Quick update: Day 3 witnessed CDEC’s dominant rise through the winner’s bracket, booking them for a winner’s bracket showdown with EG on 7th August, Friday. The game is scheduled at 1pm PDT, barring match duration between LGD and VP.

Day 3 also saw Team Secret’s comeback against a 0:1 deficit to iG, eliminating them 2:1. iG, which contains Ti-hopeful and Dota-God BurNing and returning champions ChuaN, Ferrari 430 and Faith, were once again denied the aegis.

EHOME, after convincingly demolishing Team Secret on Day 2, was dropped by EG 2:1 despite winning game 1 decisively with a score of 3(EG)-22(EHOME). EHOME was surprised by a Techies pick in Game 2, thus wasting a ban in Game 3 on Techies which cost them the draft.

On Day 4, Vici Gaming continued their winning streak, 2:0-ing both MVP Phoenix and the Team Secret-killers EHOME. They await either LGD Gaming or Virtus.Pro on Day 5 to see who will face the loser of CDEC vs EG (which happens on Day 5 as well! Upper bracket finals which will guarantee the winner at least a 2nd place finish) on Day 6.

The All-Stars match was a 10 v 10 show of awesome as 9 random audience members and a suddenly Dendi were invited to play with professional players. Hilarity ensued, and you have to watch it to believe the hype. It was rumored on reddit that Pit Lord would be revealed at the all-stars, but a bug prevented it. See the evidence for yourself to judge. A 24-player maximum was announced for Reborn custom games as well.

The story of MVP Phoenix came to an end as they ran headlong into the past year’s 2nd placed Vici Gaming(VG). MVP’s QO tried his best to play Slark in game 1 and QoP in game 2 to carry MVP to victory. Alas, with fy playing like this against you, how can you possibly win? VG is showing great form coming into the later days despite being in the loser’s bracket, and I’m a fan. They have been underperforming since DAC and this is a great turn of events. Hopefully we will still see them at the fall Major, as March is only unable to travel next year onwards due to his mandatory military service.

You can follow me on twitter @TheFreakofnatur and email me at [email protected]. Until next time!

Chen Yiji
The Gaming Ground
Twitter: @TheFreakofnatur

More by Chen Yiji:

• MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries PC review – A time-demanding but action-intense Mecha game
• Borderlands 3 PC review – Bordering on the good side
• EA’s E3 2018 press conference – We’re all angry at Electronic Arts again
• This is why 2016 was simply amazing for SG eSports
• Interview with Witching Hour Studios creative director Ian Gregory – Masquerada: Songs and Shadows

Tags: Defense of the Ancients, DOTA 2, The International 5, TI5 DDos attack, Valve