https://www.facebook.com/pg/dota2/photos/?tab=album&album_id=297893156942815 Courtesy Dota 2 facebook page.
Group A Series 4 is finished and wow, I did not see this happening. iG Vitality finally decided they want to be here and Team Liquid continue to run roughshod over the majority of Group A. Let’s see where Group A stands as of now;
| Team | Series Score | Game Score | Points |
| Team Liquid | 3 – 1 – 0 | 7 – 1 | 7 |
| LGD Gaming | 3 – 0 – 1 | 6 – 2 | 6 |
| Evil Geniuses | 1 – 3 – 0 | 5 – 3 | 5 |
| TNC Pro Team | 1 – 2 – 0 | 4 – 2 | 4 |
| iG Vitality | 1 – 1 – 1 | 2 – 4 | 3 |
| Team Secret | 0 – 3 – 1 | 3 – 5 | 3 |
| Infamous | 0 – 2 – 4 | 2 – 4 | 2 |
| Team Empire | 0 – 2 – 1 | 2 – 6 | 2 |
| Fnatic | 0 – 3 – 0 | 0 – 6 | 0 |
Series 4 was decisive, only one series was split today. I like that the teams seem to understand that they need clean sweeps. That or today’s teams were not evenly matched. I’d like to think both things can be true. On to the matches!
Team Secret vs TNC Pro Team
Game one went fairly well for Team Secret and while it wasn’t a dominant performance they did get the win. TNC really turned it on in game two and Secret looked helpless. They could never get lanes they liked early and TNC’s Timbersaw got out of control as the game went on. If TNC Pro Team can keep playing (and drafting) at the level they did in game two, they should be able to secure a path to the upper bracket.
LGD Gaming vs iG Vitality
I’m still surprised by this series. 20 different heroes were picked in these two games. iG Vitality were the better team in both games, their game two win showed huge improvement from day one. If iG Vitality can play like this again they could push for a top four finish; since they already played the toughest teams in Group A. LGD need to shake this off and get their act together; they’re still second in the group and have a very difficult match against Team Liquid tonight.
Evil Geniuses vs Team Empire
Evil Geniuses looked great in this series and both drafts were on point. In game one their Naga Siren support pick was beautifully executed by Zai. Game two looked shaky in the very beginning but when EG got rolling they demolished Team Empire in a relatively quick game. This is the version of EG I want to see for the rest of the group stages, today they actually played like a team that has one of the highest average MMR’s at the International 2017. I don’t expect much out of Team Empire but the way Fnatic is playing there’s very good chance Empire goes to the lower bracket rather than getting eliminated.
Team Liquid vs Infamous
This was the shortest series of Series 4 and it would be the shortest of all today but Virtus.Pro lost in 15 minutes and 39 seconds. Anyway, Team Liquid definitely want an upper bracket berth and I’m starting to think this team is capable of winning the International 2017. Liquid are the best team in this group right now. Liquid’s only challenges left are TNC Pro Team & LGD Gaming. Team Empire should not be an issue the was Liquid are playing right now.
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The International 2017, Day 2 Update