The International 4 didn’t take a break this weekend, shoving teams into back to back encounters that decided who would reach the Main Event. Saturday was a wide open affair, with Phase Two still being a complete mess of results that could’ve allowed literally anyone through. There were upsets, really odd matches and some stunning comebacks, but at the end of the day six teams had to go home.
Who would’ve thought that returning champions, Alliance, would be one of those teams. They got off to a terrible start in Phase Two, losing four of their opening five games. That left them with a major uphill battle over the weekend, one which ultimately depended on other teams losing. Alliance fought, but in the end their slow start was just too much of a burden to overturn. They depart from The International, becoming the first team ever to not defend their title at the Main Event.
On the other side of the room, Liquid was producing results even they couldn’t have possibly dreamed of. This year’s Wild Card team had been delivering some stellar performances against the highest seeded teams, and it earned them a tiebreaker match against LGD to see who would progress to the final. Unfortunately, that’s were the journey came to an end, as LGD took two straight games to knock Liquid out of the International at the final hurdle. A tough loss that really hit them hard, but I’d be amazed if they didn’t return next year as a properly qualified team.
At the top end of the table, Evil Geniuses joined ViCi Gaming in the upper bracket of the Main Event. DK joined them shortly after with a win over Cloud 9, which yielded two of the most exciting matches of the tournament so far. Cloud 9 join LGD in the lower bracket of the Main Event, with Titan and Newbee playing today to decide who claims the eight and final spot at the KeyArena.
After that, there’s a bit of a break until the real event starts this weekend. Eight teams, two brackets, one winner. It’s DOTA 2 nirvana right now.
Last Updated: July 14, 2014
hairyknees
July 14, 2014 at 13:06
That first DK vs C9 game was crazy, one of my highlights so far!
Admiral Chief Fairburne
July 14, 2014 at 13:22
Describe it in 2 paragraphs that will interest our TL;DR community members
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 14, 2014 at 13:28
Make Dota interesting? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA! *run*
hairyknees
July 14, 2014 at 13:40
I suppose you find cabbage more entertaining? 😛
Alien Emperor Trevor
July 14, 2014 at 13:45
But they have so many uses!
hairyknees
July 14, 2014 at 14:15
hahahaha xD
hairyknees
July 14, 2014 at 13:39
There we go 😛 just listen for the casters being LOUD AND AAAAAH!
http://youtu.be/QtUpvGv5epQ?t=2m41s
Matthew Holliday
July 14, 2014 at 14:17
Wildcard team played some great games.
Returning champs failed hard.
China 2 stronk.
America > Europe.
Eric
July 14, 2014 at 13:23
LGD vs mouz was the most boring, worst played game of the tournament. It was like watching 2 low tier pub matches. 78mins of pure boredom and bad decisions on both sides
Matthew Holliday
July 14, 2014 at 14:12
you didnt see Liquid lose to NAR/naviUS then.
it was like a low prio game.
Eric
July 14, 2014 at 14:27
Did they have a 6 slotted AM with 17k gold in reserve who pretty much ran in, manta style’d and blinked out again just to die alone in a lane. Every. Single. Time.
Saint_Dee
July 16, 2014 at 10:32
That game probably gave me ulcers. Good deity, it was the most infuriating Dota Spectator experience I’ve had. I like Mouz (or at least Pas and FATA have a special place in the black hole that is my heart), well I’m more of a SADBOYS fan though (EG), anyway allegiances aside, they deserved to lose that game. How do you stomp an early game phase where your heroes are supposed to struggle and then subsequently screw up the mid – late game phase where your hero composition is supposed to thrive??? Six slotted Anti-Mage, Farmed up Nature’s Prophet. They essentially had 2 of the strongest split pushers in the game. But no, let’s keep taking silly fights that don’t make sense, noooo, let’s just wait in lane to get picked off again, and again, and again. There were moments where players where literally not moving their heroes o-0
That game… That game.
ToshZA
July 14, 2014 at 14:48
Man, so tense, the entire matchup. Was really great viewing.
Danie Nell
July 14, 2014 at 14:40
Thank god we dont have to watch the “hit the tower a couple times and run away” masters bore us to sleep for the rest of the tournament.
ToshZA
July 14, 2014 at 14:44
Lol, that Naga game. Seriously. I fell asleep.
Eric
July 14, 2014 at 15:39
The rat game in longer games can get pretty tense though!
hairyknees
July 14, 2014 at 16:43
^ this xD hahaha
Lizzard
July 15, 2014 at 07:39
EG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saint_Dee
July 16, 2014 at 10:33
EG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SADBOYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!