The road in the Kiev Major has reached Championship Sunday where the two grand finalist teams will be determined. In a tidy and convincing 2:0 sweep, Virtus.Pro claimed the first slot in the Grand Finals after knocking Invictus Gaming out cold.
Two teams, whose stand out impressions had shortlisted them on our 5 Storylines to keep an eye on going into the Kiev Major, didn't fail to deliver in any way.
The hometown heroes Virtus.Pro have been the pride of the locals from start to finish. After a 3:0 record in the group stages the CIS team became the Chinese slayers of the Kiev Major. Sweeping through iG. Vitality in the first round, they then overpowered VGJ in the quarter finals and then destroyed iG in the semi finals.
Invictus Gaming had come into the Kiev Major on the heels of their overwhelming presence and success at DAC 2017. Their recent performances had fans dub their success as the ‘resurgence of BurNing’ . The Chinese rising stars took third in the group stage and came into the semi finals as one of the opponents to fear. They first eliminated Mousesports and then muscled out Team Liquid.
Virtus.Pro were not intimidated and fueled by the deafening roar of the home crowd the CIS team continued to play to the beat of their own drummer and did what they do best - beat down their opponents.
Virtus.Pro are the first team to advance to the grand finals and are assured at least a cool $500,000 prize and most likely a TI7 direct invite.
Invictus Gaming takes the 3rd-4th place finish and $250,000 prize as consolation.
Game One
The Morphling last pick from iG was a surprise, while VP went with the Venomancer in the midlane. Although VP grabbed the first blood, early on it was a back and forth slug fest with each team taking turns on answering each other's aggression.
Virtus.Pro started to chip away at their lead - bringing all five heroes to their battles to overpower their enemy and bully them. Continuing to stick together like glue, VP took critical pick offs and pushed objectives - taking advantage of iG being on the back foot, trying to catch back up and regroup themselves.
iG's signature patience and 'slow and steady wins the race' approach seemed to fail them this game as their opportunity never arrived - mostly due to VP's constant pressure and chocking iG out. The CIS team just dominated and flexed their muscles throughout to dictate the flow and outcome of the match.
With the first match in the bag, the hometown heroes were one win away from the grand finals.
Game Two
One strike already against them, iG went immediately to work to retool their approach and adjust their strategy. Their draft was a more unconventional style for them, showing their ability to adjust and adapt to their enemy - as it is geared much more towards team fights and extremely versatile and balanced with initiation, follow up, good late games and good lanes.
Virtus.Pro's on point rotations and relocates paired with some out of positionings by iG gave the CIS team stellar map control. Through pick-offs and play after play, VP blew the doors wide open on the second match. Their first 20 minutes were phenomenal, but their draft required precise execution and iG started bridge a massive gap to start gaining ground on them.
A bit too little, too late and as hard as they tried to close in and keep it close, VP just outplayed and outclassed the Chinese team - dropping them out in a surprising sweep.
The semi finals action continues between OG vs EG at 12:00 CEST. One more team will be eliminated, ending their Kiev Major dreams, while one advances to the glory of the Grand Finals.
