Shanghai Major brackets: Team Secret and Team Liquid take the high road

Shanghai Major brackets continue to take shape after the last four teams competed in the upper bracket semi finals! The third day of the Shanghai Major began with the Upper Brackets series between Team Liquid vs MVP.Phoenix, followed by Evil Genisues vs Team Secret. Team Liquid and Team Secret have advanced in the Upper Brackets, while MVP.Phoenix and Evil Geniuses have dropped to the Lower Brackets. Two more teams will be eliminated later today in the Lower Brackets. Alliance will face compLexixty at 11:00 CET, in the first match-up of the elimination series.

The third day of the main event started reminiscent of the first day of the main event and the group stages with significant delays due to technical issues and production problems.

Received word that there's a cable on the main stage that is faulty, replacing it will take 30mins at least

— Bonnie (@BonnieElvira) March 4, 2016

The first game of the series saw the end of the Korean’s run at the event. MVP.Phoenix had an undefeated run so far in the main event, but was quickly and easily taken down by Team Liquid. The European squad have shown time and time again they are quick to adapt to opponents and can overcome challenges.

Team Secret and Evil Geniuses was an exciting and thrilling line up with both teams displaying their incredible drafting and adaptability strengths as well as their struggles. Both teams suffered devastating blows, feeding their hunger for the victory in the third game. In the end it would be Team Secret who would claim the victory in an unbelievably intense and close finish.

The Shanghai Major brackets: Upper Brackets

Four of the eight teams in the Upper Brackets are left to compete in the upper brackets during the third day of the Shanghai Major. Team Secret, Team Liquid, Evil Geniuses and MVP.Phoenix went head to head in the efforts to keep their Shanghai Major Championship title dreams alive.

Team Liquid vs. MVP.Phoenix

The first game of the series saw MVP.Phoenix take Phantom Assassin mid-lane, but the strategy didn’t work well for the Korean team as they quickly were overpowered by Team Liquid. The European squad were able to end the game in only 17 minutes with a score of 20:5.

The second game of the series started incredibly aggressive and full of action. While it started out looking like a second stomp, MVP.Phoenix seemed to start to turn things around about minute 30 minutes and trigger a series of really exciting fights and gameplay for the next 15 minutes. MVP.Phoenix were not able to capitalize enough on the swing and momentum and force a game three. Team Liquid were able to adjust to their opponents well and had stepped up their aggression as needed as well as choosing Treant Protector to stop MVP.Phoenix’s aggression.

8 kills at 1:30, SURE why not

— Nahaz (@NahazDota) March 4, 2016

Shanghai Major brackets: Team Liquid 2:0 MVP.Phoenix. Winner advance in the Upper Brackets, while Loswer drop to the best-of-one elimination series in the Lower Brackets.

Evil Geniuses vs. Team Secret

To remind people: Secret will have a Level 3 Draft Penalty for the first game because of the premature GG by w33 yesterday. #ShanghaiMajor

— Wykrhm Reddy (@wykrhm) March 4, 2016

The first game of the series started with a draft penalty for Team Secret, but their draft did not seem to be affected at all, as they took a fantastic lineup against EG. Alhtough EG seemed to start out well, they had difficulty in the mid and late game, not seeming to have any strength in their fights. Johan “pieliedie” Åström had impeccable coordination and support for his team. The rest of Team Secret seemed to have solid plays and all were in top form and were able to outplay the North American team and capitalize on any misplays.

The second game started with an entertaining and exciting first blood secured by Jacky “Eternal Envy” Mao as Syed Sumail “Suma1L” Hassan tried not once, but twice to suicide and failed. EG draft was incredible and executed their lineup perfectly. In 24 minutes EG just completely destroyed Team Secret, ending with a 30k gold lead and 23:6 score. EG’s victory pushed a deciding third game.

The third game gave Team Secret first blood and they continued to take down heroes all over the map with quick reflexes and amazing plays. Pieliedie continued to be an incredibly consistent support, setting up the kills and plays for the team. The Europeans took a significant lead early but EG were able to strike back hard, forcing Team Secret to quickly slide backwards. With overwhelming intensity, Team Secret were able to still take the victory and the series.

Shanghai Major brackets: Evil Geniuses 1:2 Team Secret. Team Secret in the Upper Brackets, while Evil Geniuses drop to the Lower Brackets to compete in the best-of-one elimination series.

The Shanghai Major main event

The Shanghai Major main event will take place between March 2nd-6th, at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, in Shanghai, China. Viewers and visitors are in for dawn to dusk action. The Grand Finals will take place on Sunday, March 6th.

Shanghai Major brackets

Shanghai Major main event schedule – Day 3

Friday, March 4th, starting at 03:00 CET

Format

Sixteen teams will play a double-elimination bracket.

Eight teams (top two teams of each of the four groups) will start the main event in the Upper Bracket. Eight teams (bottom two teams of each of the four groups) will start the main event in the Lower Bracket.

All the Upper Bracket match-ups will be best-of-three series.

The first two rounds of the Lower Bracket matches will be best-of-one elimination series. The following rounds will be best-of-three elimination series.

The Shanghai Dota Major Grand Finals will be best-of-five series, with no winners’ advantage.

Shanghai Dota Major streams

• DotaMajor 1 (EN)
• DotaMajor 2 (EN)
• DotaMajor 3 (EN)
• DotaMajor 4 (EN)
• DotaMajor 1 (RU)
• DotaMajor 2 (RU)
• DotaMajor 3 (RU)
• DotaMajor 4 (RU)