WPC Semi-Finals: Into the Throne Room May 31st, 2014 13:10 GMT Text by riptide

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WPC Semi-Finals:

Into the Throne Room



iG crushed NewBee 2 - 0 in the first WPC Semi-Final today, playing some highly aggressive Dota and looking very solid indeed. Meanwhile, DK dispatched Alliance 2 - 0 as well, dominating both games and showing that they were certainly not ready to give up the Chinese throne just yet.



The battle for the Chinese throne is here. The battle for the Chinese throne is here.

On Monday, iG will face DK in a rematch of the



This is the WPC Grand Finals, and we are now officially in the throne room. On one side stands DK, the reigning monarchs, and on the other, iG, a team that once sat atop the very throne DK now occupy. On Monday, one of these teams will be the new kings of Chinese Dota.



But first, we have a battle, and a bloody one at that.





Royal Bloodlines



iG are four wins away from a Chinese title. iG are four wins away from a Chinese title.

Invictus Gaming played two wonderful games today, showcasing their high individual skill as well as the newfound cohesion they seem to have as a team. In short, they were nothing like the iG we saw in the Quarter-Finals vs Cloud 9. In effect, it was a different team that took to the battlefield today against NewBee, a team that seemed more than anything else, to believe in each other.



iG started Game 1 with a hot iron grip, bagging First Blood on



From here, iG played like NewBee usually would, taking the fights to their opponents and playing a style somewhat reminiscent of their patented face rush strategy from 2012. At 17 minutes, they were up 8 - 2, and soon after, NewBee tried to use the Dire advantage to take Roshan, only to have the Aegis sniped by Luo, who daggered in.



iG grabbed the Aegis in Luo of the Roshan kill. iG grabbed the Aegis in Luo of the Roshan kill.

Speaking of



iG continued their aggression deep into the midgame, getting picks, and then finally took the top Tier 3 melee rax at 23 minutes, after which Ferrari jumped in and killed Hao yet again. Let’s just say it was not a good game for NB’s #1. Luo is now nearly 2x his networth, and iG are well and truly in control of the game. Chuan’s team proceeds to barrel up mid and contest NewBee’s Tier 3. When their hail-mary DS wall fails, Xiao8 taps out.



Game 2 was all about Bristlegod, with



While Newbee’s strategy seems to have been their usual push early, fight often, their teamfight choices were notably poor from the get go, perhaps best exemplified in this early engagement where they went on a perfectly positioned YYF on Bristleback and spent a good 10 seconds focusing him before he went down.



Bristlegod is a good hero. Bristlegod is a good hero.

This of course gave Ferrari’s Invoker and Luo’s Lifestealer ample time and space to come in and wipe them. In fact, in some sense the above teamfight is a microcosm of the entire game; iG controlled it from start to finish via excellent positioning and decision making, and NewBee just went in and got wiped.



Afterwards, iG took Roshan twice, once at 23 minutes and then again at 35 minutes. In between, YYF even stole the ancients NewBee had been stacking for Hao, and Xiao8 and co. were reluctant to even go on him 4v1, especially since he had Aegis.



After iG’s second Rosh, there is a long lull in which some split pushing by Xiao8’s NP buys NewBee some time. However, with Boots of Travel up on Leshrac to better squish the rats, ChuaN’s team smashed down mid rax at 51 minute mark, and then soonafter bot rax. In one last desperate attempt to defend, Xiao8 tried to unsuccessfully rat iG’s bottom rax while Hao diebacked. Seeing how their efforts were demolished, NewBee threw in the towel and gged.



All in all, iG played top-notch Dota today. From drafting and executing a clear strategy to nice initiations and teamfights throughout, the former giants of Chinese Dota showed flashes of brilliance today, and were without a doubt the better team in this best-of series. In particular, the team seem to be drafting less 4 - 1, and more multi-core, thus putting less pressure on Luo to perform. This worked well them for them today and we will likely see more of these picks in the finals.



On Monday, they will go into the Grand Finals against none other than DK, and as such we get a rematch of the



Having fought tooth and nail through a WPC season and indeed, having almost being eliminated from the playoffs, the original kings of Chinese Dota 2 are now ready to challenge those that hold the sceptre. Chuan and his men will use this weekend to wash the blood from their armour and ready themselves, for though they have slayed Xiao8’s warriors, their greatest test is yet ahead. For, no matter who else has fallen to your sword, slaying a king is no easy task, and this is something iG know well.



