Welcome to EGamersWorld.
The group stage of DreamLeague Season 23 is gaining momentum. We have confidently reached the last match of the first stream of Group A.
Aurora - Xtreme Gaming match in bo2 format is waiting for us. And it may become one of the central, if not the central clash of the first round of Group A on DL Season 23.
We're trying to figure out how the clash will end and whether either team can earn a clean win in their debut clash at DL Season 23.
Let's get started.
Form Xtreme Gaming
We open the match breakdown with an analysis of Xtreme Gaming's form. In this match they will play as favourites with odds to win at around 1.8.
At DPC 2023: China Upper Division Xtreme Gaming were ranked in the top 5. For a team with such a roster, that result was not just unacceptable, but rather terrible.
The deplorable state of Xtreme Gaming became even more evident after The Lima Major 2023, where Paparazzi and company did not qualify. At the tournament in Peru, only Aster and PSG.LGD showed some promise, while Knights and Ehome, who Xtreme Ledge played in their home league, were suspected of using cheats and ceased to exist after Lima.
However, Xtreme managed to pull itself together. The team called up the experienced Kaka for the fourth position and started to play. Xtreme won their home league with this squad. In this lineup they travelled to Berlin, where they made it to the group stage of The Berlin Major 2023. However, they finished in the top 12, which is not very good.
The third round was a nightmare for Xtreme. They finished in the top 5, which is not a critical indicator, but for teams of Paparazzi and company level, not making it to the Major with not the strongest competition is a failure.
- Xtreme Gaming lineup: Ghost, Paparazzi, JT, XinQ, Dy.
Before the Long Copeg Riyadh Masters 2023, Xtreme Gaming invited XinQ to the team. The PSG.LGD legend was supposed to strengthen the roster, but Xtreme got about the same as they had at the previous championships - Top 16.
They made their debut at The International 2023 - China Qualifier with a match against Aster.Aries. Despite 2-0 on the scoreboard, Xtreme Gaming still had to deal with Aster's youth. They also looked good throughout the qualifiers, but Xtreme was not enough for the grand finals: Azure Ray celebrated their victory and passage to the TI.
The new competitive year started with a performance at BB Dacha Dubai 2024, where they took TOP-8.
They played at DreamLeague Season 22, where they reached the TOP-3. After that, Xtreme Gaming won the Elite League.
The series of good championships was interrupted at ESL One Birmingham 2024. There Xtreme Gaming made it to the play-offs, but couldn't jump above the top 8.
Xtreme Gaming shined at PGL Wallachia Season 1. The Chinese didn't lose a single map until the grand finals, where they gave a slack: Team Spirit beat Xtreme Gaming 3-2, thus "stealing" the deserved title from Ame and company.
The most popular Xtreme Gaming heroes
The most popular hero of Xtreme Gaming is Storm Spirit. Paparazzi played it 5 times, but won only 2 matches.
We also took Alchemist (4 matches, 75% wins), Phoenix (4 matches, 50% wins), Keeper of the Light (4 matches, 25% wins), Rubick (4 matches, 25% wins).
There was also Pangolier, Underlord, Pugna, Dragon Knight. All heroes appeared 3 times and won 2 matches each.
Aurora Form
We continue our match review with an analysis of Aurora's game form. In this match they will play as number two with a significant gap: the odds for Aurora to win this match are at around 8.
The team made a strong run to the top 1 of the region, and also reached the heights at Lima Major 2023: in the first round of SEA the team took 3rd place, at The Lima Major 2023 a similar top 3, and in the next round they won their home league.
However, it was the chaos that started next. The first signs of Aurora's fickleness were at DreamLeague S19, when after a solid The Lima Major 2023, the team finished top-12 at a major international event.
At the next Major, The Bali Major 2023, Aurora finished in the top 8, followed by a very mediocre performance at DPC SEA 2023 Tour 3: Division 1, finishing in 4th place in their home league.
The last tournament before the Riyadh Masters 2023 was DreamLeague Season 20. There the team finished in the top 4.
- Aurora roster: 23savage, lorenof, Jabz, Q, Oli.
At the Riyadh Masters 2023 Aurora got straight into the group stage, and all thanks to ESL rankings. They did well in the group stage, finishing in the top 4 and advancing to the top play-offs.
In the first match Aurora played against Quest Esports. In a very difficult match, being an outsider on paper, Aurora managed to win with a score of 2-1.
In the second round of the top set, Aurora played the same game against Liquid when Zai ate them ancient during a seemingly victorious trip to Liquid's base. However, Aurora didn't get confused at all and in the bottom set first defeated 9 Pandas and then defeated Gaimin Gladiators, the storm of international dota.
In the match for the exit to the grand final Aurora again ran into Liquid and again lost. Thus - top 3 at the Riyadh Masters to add to Aurora's prizes for the year.
Before the Long Convergence The International 2023 they visited DreamLeague Season 21, where for some reason they decided to play at half strength. Otherwise I can't explain the failure of the team from the top 3 of Riyadh Masters to get out of the group.
However, apparently the result of DreamLeague S21 was not a coincidence. Aurora played disgustingly on the first day, losing to Tundra and TSM without much chance. Then they managed to comeback, winning their two remaining matches against Keyd Stars and PSG Quest.
In the play-offs seeding match, they faced none other than Gaimin Gladiators. After losing the first map, they cameback on the second and third maps, thus sending the main contender for the Aegis of Champions to the lower grid. However, it did not help them to rise above the TOP-12, but GG reached the Grand Final.
Already at the new club, the players finished top-4 at the ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023 qualifiers, qualified for DL Season 22, took top-8 at the Birmingham qualifiers and top-12 at the country house.
Aurora were later featured at DreamLeague Season 22, where they took Top 8. After that, they qualified for DL Season 23 and placed Top 10 at the Elite League.
The last tournament before the DreamLeague Season 23 was PGL Wallachia Season 1. There the club from SEA reached the TOP-8.
The most popular Aurora characters
The most popular Aurora character is Tiny. The team swaps his positions, but most often he goes to position 4. The character has 8 matches and 87% wins.
Next are Natures Phophet (7 games, 100% wins) and Io with Leshrac, who was also picked 7 times and won 6 matches.
Clockwerk (100% wins) and Morphing (60% wins) have appeared 5 times each.
History of head-to-head meetings Aurora - Xtreme Gaming
Previously, the teams have played each other 4 times since the Long Season. Only 1 time their head-to-head meeting ended in a draw, the rest was for Xtreme Gaming.
Predicted result of the match Xtreme Gaming - Aurora at DreamLeague Season 23
In this match, my bet is on Xtreme. Despite the very juicy odds on Aurora and at least one card from them, the Chinese look more solid, and the history of head-to-head meetings between these teams only strengthens my faith in Xtreme.
Bottom line: Xtreme wins.
