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The Riyadh Masters 2023 is dubbed the biggest Dota 2 Championship, rivaling even Valve’s The Worldwide (TI) Championship. It boasts a beneficiant $15M prize pool that places the early years of TI (2011-2014) to disgrace, the place twenty groups brawl it out.
The Play-ins are the primary stage, the place twelve groups certified based mostly on the EPT Ranking System, compete for a gaggle stage slot. With solely eight qualifying slots, groups scramble to beat the competitors, or else they’ll go dwelling with a mere $50K successful.
Riyadh Masters 2023 Play-in Stage Recap
Group A
Group A concluded in a one-sided dominance from Team Aster and Staff Liquid, taking the highest seeds and the Group Stage slots. Contemplating Staff Liquid’s standing because the second-strongest group in Dota Professional Circuit 2023 (DPC 2023), it was no shock. Whereas Staff Aster put up a good battle themselves, snatching three clear collection.
Whereas their group stage slots are confirmed, Aster and Liquid have but to face each other, which can determine which group is superior. In fact, the followers favor Liquid because the strongest group, second solely to Gaimin Gladiators. Therefore, Aster and Sumail “SumaiL” Hassan are one way or the other nonetheless the underdogs going into this match.
Group B
Over at Group B, the competitors is rather more even, regardless of having a number of TI12 direct invitees. Specifically, 9Pandas and beastcoast are sturdy opponents to be within the Play-in stage, but beastcoast has already cemented themselves within the backside seeds of group B.
Let’s not neglect Quest Esports, which was a group many anticipated to be at TI12 and would finally qualify by way of TI12 Regional Qualifier. Given their fourth-place end at Bali Main 2023 behind solely the Huge Western Europe Trio (Gaimin, Liquid, Tundra Esports). Nonetheless, Quest is playing without Ammar “ATF” Al-Assaf, which is a trigger for concern since he contributed extremely to their Main efficiency.
But, Quest is seemingly doing effectively, not less than within the Play-in stage, to redeem a Group Stage slot as the highest seeds.
Group Stage Match Predictions
With the Play-ins concluded, we have now a convincing pack of groups within the Group Stage to be enthusiastic about. Notably, Gaimin Gladiators vs Staff Spirit is on everybody’s watchlist, contemplating each groups’ titles. On one aspect, we have now a three-time Main Champion, whereas the latter is none aside from the TI10 Champions themselves.
Gaimin Gladiators vs Staff Spirit
At first look, Gaimin is unstoppable and of their prime in DPC 2023, however even the strongest may fall when the stakes are excessive. The stress is on for GG as they’re absolutely essentially the most studied opponent in each group’s ebook.
Alternatively, Spirit has been on the sidelines, having fun with lesser consideration, so maybe they may simply brew some unbelievable stunts in Riyadh Masters Group Stage.
Gaimin Gladiators vs PSG.LGD
Gaimin can be scheduled to face PSG.LGD, the one Chinese language powerhouse to qualify for TI12 by way of direct invite. Nonetheless, even with such accomplishment, this group is merely a husk of their former self. With out their golden boy, Wang “Ame” Chunyu, on the forefront, it’s inconceivable for them to beat Gaimin.
Credit score: Gamers8 / Gaimin Gladiators
Evil Geniuses vs Staff Spirit
A extra attention-grabbing match-up arising subsequent is Evil Geniuses vs Staff Spirit, for good causes. EG is probably not on the record of high three groups prior to now majors, however it has carried out constantly to be South America’s most outstanding candidate. Positive, crashing the Bali Main eventually place isn’t look, however followers imagine they weren’t taking the main critically since they already positioned fifth within the DPC 2023 Leaderboard.
Tundra Esports vs Talon Esports
An honorable point out on the Tundra Esports vs Talon Esports match is effectively deserved, given how poorly the Southeast Asian groups carried out at Bali Main. Particularly, Talon didn’t qualify for Bali Main however is the one SEA group to qualify for TI12 at eight-place on the DPC 2023 Leaderboard. Contemplating the lengthy hiatus since we final noticed Talon play, maybe this SEA group is on the lookout for early redemption by stomping over one of many WEU Huge Trio.
Given the stakes at Riyadh Masters 2023, it’s going to be an pleasant week forward with action-packed video games between world-class groups.
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