The last time they were in the throne room, they fell back at the final moment and were crushed beneath DK’s heel. But this time, this time could be different, and come Monday, they could step up and retake what was once theirs. Four members of their current squad once stood on stage in front of the world at Benaroya Hall and lifted the Aegis of Champions. Indeed, if there is any team that has royal blood in its veins, it's iG. And their drafts and executions align, and if all five of these highly talented players give it their all, this team could walk away from these Grand Finals as royalty once more.







Long Live the Kings

The Kings are back. The Kings are back.

The Dota Kings hit the ground running today, drafting a strong midgame fighting lineup and then playing really well around it, making clean rotationals and ganking early and often.



From his bait on Loda which secured DK first blood to just generally being in the right place at the right time, the Singaporean was his usual self today. He was always in the enemy jungle, and continually helped set up kills with his supports. Thus, in many ways, iceiciece was the real unsung hero of this game.



Of course, a more visible contribution was made by Mushi, who was back to his explosive self today, digging deep into his SEA Dota roots and diving hard. As usual, most his dives went the way of DK, though one particularly long foray into enemy territory cost him his life early on. All in all though, it was a game well played by the Malaysian mid, and it’s nice to see see his team giving him the kind of heroes he can snowball on.



Ultimately though, Game 1 was a team effort from DK. The 17 kills they bagged were shared 4, 3, 4, 2, 4 between Mushi, iceiceice, BurNing, LaNm and



Teamfight perfection. Teamfight perfection.

Today, DK played as close to perfect as they have in a long time. Not only did they win the laning stage quite handily, but they also made very efficient rotations and executed excellent teamfights. In fact, in the final analysis DK just outplayed the Swedes in virtually every way, and that’s why they were able to take this game in just 25 minutes.



Game 2 began with Alliance looking in much better shape. Bulldog had his signature NP and Loda picked up Gyro, a hard late-game carry that could put him in good standing vs BurNing’s Ember Spirit in the lategame. Taking a page from DK’s book in Game 1, Alliance’s supports roamed constantly in the early gaming, and despite EGM dying once mid to Mushi and MMY, the Swedes manage a subsequent pick-off on Mushi mid and then iceiceice top. Soon after, iceiceice dided again while trying to deny DK’s offlane Tier 3.



But DK soon retaliated with some pick-off of their own. All in all, the Chinese team were using the map better, warding aggressively and keeping tabs on where Alliance were at all times. Their patience was soon rewarded when they saw Loda trying to farm the ancients his team has stacked for him. However, Mushi landed a spot-on torrent-boat combo, and Loda nearly died, though a clutch EGM Song and Forcestaff saved him.



EGM saves Loda, but at what cost? EGM saves Loda, but at what cost?

Sadly, it didn't save Alliance. DK chased the Swedes and fought them under their mid Tier 2, using stellar positioning to pick up 3 kills. Both teams then went back to farming, though it was pretty clear by then which had the advantage.



Something to note today is that DK had more or less perfect positioning in teamfights, and even managed to use EGM’s Song of the Siren to their advantage, like in the fight below. At first it looked like Alliance had setup a great Calldown, but DK just maneuvered around it, trading 1 - 4.



Can you say positioning? Can you say positioning?

And the game from then on was just that, again and again; Alliance were constantly on the backfoot. DK shut them in their base and just starved them out, using superior their map control and vision to farm across the map. Soon, the Chinese team became bolder and bolder, with MMY even solo killing Akke in his own base and TPing out.



When this starts happening, you know the game is over. When this starts happening, you know the game is over.

The game was pretty much over at this point, but Alliance made one last-ditch effort to Rosh. iceiceice initiated on Loda, but an EGM Song saved the day. Alliance retreated to their Secret Shop, where Loda picked up a Divine Rapier, only to promptly lose it when the combined might of DK came down on him and his team. Alliance gged, and DK moved into the Grand Finals.



All in all, today DK played at or near the level they were at when they stomped the Starladder Season 9 LAN Finals a little over a month ago. Picking and executing great lineups, they gave their players heroes that they could shine on, and shine they did! Mushi and iceiceice impressed in the lanes as always, and LaNm and MMY made brilliant rotations in both games, constantly moving around the map and making sure it was theirs. We can definitely expect to see more early and midgame aggression from DK in the finals, especially since it worked so well for them today.



