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Dota 28 years agoAndreea "divushka" Esanu

Manila Major: Group Stage day two schedule

With the dust slowly settling over the first group stage day in Manila, it’s time to take a look at what’s next for the two remaining groups.

The truth is that day one already delivered insanely good matches, unexpected results and big hopes for teams going into the event from an underdog position. With the Shanghai Major Champions Team Secret failing to deliver in day one and the debutant at the Majors, NA’VI and Digital Chaos securing top two placements in their group, a few questions are starting to grow in everyone’s minds. Can the revamped roster of Evil Geniuses shine at this Major? Will MVP Phoenix place Korean Dota at the highest level once and for all? Will Alliance mimic their long term rivals NA’VI's performance in the group stage?

As previous Majors proved, the group stage will not bring definitive answers but can provide a very good understanding on where teams are with their mostly renewed rosters, in terms of cohesion, metagame versatility and overall mentality. Although nobody gets eliminated in the group stage, securing a top two finish is crucial as the first lower bracket round from the main event will be a frightening best of one and we all remember what happened with Fnatic in Frankfurt.

Speaking of Fnatic, they will start their Manila Major journey in Group C next to Team Liquid, Alliance and their first direct adversaries of the day, Vici Gaming Reborn.

Evil Geniuses, The International 5 Champions, were drawn in what can be regarded in theory as the easiest group, but it will be extremely interesting to follow their progress as both MVP Phoenix and LGD can potentially jeopardise an upper bracket spot for the boys in blue. Much like Team Secret, EG failed to deliver after the Spring Shuffle at both WePlay Dota 2 League and EPICENTER LAN events. Nevertheless, they are the TI 5 Champions and unless Valve’s decide to change the direct invite policy for the defending Champions at the most important tournament of the year, EG should not be in any danger regardless of their results at this last Major.

Group Stage day two schedule:

04:00 CEST: Team Liquid vs Alliance
04:00 CEST: VG.R vs Fnatic
04:00 CEST: Evil Geniuses vs Mineski
04:00 CEST: MVP Phoenix vs LGD Gaming

07:00 CEST: Group A winners match
07:00 CEST: Group B winners match

10:00 CEST: Group A elimination match
10:00 CEST:  Group B elimination match

13:00 CEST: Group A decider match
13:00 CEST: Group B decider match

headline image source: PGL

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Andreea "divushka" EsanuI can resist anything but temptations... Follow me @DivDota

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