Gaimin Gladiators have shattered North America’s dream of an underdog victory at The International 2023, dominating the lower bracket and eliminating nouns in a swift and decisive fashion.
In a stunning upset, nouns had previously defeated TSM to secure the highest placement for NA at the event and continue their fairytale run into the top eight. However, their hopes were dashed as Gaimin proved to be an unstoppable force, sweeping them aside in the second-fastest series of the playoffs.
Despite an early advantage in game one, nouns struggled to control the pace of the match against Gaimin’s dominant offlane presence. Although they managed to take down some towers and assert map control with Moo’s signature hero, Brewmaster, it was not enough to overcome Gaimin’s overwhelming net worth advantage. Gaimin’s heroes dominated the game, leaving nouns cornered in their base and unable to mount a comeback.
Undeterred, nouns stuck to their strategy in the second match, allowing Gaimin to draft another “death-ball push” lineup centered around Seleri’s Chen. Gaimin further strengthened their draft with heroes like Alchemist and Dazzle, enabling them to come online even faster.
Gaimin wasted no time in pressuring nouns’ base, preventing them from fully utilizing their core items. Despite a valiant initiation from Moo’s Dark Seer, Gaimin quickly brushed off the damage and secured their victory.
With this defeat, nouns’ journey at TI 2023 comes to an end, but they have no regrets. Qualifying for the tournament was a dream come true for the team, and they leave with a top-eight placement and the satisfaction of knocking out the TI11 champions, establishing themselves as the best team in North America.
On the other hand, Gaimin’s dominant performance guarantees them a top-six finish at TI 2023. However, their quest for the Aegis of Champions is far from over. Despite their three major wins, Tofu acknowledges that each tournament presents new challenges and opportunities for growth, and they will continue to learn and adapt.
Author: Unknown
Source: DOTESPORTS