But BurNing was the man of the hour in Game 2, going 9/0/8 on his Ember Spirit. In fact, as we all began to realise towards the end of today’s games, the DK carry hasn’t died even once (in four games) in the WPC Playoffs bracket so far, and it's obvious that his exceedingly safe play in these playoffs has played a huge part in him being able to farm up the kind of gold leads he has shown in the last few games. His combined KDA over the last four games is 37/0/37. How about that?



Soon, BurNing will lead DK out against iG, a team that once tried to take the throne from him. In that last battle, down 0 - 3, DK rallied and accomplished what many thought was impossible, reversing the series until they won 4 - 3 in what is possibly the most memorable Bo7 series in all of Dota 2. But this time it's different. They are no longer an up and coming hotshot team looking to make their mark on the scene. They are kings, but fallen kings, marked by many as on their way out. Thus, there is more than just prize money at stake come Monday. As substantial as the prize pool is, what DK will be really fighting for is the right to continue calling themselves kings.



If BurNing's men can drive a sword into iG, they will not only reaffirm their place at the top of the Chinese scene, but will also silence all those who predicted their downfall. NewBee may have been pitted to win this tournament, and many may have even crowned them prematurely. And yet, here in the final days of the last major Chinese LAN of the season, the Dota Kings live on, swords in hand, ready for battle.





Highlights

Missed today's games? Catch up with these highlights, courtesy of kirsed and midashm



iG vs NewBee



+ Show Spoiler [Game 1] +



+ Show Spoiler [Game 2] +









DK vs Alliance



+ Show Spoiler [Game 1] +



+ Show Spoiler [Game 2] +







Credits:

Contributors: riptide, kupon3ss, rabidch

Video highlights:

Liquipedia: miwi

Editors: riptide

Images from: Contributors: riptide, kupon3ss, rabidchVideo highlights: kirsed and midashim Liquipedia: miwiEditors: riptideImages from: DK and iG

