers by his lonesome.
EG closed the game flawlessly. It was a low kill game, with EHOME unable to venture anywhere to find farm, in fear of mines or running into Sumail. Eventually, EHOME head out of their base and Fear and Sumail both nearly dispatch all of EHOME on their own. Meanwhile, Aui_2000 took the lane and the bottom rax. He never used stasis trap or got a kill on remote mines.
EG wins game 2
Game 3
EG won all their lanes. Sumail had a mismatch, with his Windranger against Cty’s Storm Spirit. This was the third game where he would outlane Cty.
EG’s dual lane with Dark Seer and Bounty Hunter thoroughly punished EHOME’s Phantom Lancer. By 10 minutes, PL was behind all of EG’s cores in net worth.
EG was able to control the map with Razor and an early Aghanims on Sumail. With the net worth advantage and Roshan, EG played the game patiently and slowly, taking the next twenty minutes to farm and close off the map. EHOME never presented them with an opportunity to transition to a high ground push. A few of EHOME’s attempts to farm the lane were thwarted by Sumail, who landed several shackles for pickoffs.
By 30 minutes there were only 14 kills, but EG built their advantage into a 21k, 44% gold lead.
With Aegis on Sumail, at 38 minutes EG went for a five man smoke. They killed four and force three buybacks on EHOME, which repelled the high ground push.
EG wait again for the next Roshan. This time Fear picked up the Aegis and Sumail took the cheese. During the high ground push, Sumail aggressively blinked into EHOME’s base and landed a shackle on Cty. EG followed up for the pickoff.
EG wins series 2-1. EHOME drops to lower bracket
First? GO EG!
ШОК! Артизи умирая от рака выигрывает 2-1 IG
Слава Na'VI
2ez4rtzqq
Come on Russian, speak english.
(Do not mean to hurt ya)
All I could read is Na.Vi.
I stayed up very late in EST to watch the EG vs EHOME games, SO COMPLETELY WORTH IT! EG! EG!
Aui_2000's techies is really stronk. What a game changing hero!
the art of techies
The most awe inspiring thing that happened in this tournament is EG last picking Techies and the audience erupting in applause and starting to chant "USA! USA! USA!".
VG or EG should win this
go EG!
I am glad EG won and they won because arteezy was not in their team
NaVi Trash