After a 2-1 final score in the best-of-three series, Cloud9 managed to defeat LGD to reach their final battle of Phase III against DK. LGD, who managed to eliminate Liquid earlier today, will now move to the Lower Bracket of the TI4 Main Event.
The second best-of-three match of the day has just concluded, and Cloud9 emerged victorious from their battle against LGD. While both teams have secured at least the 7th/8th finish that comes with $500,000, Cloud9 will now have the chance to earn a spot in the Upper Bracket of the Main Event against DK.
The international squad used two unusual selections for the first match, Meepo for SingSing and support Bounty Hunter for pieliedie. The strategy seemed to work exceptionally well against LGD's push-oriented lineup, with SingSing finding significant amounts of farm all around the map and pieliedie sniping LGD's courier four times. With a well-farmed Meepo and Doom Bringer in Cloud9's ranks, LGD could not do anything but forfeit the match.
The tides turned for the second match of the game, as LGD deployed a safe-lane Slark and a support Kunkka against C9's heavy teamfight selections. While C9 proved quite resilient during the earlier stages of the match, Slark got out of control pretty fast. With Eye of Skadi and Black King Bar in his inventory, C9 seemed to lack the damage to take down the sneaky fish. After several minutes of constant raiding, LGD managed to breach C9's base, earning their first victory of the series. Rabbit's Slark finished the game without a single death.
The last match saw an unconventional Witch Doctor pick-up by LGD, along with Razor, Brewmaster and Lone Druid. C9 went for three mobile cores, Doom, Weaver and Ember Spirit. From the earlier stages of the game, C9 showed the superiority of their draft, imposing their own rhythm at the lanes. While Rabbit managed to purchase a well-timed Radiance for his Spirit Bear, it seemed to have no impact against C9's elusive heroes. LGD had the timing to strike with Aegis to push the base, but did not sync up their plan too well as the push got shut down in a devastating way. Lacking the required early dominance, LGD's heroes lost their strength. As the game approached the 45th minute mark, C9 marched inside the Chinese base, and despite LGD's valiant defense, they managed to seal the deal.
Cloud9 will now face DK in the final best-of-three series of the day. The winner will enter the Upper Bracket of the Main Event, the loser will join LGD and the 2nd/3rd team of the second Phase III bracket in the Lower Main Event Bracket.
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Headline image by Kelly Kline and ESL One.
