The 4th series of the day pits LGD against OG. The loser of this series will be set to face Newbee in an attempt to stay out of the Lower Bracket of the main event – a bracket that OG does excel at dominating, as we saw at the Frankfurt Major, but not where any team wants to be.
Game 1
The early stages of the game sees OG start of strong by grabbing both early game bounty runes, one for Johan ‘NOtail’ Sundstein on the midlane Razor and one for Amer ‘Miracle-’ Barqawi’s offlane Slark. Soon after the minute mark, David ‘Moon’ Tan, on the Batrider, claims an unlikely first blood in a 1 versus 2 situation and escapes the return kill going the way of Jia ‘Sylar’ Jun Liu’s offlane Weaver. At the 5 minute mark the score stands at 3 kills to 1 in OG’s favour.
By the 10 minute point, LGD had closed the gap to 4-3 in OG’s favour, but with ultimates coming online, OG’s pick off potential quickly becomes apparent as they take out the Beast Master top and siege the tier 1 top tower although this is traded for their tier 1 bot lane. 14 minutes in and OG sneak a quick Roshan and soon after this a big team fight erupts at Dire’s tier 1 tower. OG make light work of LGD, picking off 4 and losing none. They proceed to claim control of the map, even though they have no tier 1 towers remaining. OG use this control and take another skirmish in the Radiant jungle and topple over LGD’s final tier 1 tower.
At the 20 minute mark, OG have a 12-3 kill lead and both teams return to farming their own jungle and clearing out lanes. However, LGD seem trapped without map control, unable to go out beyond the river. By 22 minutes OG’s Slark had his Skadi and OG seem ready to push down tier 2 towers – sieging bot and mid simultaneously and taking them.
Rosh number 2 brings in another team fight and LGD lose 4 once again, only grabbing a Venge as a consolation. At this point LGD have barely any map control and are 20 kills to 6 behind, before losing 2 more in their own jungle. OG now have an easy highground push mid, demolishing the tower before wiping LGD and forcing the gg before 32 minutes. The Slark ending with an 11/0/6 scoreline.
Game 2
LGD start of the game with some better drafting but at the three minute point NOtail claims first blood against the Lycan mid without any rotations from either team. Just before the 10 minute point, OG take a Rosh, supplying their Broodmother with an aegis. OG look to take control of the game by picking off Lycan but some great skill from Sylar allows him to deny himself with one of his wolves – thus causing the OG's Doom to go down.
LGD seemed to have new life after an even fight and started pulling back the experience and gold difference to a stable point. Moving towards 20 minutes, they begin to push, dropping the mid tier two on the Dire side but soon after this they lose their Lycan while trying to push the tier one bot. OG proceed push down the tier two of the Radiant side, killing four in the process and then proceed to demolish LGD’s mid rax. 25 minutes in OG push down the tier 3 bot tower, but lose three in the process. However, LGD are unable to take advantage of this as they are too far behind and the Dire side claim the third Roshan and look ready to end the game. OG push bot, destroying the rax but the Radiant team fight back to claim 3 kills and remove the aegis from the Juggernaut.
LGD finally manage to pick off Miracle’s Jugg, and push highground mid, taking the melee rax and forcing the buyback and backing out. Without any other buybacks available, OG choose to not push but rather wait for Rosh and take their fourth aegis. They smoke up, ready to fight but lose the fight. Once more, LGD are unable to make the most of this advantage, and take no objectives. LGD then manage to take a fight and now look toward ending the game. However, Juggernaut and Batrider push top and run through, pushing LGD’s final tier 4 tower, forcing LGD back to base and making their buy-backs in vain.
MMY’s Rubick manages to constantly steal Doom and this, alongside a Lotus Orb, manages to be the downfall of OG. Finally at 75 minutes, LGD pick off the Batrider and push straight down mid. They destroy the tier four towers and only just manage to take down the throne taking game 2, tying up the series at 1-1 and forcing a decisive game 3.
Game 3
Soon after the horn, Moon sticks out a bit too much on his Lone Druid, giving first blood over to the support Witch Doctor. LGD have a lot of control at the 10 minute mark; sitting 5-2 up, with the Radiant’s tier 1 tower mid in their favour. 14 minutes in and LGD pick up the first Roshan of the game, giving their Spectre the aegis. LGD push down the tier two bot lane before the 20 minute point in the game – with the score sitting at 9-7 in their favour.
23 minutes in and it looks like OG’s Slark is going to go the same way as game 1, but an amazing play from Witch Doctor - placing his death ward on the highground near the Dire’s Secret Shop, ends up assisting LGD in getting the kill. OG attempt a Roshan soon after this but Spectre manages to snatch the Aegis and LGD go on to win the ensuing teamfight.
OG go for a highground push at 35 minutes and demolish LGD’s mid rax. Suddenly OG look in control of the game. With Miracle looking unstoppable on his Slark once again. OG cut through four of LGD’s heroes, force buybacks and kill them off again. Before the 40 minute mark, OG force out the gg, taking the series 2-1 and heading into the upper bracket of the main event. LGD will now face Newbee in an attempt to claim the second upper bracket spot for Group C.
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