picture courtesy of StarLadder
The first game of today would see two tournament favourites, Team Liquid and Invictus Gaming do battle for a spot in the StarLadder i-League Invitational 2’s Grand Final.
After three days of brilliant 7.06 Dota 2 action at the StarLadder i-League Invitational 2, four teams remained and the semi-finals were upon us. Team Liquid were yet to suffer a defeat and would be hoping to keep that up, but the team that could be seen as the all-out tournament favourites, Invictus Gaming, would be standing in their way. iG, having lost 2-0 in the event’s first series, would be wanting to take a decisive victory and make their way into the grand finals.
Game One
The game began fairly quietly for the opening ten minutes as both teams drew even and with the score line sitting at 2-3 in Liquid’s favour. It was only just prior to twenty minutes, as Liquid went into the Roshan Pit, that they were met with resistance from iG but managed to rip through the Radiant line-up as they walked into their death’s one at a time.
Even at a disadvantage, iG showed their resolve as they completely wiped the Dire team from the map outside the Roshan pit just after thirty minutes. A massive Black Hole from Lin "Xxs" Jing on the Enigma ensured the aegis going in their favour along with what seemed like complete control of the game.
However, a mistake from iG around forty minutes saw them gift an aegis to Liquid and the game was not definitely not over just yet. With their new found advantage, Liquid looked to go back to the bottom lane high ground but were met with fierce resistance from the Radiant who quelled the oncoming threat for the moment.
With the game entering a stalemate it was only at fifty five minutes where Liquid found another great fight which allowed them to claim almost all the barracks in the Radiant base. But a last ditch defense from iG came out which allowed them to push up mid lane as they looked to end the game.
With one hour passed, iG somehow managed to keep their composure and secure victory in the first game of the series.
Game Two
With this game being of utmost importance for Team Liquid to keep their chances alive in the tournament, they started off rather well as they claimed first blood in just short of five minutes. With ten minutes passed iG had taken a lead on the score line at 4-3 but the game remained relatively even. But when the first major team fight broke out at the Radiant’s tier one tower in the bottom lane, iG came out ahead and from that point, they seemed to be in complete control of the game. By thirty minutes, with the score line sitting at 20-6, things were looking dire for Liquid.
But a massive team fight for Liquid saw them completely wipe the Radiant team from the map and ensure themselves an aegis and a way back into the game. Ivan "MinD_ContRoL" Borislavov Ivanov on the Bristleback seemed to be leading his team to what could be a great comeback victory. By forty minutes the game moved into rather scrappy affairs, with both teams picking up core kills here and there but Liquid certainly looked more solid than they did in the early game.
While Liquid now dominated the game, iG were doing a great job of defending their barracks and were looking for an opportunity to leave their base. With almost sixty minutes passed, suddenly iG looked to be making their way back into the game as they claimed an aegis and proceeded to finish off the mid lane barracks. With iG pushing to take down the bottom lane barracks, Lasse "Matumbaman" Urpalainen utilised his bear on Lone Druid to destroy the Radiant’s barracks almost completely and the game once again seemed to be at a stalemate.
But with sixty six minutes passed, Team Liquid managed to hold out and force the GG from iG, taking the series to a decisive game three.
Game Three
Both teams went into the decisive game three looking to take the series and the early game saw Team Liquid racking up eight kills in as many minutes to the three of iG. But Xu "BurNIng" Zhilei on the Anti Mage was allowed free farm which was the only saving grace for IG in the opening fifteen minutes. While Team Liquid enjoyed a fairly dominant start, iG were able to find a fantastic opening to secure a few kills to bring themselves back into the game.
iG managed to keep themselves in the game but Liquid seemed too strong and just prior to thirty minutes they secured an aegis and Miracle on the Invoker seemed to have taken complete control of the game. However, iG found a perfect pick off again on Amer "Miracle-" Barqawi and proceeded to claim a tier 3 tower in the bottom lane.
Team Liquid had a gigantic kill lead at fifty minutes but due to the pressure from Anti Mage, they were unable to really push the high ground easily but went for it anyway. And it proved to be the right choice as the forced out the GG from iG and securing a 2-1 series victory.
With that, Invictus Gaming secure 4th place at the StarLadder i-League Invitational 2 while Team Liquid will claim a spot in the grand finals where they will face the winner of the next match up between TNC and Newbee.
