Na`Vi and TR move on to D2SC semi finals

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Natus Vincere and The Retry will leave the relegation matches of the Dota 2 Star Championship as winner. Following in the last round before the final will be the first place finishers of the second group stage Mousesports and Moscow5.

Going into the first game as Radiant, Na`Vi successfully laned Dendi's Storm Spirit against a Beastmaster on middle ground. The charged sumo wrestler should later become a plague for the Frenchmen, who due to his surprising appearances, found themselves out outpaced in numerous situations. XBOCT meanwhile became the favourite target of the Dire, who were eager to make up for the lost ground on mid.

The first 15 minutes did not go as expected for Team Shakira, who fell behind 2:8 with their top and bottom towers being destroyed. Later on, the disadvantage should extend with Na`Vi continuing to win fights and trying to push for a pre-confirmed win. A bit too early perhaps as Team Shakira took the first mid game fights better than before and managed to capitalize on it, by taking towers on the Radiant's side. After another huge comeback-fight on bottom lane at minute 26, the advantage for Na`Vi was gone.

The game turned long, but eventful seeing many openings by Storm Spirit and a strong Broodmother, carrying Team Shakira through the skirmishes. When the Frenchmen entered the opponent's base to go for the barracks, it was Na`Vi driving them right back out, as occurred on the other side before. During the Dire's heroes still in reviving period, the Ukrainians were to make the finishing move without much resistance, turning the series 1:0.

Team Shakira then got into an unfortunate laning situation in the second game, where a low-ranged Vengeful Spirit, Slardar plus jungling Chen had to fight a tri lane consisting of Crystal Maiden, Ancient Apparition and Tidehunter. Meanwhile the Shadow Shaman by Team Shakira solo 7cknMAD went off to a good start against Dendi's Tinker on mid lane, who became the first hero to die, seeing his first tower falling shortly afterwards.

Having fallen seven kills behind after early on, The Frenchmen held onto the game, trying to quickly snatch tier-one towers with stacked serpent wards. Upon trying the same with the second tower on middle ground after 26 minutes, Na`Vi initiated perfectly with a blinking Tidehunter plus Ancient Apparition ultimate, turning the score 5:20. The Ukraininans later extended to 30:10, after initiating a push on bottom lane to break through the Radiant defense line

With four barracks destroyed, Team Shakira resigned and let Na`Vi pass on to face Mousesports in the second semi final tomorrow.

In the first match of the day, newly minted eSahara took on PGG's TR, eager to avoid an all-Russian semi final on home ground. As Radiant, eSahara tried out a Pudge in an aggressively played game by both sides, seeing many fights behind towers and seeming advantages being turned around by last-minute-teleports. After a hectic early and mid game TR started to show more unity, and avoided to get outnumbered in skirmishes by only taking fights as five. As eSahara could not adapt, an advantage was quickly developed, given how fast action commenced so far. The battle for the barracks followed shortly afterwards, from which the Russians emerged victorious, with only one more game to win.

Going into the second game, TR chose the unconventionl Warlock, as hard supporter for Blowa's Anti-Mage who had to outcarry a Spectre this time. In a more carefully played set, eSahara's moral and concentration started to slack, seeing the team not ready to go into a long match. Although putting more emphasis on the well-being of their carry, TR continued where they started in the first game and opened the fights, whenever the situation allowed it. It did not take much longer until eSahara resigned and TR moved on.