Team Empire have certainly been having their string of success in the last few months. They have toppled ViCi Gaming, 2:1, during today’s D2CL Season 5 LAN finals, proving that they earned their TI5 direct invite and that the CIS region has a team to confidently root for at The International 5.
Just last month, Team Empire defeated the NA favorites Evil Geniuses, becoming the MLG Pro League Champions. Earlier today, the team participated in the D2CL Season 5 LAN finals, a spot they qualified for after sweeping Power Rangers, 2:0, and then besting Ninjas in Pyjamas in the Qualifiers Grand Finals, 3:2.
Giant Slayers. @team_empire
— Charlie Yang (@CharlieCYang) May 9, 2015
Their performance during today’s D2CL Season 5 LAN Upper Bracket finals was no less impressive. With spot on plays by ALOHADANCE and strong drafts in the first two games versus Burden United, Team Empire was looking confident going into the match against the tournament favorites, ViCi Gaming. With the new patch 6.84 changes supporting more team fighting and less creep farming, Team Empire’s aggressive play style was perfectly suited to best ViCi Gaming, 2:1.
Team Empire vs. ViCi Gaming, GAME 1 (D2CL Season 5 LAN UB finals)
Team Empire vs. ViCi Gaming, GAME 2 (D2CL Season 5 LAN UB finals)
Team Empire vs. ViCi Gaming, GAME 3 (D2CL Season 5 LAN UB finals)
Team Empire advances to the Grand Finals scheduled for tomorrow, at 15:30 GMT. Their opponent is still unknown at this time, but ViCi Gaming are the favorites and a rematch may prove to be quite exciting.
I like how empire didn't adapt to the patch at all
— EternaLEnVy (@EternaLEnVy1991) May 9, 2015
The patch adapted to Empire
— EternaLEnVy (@EternaLEnVy1991) May 9, 2015
Team Empire roster
Airat “Silent” Gaziev
Roman “Resolut1on” Fominok
Maxim “yoky” Kim
Ilya “ALOHADANCE” Korobkin
Andrey “ALWAYSWANNAFLY” Bondarenko
After a disappointing 13th place at The International 4 and the departure of both Ivan “VANSKOR” Skorokhod and Andrew “Mag~” Chipenko – who had been with the team for a full year, Team Empire was in a position to redefine themselves and make adjustments.
With the addition of Maxim “yoky” Kim, in October, and Ilya “ALOHADANCE” Korobkin, in December, the team’s roster was finalized and would remain stable ever since. The team was fortunate enough to survive the revolving door CIS reshuffle that wreaked havoc on the other region’s teams. Their stability and consistency seems to have worked in their favor, building up their cohesion and results.
Team Empire’s recent performances
Thirteenth Place – The International 4
Third-Fourth Place – GameShowLeague
First Place – Excellent Moscow Cup Season 2
Third Place – Dota 2 Champions League
First Place – Esportal Dota 2 League Invitational Tournaments
First Place – StarLadder Season XI
Third-Fourth Place – Alienware Area 51 Dota 2 Cup
First Place – JoinDOTA Masters XV
Second Place – Major All Stars Dota 2 Tournament
First Place – MLG Pro League Season 1
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