Welcome back to EGamersWorld and DreamLeague Season 19.
The series of analysis on the first major commercial championship of the season continues with a betting tour of Team Liquid - Tundra Esports in the second stage of DreamLeague Season 19.
We have analyzed all of the previous group stage matches, reflected on the performance of the playing teams in DPC 2023 and reviewed their successes and failures on the international stage.
Here are our predictions for the group stage clash again, who will be stronger, and what will be the best bet of the game.
Here we go.
Team Liquid are the perennial favourites in the European derby, but there are nuances.
We'll start our coverage with an analysis of Team Liquid's form. They are the odds-on favourite to win this game.
Bookmakers continue to believe in Team Liquid, giving them odds of around 1.5 to win. This belief cannot be called blind, as Liquid really do have a lot to be praised for.
We can praise their performance in the Western Europe Regional League. There the Liquid went through their first season without defeat and gave up only one meeting in the second round.
You can also praise the Lima Major 2023, where the team showed their character. The forced stand-in did not break Liquid after their slump to the bottom of the table in the Top 3 of the championship, and in the end Liquid made it to the grand final, where they lost.
We can also mention Liquid's line-up. Here they have top-notch players with vast experience of playing at the highest level.
- Team Liquid's line-up: miCKe, Nisha, zai, Boxi, inSaNia.
But there is always something to criticize. In the case of Liquid it is possible to recall not the most serious games at the end of the first stage of DreamLeague, but then the situation was different, because the team that guaranteed itself the next stage has the right to rest.
We can also remember the game against the Gaimin Gladiators, which became a real kryptonite for the Liquid. However, they've already played their match against them, so we won't talk about them in this review.
Team Liquid's most popular characters
Death Prophet and Rubick appeared in spades the most often. Both characters were taken 4 times each and have a 100% win rate.
Disruptor, Beastmaster and Tusk appeared a similar number of times. They each won 3 matches out of 4 appearances.
If you are ready to believe in Liquid's success, pick them as the winner at odds of 1.5. Otherwise, check out the Tundra Esports form in the breakdown below.
The form of Tundra Esports, a contender to return to the top 1 in Europe
Opposing Team Liquid on their way to their first victory in the second stage of DreamLeague Season 19 will be Tundra Esports. The odds on The International 2022 champions to win are estimated at 2.5, making them the underdog of the match.
Tundra Esports deserved such attitude to themselves because of their rather sluggish performance at the only Major tournament of the season so far, the Lima Major 2023.
The Peruvian Major ended for Tundra Esports in the first round of the lower net, which is not exactly fitting for the status of The International champions.
- Tundra Esports lineup: skiter, Nine, 33, Saksa, Sneyking
The lamentable performance in the Lima Major 2023 was probably influenced by a rather long period of playing together and this squad reaching the maximum height in modern Dota. We've seen The International champions fade away after the title, but Tundra seems to be a different example. Despite a failed Lima Major 2023, Tundra Esports have started to work on their mistakes and have finished in the top 2 region in the second round of Western Europe. They are also doing well at DreamLeague Season 19, where they made it through the first group without any tangible problems and have already won their first match in the second stage.
Most popular Tundra Esports characters
The most chosen character for Tundra Esports remains Mirana at position 5. She has appeared 7 times and has a 71% win rate, with Dragon Knight and Pangolier each picking 5 times without losing a match.
Rili and Nightstalker are considered unique picks by Tundra Esports. The team picks them at the core position, with Riki in the centre and NS in the first position. Both heroes have appeared 2 times each and have a 100% win rate.
Tundra have a very wide character pool: they can play Dragon Knight in the first position or Night Stalker in the same role. This is something to keep in mind when betting.
If you're ready to make it, your choice is a Tundra Esports win at odds of 2.5. If you haven't made up your mind yet, take a look at the teams' history of head-to-head encounters.
Team Liquid - Tundra Esports head-to-head history
In the clubs history, Tundra Esports has never beaten Team Liquid. In the last season alone, the team lost to Liquid three times: twice in DPC 2023: WEU Upper Division, and another series given up in the already ongoing DreamLeague Season 19.
Predicted outcome of Team Liquid vs Tundra Esports
The most logical way to predict the outcome of this match would be for Liquid to win. This is directly indicated by the history of head-to-head encounters.
I am ready to believe in this outcome despite Liquid and Tundra debuts in the second stage, where the first lost without any idea against GG, and Tundra exactly without any problems beat their opponents.
Bottom line: victory for Team Liquid.
