CN Qualifiers Day 4: Team Aster Makes A Surprise Exit; Azure Ray Await In The Final

We've come down to the final three teams in the Chinese Regional Qualifiers, and the eliminated teams weren't what fans expected.

Invictus Gaming 1-2 Team Zero

Invictus Gaming was slight favorites coming into this matchup against Team Zero, but TI-winner iceice's team didn't want to go down easy. 

Even though it took them 57 minutes, Invictus Gaming claimed the first game after a strong performance. However, this wasn't enough to make Team Zero give up. Team Zero bounced back after a clean second game and stomped Invictus Gaming in the third, completing the reverse sweep. 

Invictus Gaming's new roster was shut down in Round 4 of the Lower Bracket and will be eliminated from the qualifier.

Team Aster 1-2 Team Bright

This particular match was one of the biggest upsets in TI qualifier history. Team Aster was easily the favorites to win the entire qualifier, but somehow, they got eliminated early by the hands of Team Bright, a heavy underdog. 

Anti-Mage was the key hero in the series. Team Bright got their hands on him in the first game, where Hea2t carried his team with a KDA of 12/2/8. Team Aster quickly bounced back in the second after great performances from SumaiL and Monet. 

However, Anti-Mage was left in the pool again in the third game, and Team Bright took the opportunity and picked him to counter SumaiL's Outworld Devourer. The decider game was close, but Team Bright could pull ahead and complete the upset, knocking Team Aster out of the qualifiers.

Xtreme Gaming 1-2 Azure Ray

The third match of the day was the most anticipated, with Xtreme Gaming taking on Azure Ray for a spot in the Grand Final.

Despite a poor laning stage from Xtreme Gaming in the first game, they were able to turn things around in the Mid Game. Again, Anti-Mage was in the draft and ended up helping Xtreme Gaming win the first map.

The second game started close, but some excellent performances from the two Azure Ray supports helped get the team through the Mid Game. Eventually, lou's Naga Siren was way too farmed for Xtreme Gaming, and the series was levelled.

The third game wasn't what Dota fans were hoping for, as Azure Ray completely stomped the side of Xtreme Gaming in only 24 minutes. Azure Ray book their spot in the Grand Final and is only one series away from going to Seattle.

Team Zero 2-0 Team Bright

Round 5 of the Lower Bracket features Team Zero and Team Bright. Most viewers didn't expect this to be a matchup this deep into the tournament, but both teams took out Invictus Gaming and Team Aster.

Though people had high expectations for Team Bright after pulling off that upset, Team Zero showed that they were superior on all fronts. Both games ended in favour of Team Zero, and Team Bright didn't put up too much of a fight.

Team Zero will face Xtreme Gaming in the Lower Bracket Final, and the winner must go through Azure Ray for a spot at The International. 

Updated Bracket

Here is the updated bracket for the final day of the Chinese Regional Qualifiers:

The qualifiers will end tomorrow, and one team will book their flights to The International 2023.