For the 24th time this season, Gaimin Gladiators have emerged victorious over Team Liquid in a thrilling Dota 2 match. However, this time the stakes were higher than ever as Gaimin sent their Western European rivals packing from The International tournament.
Gaimin and Liquid have been fierce competitors throughout the 2023 season, meeting a total of 34 times. Gaimin has dominated the rivalry, winning 22 of those encounters with an impressive 64.7 percent win rate according to datdota. Their battles have been legendary, culminating in grand finals appearances in all three Dota Pro Circuit Majors, with Gaimin making history by winning all three in a single season.
Although Gaimin experienced a slight dip in performance leading up to TI12, both teams entered the tournament as top contenders for the championship. Liquid showed early strength, advancing to the upper bracket semifinals, while Gaimin faced an uphill battle from the start of the playoffs.
Powered by Ace’s exceptional play, Gaimin swept through three consecutive series without dropping a single game. Meanwhile, Liquid secured a clean victory against Talong Esports before stumbling against Team Spirit and finding themselves in the lower bracket, setting the stage for the ultimate DPC rematch.
The highly anticipated clash between these Western European powerhouses lived up to expectations, going the distance with three intense games filled with trades and only one decisive victory.
In game one, Liquid faced a rocky start, but Gaimin’s overconfidence during a Roshan fight at the 27-minute mark allowed miCKe’s Luna to snatch the Aegis and turn the tides. From that point on, Gaimin struggled to secure kills, leading to a dominant victory for Liquid.
Game two followed a similar pattern, with Liquid focusing on objectives and securing Roshan once again for miCKe’s Luna. However, this time, Gaimin turned the tables in a team fight, thanks to Ace’s Lone Druid and dyrachyo’s Razor, leveling the series.
Gaimin stepped up their game in the decisive third match, putting Ace on Wraith King and tOfu on Muerta to apply pressure in the lanes, while dyrachyo showcased his skills on Weaver. Liquid only held the lead briefly during the game and managed to kill each of Gaimin’s cores only once, while zai’s Centaur Warrunner was effectively shut down.
Despite feeling unwell throughout the series, dyrachyo’s remarkable performance in the elimination game, with a score of 10/1/9, deserves special recognition. “During the draft [in game three], I wanted to throw up, and my team was asking for my input,” dyrachyo shared. “I felt terrible, but I managed to suggest picking Weaver repeatedly. I’m relieved we won and happy with the outcome.”
Given dyrachyo’s exceptional track record on Weaver, it was an obvious choice for Gaimin, even if he couldn’t contribute much during the draft. He boasts a 100 percent win rate on this hero in the three games he has been allowed to play at TI12.
Now, dyrachyo plans to rest and take medication before the team’s next series, where they will battle against Chinese squad Azure Ray for a spot in the top three at TI12. Azure Ray secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory against BetBoom to reach this stage.
For Liquid, this marks their seventh top-eight finish at The International, but it is their first time exiting in fifth place. It is undoubtedly a disappointing outcome for a team that finished third last year and added Nisha to their already formidable roster. The future remains uncertain for Liquid as players like zai contemplate their next steps in their professional careers.
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Source: DOTESPORTS
