The first day of the TI5 Europe qualifiers playoffs has concluded. Na’Vi defeated 4ASC, 2:1, securing themselves a trip to Seattle and a spot in the qualifiers’ Grand Finals.
UPDATE (August 9):
Evil Geniuses are your TI5 champions! Grand Finals VODS, summaries, pictures and highlights: here.
Vega eliminated NiP, 2:1, and will now move forward into the Lower Brackets to face 4ASC. Matches start on Monday, June 1, at 14:00 CEST, with the Lower Bracket finals, followed by the Grand Finals.
TI5 Europe Qualifiers Playoffs: brackets and format
- Double elimination bracket
- Best-of-three matches
- Best-of-five Grand Finals
- No Upper Bracket advantage
- Winners will receive an invite to TI5.
- The runner up team will receive a spot in the Wild Card series taking place in Seattle, Washington, six days before the main event./li>
TI5 Europe Qualifiers streams
The TI5 Europe qualifiers are broadcast in English as part of the “Mega Hub” coverage provided by Twitch and the PGL studios. The Mega Hub coverage brings 35 Dota 2 personalities under the same roof.
The following Twitch channels provide 24/7 coverage of all of the matches:
- Main casting stream: TI5sange
- Secondary casting stream: TI5yasha
- Third casting stream: TI5skadi
- Lounge stream: TI5mango
Postponed Group B series
London Conspiracy and Vega Squadron‘s last game of the group stage had been postponed until Sunday, May 31, at 12:00 CEST. Both teams were tied for the second place position and this match would determine which team would progress to the playoffs to face NiP in the Lower Bracket.
London Conspiracy vs. Vega Squadron
SsaSpartan, London Conspiracy
The pick coming out from London Conspiracy was pretty much an “all in pick”. They were able to execute fine moves in the early stages, but Vega had the right heroes to repel the push from LC, as well as a better late game. Vega were able to maintain their farm through Roshan kills and split pushes until they were ready to fight. Once they started to build momentum, there was no stopping Vega, especially since LC’s lineup was aimed at getting the game ended within thirty minutes. Queen of Pain had a good game (9:1).
Winner: Vega
Even though Vega secured first blood, they were more split push oriented instead of fighting the undying lineup. Vega knew they would not be able to fight undying so they decided to try to focus on getting some levels and some farm on the cores until they were ready to fight. Andrey “Mag” Chipenko played an amazing game of Beastmaster. As soon as they got a couple of pick-offs using Beastmaster’s hawk and ulti, Vega managed to end the game pretty quickly, with the pushing power they had. The game was over in just under 33 minutes.
Winner: Vega
Match Points: Vega 3, London Conspiracy 0
After winning the series against London Conspiracy, Vega moved into Group B’s second position of Group B and would face NiP in the Lower Brackets playoffs, later in the day.
TI5 Europe Qualifiers: Upper Bracket playoffs
4ASC topped Group A with 8 points: two wins, two draws (they dropped one game to NiP and one to Alliance).
Na’Vi topped Group B with 10 points: three wins and one loss (they lost both games versus London Conspiracy).
4ASC vs. Na’Vi
Dendi, during last year’s D2CL LAN finals
Game 1
4ASC secured the first blood on Ivan “ArtStyle” Antonov on Enchantress, forcing Na’Vi to swap around lanes and move Enchantress to the woods. The early game was even, as Enchantress fell behind because of the first blood and having to rotate to the jungle. Akbar “SoNNeikO” Butaev had a few minor misplays. However, Kalle “Trixi” Saarinen on Axe was being punished over and over, as Na’Vi were taking control of his jungle and getting multiple pick-offs on him. Na’Vi took Roshan at minute 20, but they had only taken one tower by this point and, with an Enchantress and Broodmother, that is a very slow start. Since Axe and Phantom Lancer are good late gamers, the longer the game would continue, the harder it would become for Na’Vi.
Mid game progressed with even exchanges and pick-offs. The whole time, PL kept pushing the top and taking towers. Na’Vi took their third in a row Roshan at minute 38 and went to break high ground but the fight resulted in a 4:1 trade in favor of 4ASC and they then went to push into Na’Vi’s base with PL going top. As Na’Vi respawned 4ASC played it safe and retreated. Na’Vi pushed down towards the base. A big opening for 4ASC at minute 41 with another big win in a fight and they were once again able to use the big swing to their advantage, split push and take control of the map even though Na’Vi still had a 2k gold lead. A Roshan for 4ASC and a favorable fight allowed them to push down the middle and Na’Vi called “GG” at minute 49.
Game 2
First blood was drawn by Alexander “XBOCT” Dashkevich on Trixi, but it cost him his life. ArtStyle was taking advantage of his move speed at night, getting ganks all around the map and making it difficult for 4ASC to find a safe place to farm. 4ASC had the weaker lineup in fights for early game and Na’Vi were playing aggressively and trying to take objectives and get more and more map control. Lycan was having a difficult game and 4ASC were starting to become hesitant to leave base as early as 20 minutes into the game. When they finally did move from their base, they were picked-off.
4ASC were able to get a favorable exchange about 28 minutes into the game, with a 3:0 trade, but it wasn’t enough, as they continued to get picked-off afterwards and were three-man wiped at their base minutes later. Na’Vi were well in control of the game and had a solid performance. Trixi attempted a “Hail Mary” Aegis steal by hooking into the Roshan pit, but it didn’t work and he died. The “GG” was called at minute 37 and Na’Vi took the second game, evening out the series.
