After dropping just a single match throughout the group stage, Vici Gaming continued their impressive run at the StarLadder ImbaTV Dota 2 Minor.
Vici were considered an underdog in Group A, but despite their questionable chemistry going into the event, it seemed like everything clicked early.
The Chinese organization claimed the top spot from the group and matched up against Old But Gold in the first round of the playoffs—and they started the series off by crushing their competition.
It wasn’t a good look for OBG as they failed to slow down anything that Vici was trying. But even as they went down 1-0, they kept fighting. In what would be the toughest match for Vici on the day, the veteran team dragged them into a 45-minute brawl before falling.
On the other side of the bracket, tournament favorite Gambit Esports handled their own business and swept Jacky “EternaLEnVy” Mao’s Flying Penguin squad.
Both teams clashed in the grand finals, making it a rematch of the Group A winners match that Vici won on the first day.
Gambit, who have looked impressive thus far in several 2019 tournament appearances, had no answer for Vici in the opening game. Pan “Fade” Yi had his team looking unstoppable as they jumped out to a quick 2-0 advantage.
Thanks to Fade and excellent Phantom Assassin play by Zhang “Paparazi” Chengjun early, Vici had a dominating lead and kept pressing their advantage.
Gambit made one final push in game three, finding a little room to battle back in the early game—but it wasn’t enough. That offense crumbled against Vici’s own push as the Chinese team completed the 3-0 upset.
With their win, Vici were awarded $125,000, 120 Dota Pro Circuit points, and the final spot in the DreamLeague Season 11 Major that takes place from March 14 to 24 in Stockholm, Sweden.