iG crushed NewBee 2 - 0 in the first WPC Semi-Final today, playing some highly aggressive Dota and looking very solid indeed. Meanwhile, DK dispatched Alliance 2 - 0 as well, dominating both games and showing that they were certainly not ready to give up the Chinese throne just yet.On Monday, iG will face DK in a rematch of the 2013 WPC ACE Dota 2 League Grand Finals , and attempt to dislodge them from the Chinese Dota throne. While just 24 hours ago we would never have expected these two teams to face each other in the Grand Finals, today was a good reminder that this is the highest level of Dota, and when teams and players are this good, anything can happen.This is the WPC Grand Finals, and we are now officially in the throne room. On one side stands DK, the reigning monarchs, and on the other, iG, a team that once sat atop the very throne DK now occupy. On Monday, one of these teams will be the new kings of Chinese Dota.But first, we have a battle, and a bloody one at that.Invictus Gaming played two wonderful games today, showcasing their high individual skill as well as the newfound cohesion they seem to have as a team. In short, they were nothing like the iG we saw in the Quarter-Finals vs Cloud 9. In effect, it was a different team that took to the battlefield today against NewBee, a team that seemed more than anything else, to believe in each other.iG started Game 1 with a hot iron grip, bagging First Blood on Mu ’s Necro mid. Ferrari_430 , of course, went on to dominate the lane, while Xiao8 got picked off mid by a nice rotation from iG’s supports. Mu decided to join the fray and was picked off too, and Hao almost fell was well, though iG very conservatively decided to back off, even though the kill could have been secured quite easily.From here, iG played like NewBee usually would, taking the fights to their opponents and playing a style somewhat reminiscent of their patented face rush strategy from 2012. At 17 minutes, they were up 8 - 2, and soon after, NewBee tried to use the Dire advantage to take Roshan, only to have the Aegis sniped by Luo, who daggered in.Speaking of Luo , the iG carry played a great game, enjoying lots of safe farm on his Spectre in the early game and then carrying the hell out of his team while playing very aggressive Dota. A lot has been said about how he is no match for Hao, and indeed, we wrote the same in yesterday’s Semi-Finals preview . However, in this game, Luo played well, farming proficiently and then making great mid and lategame decisions.iG continued their aggression deep into the midgame, getting picks, and then finally took the top Tier 3 melee rax at 23 minutes, after which Ferrari jumped in and killed Hao yet again. Let’s just say it was not a good game for NB’s #1. Luo is now nearly 2x his networth, and iG are well and truly in control of the game. Chuan’s team proceeds to barrel up mid and contest NewBee’s Tier 3. When their hail-mary DS wall fails, Xiao8 taps out.Game 2 was all about Bristlegod, with YYF carrying hard on the hero. NewBee’s problems began in the draft itself, when Xiao8 picked a Bloodseeker for Hao. Now we’re not against unconventional picks here at LD, but it does seem a little counter-intuitive to give your best farmer a BS and thus effectively shut yourself out of the lategame, especially when iG had strong counters for the rest of NewBee’s midgame centric cores.While Newbee’s strategy seems to have been their usual push early, fight often, their teamfight choices were notably poor from the get go, perhaps best exemplified in this early engagement where they went on a perfectly positioned YYF on Bristleback and spent a good 10 seconds focusing him before he went down.This of course gave Ferrari’s Invoker and Luo’s Lifestealer ample time and space to come in and wipe them. In fact, in some sense the above teamfight is a microcosm of the entire game; iG controlled it from start to finish via excellent positioning and decision making, and NewBee just went in and got wiped.Afterwards, iG took Roshan twice, once at 23 minutes and then again at 35 minutes. In between, YYF even stole the ancients NewBee had been stacking for Hao, and Xiao8 and co. were reluctant to even go on him 4v1, especially since he had Aegis.After iG’s second Rosh, there is a long lull in which some split pushing by Xiao8’s NP buys NewBee some time. However, with Boots of Travel up on Leshrac to better squish the rats, ChuaN’s team smashed down mid rax at 51 minute mark, and then soonafter bot rax. In one last desperate attempt to defend, Xiao8 tried to unsuccessfully rat iG’s bottom rax while Hao diebacked. Seeing how their efforts were demolished, NewBee threw in the towel and gged.All in all, iG played top-notch Dota today. From drafting and executing a clear strategy to nice initiations and teamfights throughout, the former giants of Chinese Dota showed flashes of brilliance today, and were without a doubt the better team in this best-of series. In particular, the team seem to be drafting less 4 - 1, and more multi-core, thus putting less pressure on Luo to perform. This worked well them for them today and we will likely see more of these picks in the finals.On Monday, they will go into the Grand Finals against none other than DK, and as such we get a rematch of the 2013 WPC ACE Dota 2 League Grand Finals, where DK famously came back from a 0 - 3 deficit to win the series 4 - 3. Will Invictus Gaming be able to seek retribution from the Dota Kings? If they play like they did today, they just might.Having fought tooth and nail through a WPC season and indeed, having almost being eliminated from the playoffs, the original kings of Chinese Dota 2 are now ready to challenge those that hold the sceptre. Chuan and his men will use this weekend to wash the blood from their armour and ready themselves, for though they have slayed Xiao8’s warriors, their greatest test is yet ahead. For, no matter who else has fallen to your sword, slaying a king is no easy task, and this is something iG know well.The last time they were in the throne room, they fell back at the final moment and were crushed beneath DK’s heel. But this time, this time could be different, and come Monday, they could step up and retake what was once theirs. Four members of their current squad once stood on stage in front of the world at Benaroya Hall and lifted the Aegis of Champions. Indeed, if there is any team that has royal blood