Team Secret eliminated during ESL One Manila group B decider series

Team Secret eliminated by Team Empire, 1:2, during the ESL One Manila group B decider series. Team Empire has advanced to the playoffs. The action continues with the ESL One Manila semifinals between Fnatic and Wings Gaming, tomorrow, at 05:00 CEST.

ESL Manila Day 2 Standings | Team Empire secure Top 4. Team Secret eliminated. #ESLOneManila pic.twitter.com/y0QNZiwnK7

— Wykrhm Reddy (@wykrhm) April 23, 2016

Team Empire bested Team Secret for the second time during ESL One Manila, this time eliminating them from the event.

Team Secret seemed to be in much better form than the last time they met Team Empire, however, the CIS team continued to impress with stellar performances and stunning combos. Empire were able to rebound from a one-game deficit and build momentum as they cruised along.

Team Secret eliminated marks the fourth and last team to be sent home today.

Mineski was eliminated by compLexity Gaming, 1:2, in the ESL One Manila group A elimination series, earlier today. EHOME was the second team eliminated when Team Secret took them out in a clean sweep during the ESL One Manila group B elimination series. Wings Gaming rallied back from a one-game deficit to take the series from compLexity Gaming and eliminate the North American team.

ESL One Manila group B: Decider Series

Team Empire vs. Team Secret

Team Empire at ESL One Manila

The first game started out looking to be an even match between both teams. About eight minutes into the game, Team Secret started to take the lead and maintained it until the very end. Some nice plays from both sides, both teams started taking kills, pick-offs and objectives. A sunstrike by Artour “Arteezy” Babaev revealed Team Empire at the Roshan pit and Team Secret used the moment to push the top racks. Team Empire started to lose their grasp on the game and Team Secret took the first victory.

The second game was again very even between both teams until 13 minutes in, when Team Secret once again pulled ahead. An incredibly good combo by Team Empire about 27 minutes into the game would demonstrate the CIS team’s cohesion, skill and timing. Rinat “KingR” Abdullin’s Rubick stole Enigma’s blackhole and immediately on the heels of Vasily “AfterLife” Shishkin’s Dark Seer vacuum the blackhole caught four Team Secret heroes and killed them all. Building on their momentum, Team Empire took more amazing fights, extending their lead.

With the elimination on the line, in the third game, Team Empire went with a solo mid Nyx Assassin and a Slark. Team Secret didn’t seem to have an answer for the Slark and, eventually, Roman “Ramzes” Kushnarev’s perfect performance on the hero would lead the newly rebuilt Team Empire to victory.

Insane teamfight control from @team_empire! #ESLOne
https://t.co/XrJ5pvQ4IG

— ESL Dota2 (@ESLDota2) April 23, 2016

ESL One Manila group B: Team Empire 2:1 Team Secret. Team Empire continues to the playoffs. Team Secret eliminated.

ESL One Manila schedule

All matches will be played back-to-back.

Sunday, April 24th

• 05:00 CEST – Semifinal two (Group B seed one vs. Group A seed two)
• 08:30 CEST – Semifinal one (Group B seed two vs. Group A seed one)
• 12:00 CEST – Grand finals

ESL One Manila format

• The group stage will be played in a classic GSL format.
• The eight participating teams will be split up into two groups of four.

  In each group, the teams will play best-of-three matches, as shown below:

  Match one: Team A vs. Team B
  Match two: Team C vs. Team D
  Winners’ match (WM): Winner of match one vs. winner of match two – winner advances to semifinals
  Elimination match (EM): Loser of match one vs. loser of match two – loser drops out
  Decider match: Loser of WM vs. winner of EM – winner advances to semifinals and loser drops out

• Four teams will advance into the playoffs.
• Four teams will be eliminated in the group stage.
• During the playoffs, four teams will play a single-elimination bracket.
• The Grand Finals will be best-of-five series, with no winners’ advantage.