Trixi, 4 Anchors and Sea Captain
Game 3
Dendi got first blood on Shadow Fiend and XBOCT was free farming, but Shadow Fiend was still looking good being even in creep kills with Dendi, even though he had been ganked. Dendi was landing all of his Split Earth beautifully and Winter Wreyven was playing aggressively. Everything lined up looking good for Na’Vi early on. A big fight at the top rune at minute 6 would give Lasse “MATUMBAMAN” Urpalainen a triple kill on his Gyrocopter. He was then able to pick-off ArtStyle, which gave him a great lead and considerable farm. Although Na’Vi had the farm lead on last hits at this point, the net-worth was going towards 4ASC, 7 minutes in.
At minute 17, a 4:1 trade in Na’Vi’s favor would allow them to claim the tier 1 mid lane tower and then another three man kill a few minutes later would let them get the tier 2 tower and a courier kill. Na’Vi had started to pull ahead, but then a Roshan at minute 25 gave 4ASC a huge advantage. With so much aggression from Na’Vi and many team fights, the game would just be a roller coaster of back and forth exchanges until about minute 59 when a pick-off from 4ASC would result in Akbar “SoNNeikO” Butaev saving XBOCT four times in a row during the fight. 4ASC ended up losing four heroes. After a team wipe and a few buybacks, the “GG” was called at minute 62.
Na’Vi moved forward to the Grand Finals of the TI5 Europe Qualifiers and 4ASC dropped to the Lower Bracket to play the Lower Bracket finals.
Natus Vincere roster:
Ivan “ArtStyle” Antonov (captain)
Gleb “Funn1k” Lipatnikov
Daniil “Dendi” Ishutin
Alexander “XBOCT” Dashkevich
Akbar “SoNNeikO” Butaev
4 Anchors and Sea Captain roster
Lasse “MATUMBAMAN” Urpalainen
Sampsa “nemphy” Kutvonen
Kalle “Trixi” Saarinen
Mikko “Vaalix” Ristimäki
Riku “Buugi” Fält
TI5 Europe Qualifiers: Lower Bracket playoffs
NiP came out second in Group A, with 6 points: one win and three draws (they dropped one game to Alliance, 4ASC and Burden United.)
Vega were second in Group B, with 7 points: two wins, one draw and one loss. They lost one game against HellRaisers and both games against Na’Vi.
NiP vs. Vega Squadron
Mag~, Vega Squadron
Game 1
Vega came out of the draft with some very greedy supports and not very good team fight heroes which would end up hurting them later, even though Vega’s Pavel “9pashaebashu” Khvastunovry was able to get first blood on top lane. NiP forced rotations to the top lane and gave a free lane for farming to Puck on the mid-lane. Bottom lane was dead even. NiP would be able to kill Gyrocopter with Bristleback, slowing him down a bit, as they were trying to establish some control and get themselves set up. With three kills on Vega followed by another two shortly after, the score became 7:2 in favor of NiP and the game was no longer even at minute 15.
The Swedes would continue to get pick-off after pick-off and snowball ahead, taking many objectives, getting farmed and tanky. Vega seemed to be waiting for Gyrocopter to get BKB before engaging in fights, as their supports – who were their initiators, were very behind and didn’t have good fighting power. NiP took their time and played cautiously, took kills when they could and didn’t take any unnecessary risks. A team wipe on Vega and a Roshan at minute 40 gave NiP a 30k gold lead and Vega called “GG”.
Game 2
NiP were able to get first blood on the Shadow Fiend and the beginning of the game went heavily in favor of NiP, with a 4:0 lead in the first 12 minutes of the game. The first kill for Vega wouldn’t come until minute 13. NiP continued to come out ahead in all team fights and make many pick-offs. The support players in Vega’s lineup needed levels in order to have impact. NiP took a Roshan at minute 26 and continued to push their lead ahead. A disastrous play at minute 35 turned things around for Vega. Jonas “joanssomfan” Lindholm fired a hook off into the trees and missed the Witch Doctor. The fight resulted in a 4:3 trade in favor of Vega and forced a buyback on the Disruptor, as well.
Vega continued to farm and a team fight on the bottom lane around minute 39 went in their favor yet again,with a 3:5 trade. Vega started to find pick-offs and farm. The game was once again even around minute 42. Vega took Roshan at minute 51. With a 20k gold swing in their favor, they were able to grab the victory at minute 60, when NiP called the “GG”.
Era, during his time in Fnatic
Game 3
First blood went to NiP on the Gyrocopter, on the top lane. Again, NiP was 4:0 10 minutes into the game before Vega were able to get their first kill on the board. NiP were again having a great start and a four-man wipe at minute 12 would push them ahead even more. Huge combo plays by Vega at minute 24 gave them a 4:1 team fight and Roshan, but NiP took a risky Roshan fight and came ahead, 5:2.
After incredibly long disconnects on NiP’s part, the game was finally resumed and the teams continued to farm and push lanes. NiP took another Rohan and continued to push towards Vega’s base, having had already taken down all of the towers. Favorable fights and engagements would give Vega the lead and let them take the next Roshan. Vega continued to push into NiP’s base and win more fights. A four-man wipe on the top lane would let Vega go right into NiP’s base and the game was over in 59 minutes.
Vega will face 4ASC in the Lower Bracket finals on Monday, June 1, at 14:00 CEST
Ninjas in Pyjamas roster
Adrian “Era” Kryeziu
Linus “Limmp” Blomdin
Jonas “joanssomfan” Lindholm
Simon “Handsken” Haag
Elias “Sealkid” Merta
Vega Squadron roster
Semen “Cema” Krivulya
Pavel “9pashaebashu” Khvastunov
Vladimir “no[o]ne” Minenko
Andrey “Mag” Chipenko
Aleksey “Solo” Berezin
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