in its veins, it's iG. And their drafts and executions align, and if all five of these highly talented players give it their all, this team could walk away from these Grand Finals as royalty once more.The Dota Kings hit the ground running today, drafting a strong midgame fighting lineup and then playing really well around it, making clean rotationals and ganking early and often. Mushi was given a TA this time and naturally won his lane pretty easily. However, with BurNing free farming top it was iceiceice who helped seal the deal by getting a lot more done than his counterpart on Alliance.From his bait on Loda which secured DK first blood to just generally being in the right place at the right time, the Singaporean was his usual self today. He was always in the enemy jungle, and continually helped set up kills with his supports. Thus, in many ways, iceiciece was the real unsung hero of this game.Of course, a more visible contribution was made by Mushi, who was back to his explosive self today, digging deep into his SEA Dota roots and diving hard. As usual, most his dives went the way of DK, though one particularly long foray into enemy territory cost him his life early on. All in all though, it was a game well played by the Malaysian mid, and it’s nice to see see his team giving him the kind of heroes he can snowball on.Ultimately though, Game 1 was a team effort from DK. The 17 kills they bagged were shared 4, 3, 4, 2, 4 between Mushi, iceiceice, BurNing, LaNm and MMY respectively, and this is perhaps the best indicator of how they played. Both MMY and LaNm in particular must be commended for their excellent rotations, as their cores would not have enjoyed the success they did in this game if not for their great setups.Today, DK played as close to perfect as they have in a long time. Not only did they win the laning stage quite handily, but they also made very efficient rotations and executed excellent teamfights. In fact, in the final analysis DK just outplayed the Swedes in virtually every way, and that’s why they were able to take this game in just 25 minutes.Game 2 began with Alliance looking in much better shape. Bulldog had his signature NP and Loda picked up Gyro, a hard late-game carry that could put him in good standing vs BurNing’s Ember Spirit in the lategame. Taking a page from DK’s book in Game 1, Alliance’s supports roamed constantly in the early gaming, and despite EGM dying once mid to Mushi and MMY, the Swedes manage a subsequent pick-off on Mushi mid and then iceiceice top. Soon after, iceiceice dided again while trying to deny DK’s offlane Tier 3.But DK soon retaliated with some pick-off of their own. All in all, the Chinese team were using the map better, warding aggressively and keeping tabs on where Alliance were at all times. Their patience was soon rewarded when they saw Loda trying to farm the ancients his team has stacked for him. However, Mushi landed a spot-on torrent-boat combo, and Loda nearly died, though a clutch EGM Song and Forcestaff saved him.Sadly, it didn't save Alliance. DK chased the Swedes and fought them under their mid Tier 2, using stellar positioning to pick up 3 kills. Both teams then went back to farming, though it was pretty clear by then which had the advantage.Something to note today is that DK had more or less perfect positioning in teamfights, and even managed to use EGM’s Song of the Siren to their advantage, like in the fight below. At first it looked like Alliance had setup a great Calldown, but DK just maneuvered around it, trading 1 - 4.And the game from then on was just that, again and again; Alliance were constantly on the backfoot. DK shut them in their base and just starved them out, using superior their map control and vision to farm across the map. Soon, the Chinese team became bolder and bolder, with MMY even solo killing Akke in his own base and TPing out.The game was pretty much over at this point, but Alliance made one last-ditch effort to Rosh. iceiceice initiated on Loda, but an EGM Song saved the day. Alliance retreated to their Secret Shop, where Loda picked up a Divine Rapier, only to promptly lose it when the combined might of DK came down on him and his team. Alliance gged, and DK moved into the Grand Finals.All in all, today DK played at or near the level they were at when they stomped the Starladder Season 9 LAN Finals a little over a month ago. Picking and executing great lineups, they gave their players heroes that they could shine on, and shine they did! Mushi and iceiceice impressed in the lanes as always, and LaNm and MMY made brilliant rotations in both games, constantly moving around the map and making sure it was theirs. We can definitely expect to see more early and midgame aggression from DK in the finals, especially since it worked so well for them today.But BurNing was the man of the hour in Game 2, going 9/0/8 on his Ember Spirit. In fact, as we all began to realise towards the end of today’s games, the DK carry hasn’t died even once (in four games) in the WPC Playoffs bracket so far, and it's obvious that his exceedingly safe play in these playoffs has played a huge part in him being able to farm up the kind of gold leads he has shown in the last few games. His combined KDA over the last four games is 37/0/37. How about that?Soon, BurNing will lead DK out against iG, a team that once tried to take the throne from him. In that last battle, down 0 - 3, DK rallied and accomplished what many thought was impossible, reversing the series until they won 4 - 3 in what is possibly the most memorable Bo7 series in all of Dota 2. But this time it's different. They are no longer an up and coming hotshot team looking to make their mark on the scene. They are kings, but fallen kings, marked by many as on their way out. Thus, there is more than just prize money at stake come Monday. As substantial as the prize pool is, what DK will be really fighting for is the right to continue calling themselves kings.If BurNing's men can drive a sword into iG, they will not only reaffirm their place at the top of the Chinese scene, but will also silence all those who predicted their downfall. NewBee may have been pitted to win this tournament, and many may have even crowned them prematurely. And yet, here in the final days of the last major Chinese LAN of the season, the Dota Kings live on, swords in hand, ready for battle. Administrator SKT T1 | Masters of the Universe