North America’s representatives at The International 2023 faced elimination on day two of the playoffs, and the most unexpected team, nouns, emerged as the last one standing. Despite a strong showing against Shopify Rebellion, TSM couldn’t control the oddity of nouns and collapsed in game two, allowing the underdog to advance once again.
The series between nouns and TSM was far from pretty, with both games lasting over 57 minutes and displaying sloppy execution from both teams. In game one, nouns secured a lead after winning a crucial teamfight at the 28-minute mark, and they maintained their advantage until the end. Gunnar’s Earth Spirit performance was exceptional, going 13-2-16 and dealing over 67k damage.
Game two was a chaotic affair, with neither team showing composure. The lead changed hands 12 times during the one-hour and eight-minute match. Although TSM held multiple significant leads, nouns’ Moo on Dazzle and Lelis on Clockwerk carried the game for their team over a 30-minute span. Surprisingly, Hector played passively on Phantom Lancer until the final 10 minutes. Ceb even commented on a re-stream, stating that “this Phantom Lancer has been trying to lose so hard.” However, nouns managed to secure a crucial teamfight win to close out the game.
Gunnar mentioned in a post-game interview that there were moments of silence within the team, particularly when TSM was chasing Hector. They eventually realized they needed to save him, but it was too late. Despite the lack of communication, nouns pulled through and secured a top-eight placement at TI 2023. They will now compete in the main event on Oct. 27, having qualified through the regional qualifiers.
TSM entered the matchup with nouns after sweeping Shopify Rebellion and eliminating Arteezy’s team in a tie for 12th place. Many fans expected TSM to continue their success against nouns, but they ultimately finished TI in a tie for ninth place, an improvement from their last-place departure in the previous season.
Now, attention turns to the future of TSM and Shopify’s rosters. Both teams leave Seattle far from claiming the Aegis of Champions, and fans are curious about potential changes for the upcoming season. Meanwhile, nouns’ supporters will continue to cheer on the underdog as they push forward in the main event.
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Source: DOTESPORTS
