DC answered the analyst's skepticism with a resounding victory over EHOME. The dominant performance netted the NA squad a 2-0 sweep and a guranteed top four finish. Collectively DC played impeccable DOTA and are no longer worthy of the underdog title. We see you DC.
Game One:
EHOME picked up an early Kunkka-Shadow Demon roaming support duo to create space for their heavy split pushing Anti-Mage. Digital Chaos picked a heavy team fighting lineup including an Elder Titan, Naga Siren support pair to go along with a Vengeful Spirit carry.
Digital Chaos sported an aggressive tri-lane to restrict Daryl Koh 'iceiceice’ Pei Xiang’s farm on Anti-Mage. Both teams found kills throughout the laning phase with their roaming supports, but the Digital Chaos net worth was in considerably better shape. DC continued bullying Anti-Mage, grabbing Roshan at 17 minutes after finding another kill on the battered carry. The death ball rolled through multiple EHOME towers as the NA squad took a stranglehold on the game. After conquering all exterior towers, David ‘Moo’ Hull styled all over the EHOME lineup with Timbersaw, opening the gates of the Chinese high ground. DC’s aggression bought them multiple kills leading to a top lane melee barracks.
DC reclaimed their second aegis of the game, uncontested at 28 minutes. They began a methodical high ground push in the bottom lane until finally EHOME broke. The overextension by Sand King caused EHOME to scramble to his aid, further complicating the issue. A game winning Echo Stomp, Earth Splitter combo by Rasmus ‘MiSeRy-‘ Filipsen wiped the floor of EHOME who called ‘GG’ moments later, concluding the most dominant game DC has displayed at The International.
Game Two:
EHOME remained confident in their Shadow Demon-Kunkka support duo, first picking the pair yet again. DC drafted a Timbersaw for Moo once again and a commonly picked Mirana for Aliwi ‘w33’ Omar.
A lot of early game hate was unleashed upon the Timbersaw, seemingly in response to his performance in the previous game. Despite the hate, all three DC cores managed to maintain their farm, and find kills of their own. No clear cut advantage was apparent before the transition towards the mid-game.
EHOME took advantage of their Nyx bomb with Lifestealer infested in the stealthy hero. The combo found a kill on Mirana underneath their own tier one tower, but DC responded in kind taking multiple team fights, kiting EHOME fight after fight. One of these fights triggered a DC high ground push at 28 minutes destroying a middle lane melee barracks. Both teams flirted with each other at the Roshan pit, trading a whiffed Chronosphere for useless Black King Bar toggles. Realizing they could not challenge DC to a team fight, EHOME conceded the aegis at 34 minutes.
DC proceeded to push the bottom lane high ground. Roman ‘Resolut1on’ Fominok connected with a clutch three man Chronosphere with Mirana and Timbersaw following up with a heavy dose of magic and pure damage burst. Kunkka and Death Prophet dropped immediately forcing Zhiyong ‘oldchicken’ Wang to buy back. With three permanently dead on EHOME, DC regrouped and jumped on the Death Prophet once again sending the remnant back to the grave ending the game just before 38 minutes.
The 2-0 sweep of EHOME secures a top four finish for the NA Cinderella squad. The stand out MVP in this series must be Moo with dominant performances on both his Timbersaw games. Collectively DC played impeccable DOTA and are longer worthy of the underdog title. We see you DC. EHOME's impressive run ended, but the Chinese team can take solace in the fact that they went from wildcards to top six.
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