The short but match-rich group stage of The International 2022 is over. Among 20 teams, 16 playoffs were determined.
The main stage of the biggest esports event of the year will begin on October 21 at 04:00 CET. Evil Geniuses will open the Dota holiday in a match against Thunder Awaken.
The Americas clash at the top of The International 10 playoff bracket is an unprecedented event. Never before have teams from South America made their way to the top of the playoffs after the group stage, and therefore the interest in the match will be fueled by at least this fact, in addition to the fact that this is The International playoff match, where there are no passing and unnecessary games in principle.
We figure out which of the teams will be the first to take another significant step on the way to the championship, and who, having fallen into the lower bracket, will lose the right to make a mistake.
Evil Geniuses Form
Evil Geniuses will play as the favorite in this match. The bookmakers believe in the victory of the “evil geniuses” and give odds around 1.3 for such an event.
As for me, the figure is a little underestimated, but it is not difficult to agree with it. EG showed what they are capable of at this tournament, and therefore they will deservedly play the role of the first violin, considering what kind of opponent they got.
Remembering EG during the season, a tear wells up, from that their current performance causes only positive emotions. The EG sample of the launch of 2022 and those “evil geniuses” that we see now are painfully different.
Apparently, in the case of EG, the main role is played by the presence in the team of a firm hand and an iron grip. In the Evil Geniuses roster, the legendary Fly plays such a role.
Evil Geniuses line-up
- Arteezy
- Abed
- nightfall
- Cr1t-
- Fly
The main reason for the success of Evil Geniuses in this tournament, namely Isaac (Fly) joined EG at the end of May this year, after trying his hand at the expanses of Southeast Asia. In addition to Fly, other performers are different, and, which is a surprise for me, they differ on the positive side: Arteezy does not get stuck on cleaves, and Abed seems to be back in 2016-2017, when he destroyed the central line in Southeast Asia, and now he is mocking the best players of the world, as, for example, over NothingToSay in the match against PSG.LGD.
Evil Geniuses results at The International 2022
EG is the only team in this tournament to never draw. Over 18 maps played, Evil Geniuses lost only to BOOM (0-2) and Team Liquid (0-2).
They managed to beat PSG.LGD, OG, Royal Never, Gaimin Gladiators and other less title rivals dry.
Fanfact: EG took first place in the group for the second time in the history of performances at The International. For the first time, a North American club won a group at The International in 2015. Then the team finished the group stage with zero draws and four given cards and subsequently became the champion of The International. Just a note, no hints.
Heroes Evil Geniuses
At The International EG is played meta, I would even say as the legislators of this very meta. They pick Primal Beast, Broodmother, Shadow Fiend, Sven, Undying, Marci. The Evil Geniuses do best with Primal Beast (5 games, 100% win rate) and Shadow Fiend (4 appearances, 100% win rate).
Not surprisingly, it was EG who took the lead in the group. Innovation is rewarded, and falling into the meta only reinforces such rewards.
Thunder Awaken form
Thunder Awaken will play in the catch-up status in this match. The chance of winning a club from South America is estimated by odds around 3.3
Bo3 series in the first round of the upper bracket of the playoffs is always exciting. Even more excitement adds the fact of the opening of this same playoffs, the same series, and add here the factor of the first game in South America at this stage - wow, how exciting.
Thunder Awaken qualified for the main stage of The International for the first time, having previously visited the championship only once (in 2021, Thunder took 17th-18th place at The International). This season can already be called the best in the history of the club.
South American champions have attended two majors - ESL One Stockholm and PGL Arlington Major. At the first stage, the team got into the TOP-6, which, in general, allowed them to qualify for The International by the sum of DPC points. In the group stage, the team fully justified its ticket and proved that hard work and passion for the game pays off.
Thunder Awaken line-up
- Pakazs
- Darkmago
- Sacred
- Matthew
- pandaboo
The Peruvian five, assembled in February this year, are now demonstrating a decent level of play. Separately, I would like to highlight Pakazs - the player of the first position at ESL One Stockholm and PGL Arlington Major showed his confidence in the international arena, and at The International 2022, faith in him as the future TIR-1 carry in the world only increased.
Thunder Awaken results at The International 2022
Thunder played in group B, which, in my opinion, was an order of magnitude weaker than group A. Nevertheless, this fact does not diminish the merits of Thunder in any way.
The team finished the group stage with a score of 10-8 on maps 2-6-1 in games. Thanks to draws with teams like Aster, Secret and Spirit, the Peruvians broke into the TOP-4.
Behind them, by the way, they left such clubs as Aster, Spirit and Entity. And if the first got into the TOP-4 and play at the top of the playoff bracket, then the current world champions and one of the most promising teams in Europe before the start of the Thunder tournament have a slot legally taken.
Heroes of Thunder Awaken
Thunder Awaken play a bit of their own DotA. They don't really honor meta characters like Shadow Fiend, and prefer to get rid of Broodmother at the ban stage.
In turn, the most frequent guest was Dawnbreaker, who appeared in 8 matches and has a win rate of 75%. Also frequently picked were Crystal Maiden (62% win rate at 8 games), Nyx Assassin (7 match, 71% win rate), Pudge for Pakazs (6 match, 83% win rate).
History of personal confrontations
Previously, the teams did not play each other in official matches. This fight will be the debut face-to-face confrontation for the teams.
Match outcome
In the first match of the playoffs, I want to see beautiful and academic Dota, but rather there will be a lot of dynamics and controlled chaos. Both teams like to play at high speeds, starting pressure from the lanes and building it up to the mid game. Wouldn't expect particularly long cards.
As for the winner, they will most likely be EG. The North American club is in good shape, both as a team player and as a personal performer.
EG made it to the playoffs with virtually no problems, only tripping a few times, while playing in a group with very serious opponents. They will win here, however, not without problems. Thunder can take the card, and I will make a choice in their favor.
Result: +1.5 on Thunder.
