Four teams remain in the Americas regional qualifier for the Shanghai Major. Digital Chaos and Archon, on equal standing after the group stages, will begin the day’s play with a tiebreaker.
Ten teams began in the Americas regional qualifier. After some mixed results, close games, throws, and rage-quits, only four teams remain: Team Archon, Digital Chaos, compLexity, and Shazam. With the playoffs set to begin later today, it is very much uncertain as to who will claim the two slots at the Shanghai Major. The first match of the day will see Digital Chaos and Team Archon face off to break their tied score from Group A of the qualifier. The winner will face Shazam, with the loser having to take on compLexity. With a trip to Shanghai on the line, all of the teams will certainly put in their best performances to give themselves the greatest shot at playing in China.
Throughout the two intense days of play in the group stages of the Americas regional qualifier, it was evident that the majority of the teams were in with a chance of making it to Shanghai. No team went undefeated throughout the qualifier, with only compLexity managing to win 3 of their 4 matches. While the best-of-two format can be prone to draws, this was not as evident in the Americas qualifiers, with only 4 draws throughout the two days of play.
When the group stages were completed, compLexity stood atop Group B, followed closely by Braxton ‘Brax’ Paulson’s Shazam. Group A was a tied affair, with both Team Archon and Digital Chaos ending play on 6 points, coming from 2 wins and 2 draws.
As a result, the playoffs will begin with a tiebreaker between Team Archon and Digital Chaos. The tiebreaker will be a best-of-1, so there will be no time for either team to suss out their opponent. When they played against each other in the group stages, the match ended as a 1-1 draw. Viewers can expect another hard-fought game between these two prominent teams in the current American Dota scene.
Once the tiebreaker is completed, the playoff rounds will begin in earnest. The winner of the playoff will take on Shazam. The loser will have to face the more dominant compLexity. Four teams remain. There are only two spots in Shanghai on offer. Who will claim them by right of conquest? Tune in to the coverage of the Americas regional qualifier to find out!
Headline image from dotablast.
