OG refused to allow history to repeat itself and turned the tables on TNC, sending the SEA team home early with a convincing 2:0 sweep.
The International 2017 started off with a grudge match on the anniversary of TnC knocking OG out of contention in the Lower Bracket Round 2 elimination series of The International 2016.
TnC's solid performance snuck up on many opponents during their run at TI7 while OG's shaky start with a fifth place finish in the group stage thrust them into the lower brackets to start the main event. The stage was set for what could have been one of the biggest upsets at The International this year. The air was electrifying as the teams took the stage. A repeat of history, a four time Major championship team falling at the hands of the SEA dark horse, a second David and Goliath storyline to follow the Empire upset over Evil Geniuses. The headlines were ready to write themselves. But that wasn't how the story played out.
OG went in to win and it showed. The Dream Green team was quick to remind the world that they didn't pick up their reputation and highly decorated history by random chance. Becoming the masters of lower brackets, they continue to evolve and rediscover their form when it is needed the most. Beautiful and smooth execution of their strategies show OG remains confident and in control.
Game One
TnC set out firing on all cylinders. The team started out with full confidence and aggression, winning the lanes and setting the pace early on. Kuku 'KUKU' Carlo Palad was on point, outplaying all of OG initially, but his bullying was quickly answered back and OG started to reel him in.
The Europeans started to crawl back into the game bridging the gap that TnC had put between them. Keeping the dream alive OG's teamwork and power of their combinations started to overwhelm the SEA team and turn the tables as mid game approached. With their peak timing of the lineup centered around the mid game, the pressure was on TnC to make a move but they began to slip further away. Always seeming to be one step behind, it became difficult for TnC to find their footing again and felt uncomfortable to make a misstep.
An incredible showing from minute one until the very end by Jesse 'JerAx' Vainikka was a key factor in OG's success to bring about their first victory and ensure that history would not be repeated with a 2:0 sweep this year.
Game Two
A chaotic start to the second game started to settle into a comfortable lead for OG. TnC just couldn't seem to catch a break with fights and objectives going in the favor of the Europeans each time. With their early timing for getting ahead passing, OG began to steal the show with superior farming and fighting.
Once again, OG remained cool and collected as TnC tried to apply pressure on them. They started to surge forward, find the pick offs and then take apart TnC's hopes. Designed well for chasing and with stellar vision on the map OG maintained the upper hand in the fights, punishing TnC each time they tried to make the initiation.
Spiraling out of control TnC, the team could only pray for something miraculous to happen and give them an opening - a hope that went unanswered as they fell to knees at the hands of OG's dominance.
