MSI MGA's consolation match between Cloud9 and Team Liquid may only be for third place, but it does help settle the long debate between EU and NA.
The long debate between the regions finally gets some more hard data to back it up, as Europe's Team Liquid and America's Cloud9 faced off for third place in the MSI Masters Gaming Arena.
Map One: Garden of Terror
Cloud9 is on record as saying that Team Liquid plays 'wierd, frustrating heroes," and they did they best to keep those heroes out of TL's hands, as they banned Lost Vikings during the first draft for Garden of Terror. Liquid repsonded with a Kael'Thas ban, then jumped directly into a double warrior composition by chosing Johanna and Leoric back to back. Cloud9 followed up their first pick of Zeratul with and Uther and Jaina follow up.
Liquid looked to continue to control the warrior play as they banned Muradin with their second ban. Cloud9 then banned Nazeebo. Team Liquid added a pair of specialist to their warrior composition with a Sgt. Hammer and an Abathur, staying true to their 'wierd and frustring heroes' reputation. Cloud9 took one of the few remaining warriors with a fourth pick Anub'Arak, and made an odd pick of their own by taking Illidan. The compositions were finalized when Team Liquid chose our Rehgar, a hero which excels at keeping high-health pool warriors topped off.
Cloud9 was aggressive early, much like their semi-final games against TempoStorm, leading six kills to one at the twelve minute mark, which translated into a level 16 to level 15 lead, allowing Cloud9 to posture aggressively due to their talent lead. At level seventeen an enourmous teamfight happened which included two garden terrors. Cloud9 focused their kills extremely well, and continued to use their aggression to confuse Team Liquid. Riding the advantages of several key kills, Cloud9 went on to easily win the game. It appears the meta difference, at least after this game one, is simply in styles of play, aggression versus reaction.
Map Two: Tomb of the Spider Queen
Team Liquid banned Leoric immediately, and to no surpise Cloud9 responded by banning Zeratul. Liquid responded by chosing Johanna with their first pick. In turn, Cloud 9 chose Kael'Thas and Uther. Team Liquid chose again to take a pair of specialists by taking Zagara and Nazeebo. Cloud9 then banned, Rehgar, and Liquid banned Kerrigan. Muradin and Jaina were next upfor Cloud9, as they set themselves up for a strong double-mage meta. Team Liquid responded by adding a second warrior to their composition in the form of bruiser Tyreal. They finalized their composition with new healer, Kharazim. Cloud9 rounded out their composition with a last pick Illidan for the second game straight.
Cloud9 relied on early rotations to take some kils early and gain an entirely level lead as we reached the middle game. The talent level disparity, and Cloud9's roaming potential allowed for back-to-back turn in of Web Reaver gems which granted Cloud9 a large structre advantage. When Team Liquid tried to defend a full five man push near minute ten, they lost three heroes to zero in the forced fight. By the time the clock read 10:30, Cloud9 was up 14-12 in levels.
Another huge team fight occured at 13:00, with Kael'Thas's chainbomb dealing immense damage, and Team Liquid losing another three heroes, finding themselves four levels down, 17-13. Cloud9 sensed blood shortly after, using their advantage to take the boss camp at the top of the map. Team Liquid did, however, manage to turn in and use the web weavers to buy themselves some time. Cloud9 then caught Lucifrom from Team Liquid alone, and pushed the top lane with boss, another kill, and a three level lead. That lead was too much to deal with, as Cloud9 pushed the core, and added fuel to the America vs Europe fire.
Result: Cloud9 defeats Team Liquid, 2-0.
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