RIYADH MASTERS GROUP STAGE - DAY 3 RECAP
At the end of the third day of the Riyadh Masters Group Stage, Quest, BetBoom, and Talon are confirmed to start their playoff run in the Upper Bracket. Here's a full recap of what happened on Day 3!
Group A
Surprisingly, the first team to break through to the Upper Bracket is an Ammar-less Quest Esports. Despite the hate they have been getting from the drama with Ammar "ATF" Al-Assaf, the team is still performing and is at the top of their group with an 8-4 score.
Team Spirit is tailing behind them in second place with a score of 7-5. However, they aren't too safe yet as three teams are tied for third place: 9 Pandas, Gaimin Gladiators, and PSG.LGD.
Huge credit must be given to 9 Pandas, a team sitting in last place yesterday. The Eastern European roster went 3-1 today, propelling their 3-5 score to a respectable 6-6 after getting a surprising 2-0 victory against the Gaimin Gladiators.
Meanwhile, at the bottom of the table, we have another three-way tie, but this time for last place. Yesterday, Xtreme Gaming and Evil Geniuses were tied for first place. However, both these teams had a terrible Day 3 and went 0-4, pushing them all the way down to last place. OG, the third team tied for last, had a 2-2 day- not too shabby, but maybe not enough.
All the teams have one remaining Best of 2 series tomorrow, and literally, anything can happen. Let's witness some high-stakes Dota action on Day 4!
Group B
Group A is a very tight affair, but Group B's results are much more apparent. BetBoom Team and Talon Esports have guaranteed their Upper Bracket spot, with scores of 10-2 and 8-4, respectively. BetBoom had a 4-0 day today, while SEA's last hope had a 2-2, which was still enough to push them through.
Team Aster and Team Liquid are tied for third and fourth with scores of 7-5. They have some really good wiggle room to maintain the final two Upper Bracket spots in their group, as the next team behind them is two points down, meaning that the two teams have at least guaranteed a tiebreaker.
Team Secret had an incredible Day 2, going 4-0. However, today didn't go as well as it did, as Secret finished 1-3 today. Still, the team is in fifth place, but their tournament lives aren't guaranteed yet.
The North American teams, Shopify Rebellion and TSM, hold hands at sixth and seventh place. Both these teams risk an early exit and will have to put out their A game tomorrow.
The last place is occupied by Tundra Esports, who is playing with their coach as a stand-in. They must win their series tomorrow with a score of 2-0 to have a chance at survival. Things are looking bleak for the TI winners.
Games To Watch
If you missed out on the Dota action today, here are some games you should watch:
- BetBoom Team vs. Team Aster - Game 1
- Gaimin Gladiators vs. 9 Pandas - Game 1
- BetBoom Team vs. Talon Esports - Game 1
Closing Thoughts
In conclusion, Group A is very close right now, and the last matches of the Group Stage tomorrow are vital for every team except for Quest Esports who are the only team to have secured their slot for the Upper Bracket. We could have some surprise eliminations, as anything could happen now.
Meanwhile, the results of Group B seem more evident at the top, but we could get some epic matches to decide the bottom of the board.