Newbee recently slowed the success Vici gaming was riding after finishing second in ESL One Katowice. Newbee overcame their momentum with sound decisions, and solid drafting.
Image credited to Newbee Gaming
After a great performance at ESL One Katowice, Vici Gaming were still unable to take down Chinese giant Newbee. Vici Gaming went the distance in a best of three at the GESC: E-series: Jakarta- CN qualifyer early in February, but were not able to turn the corner in Dream Leage Season 9 Regional Qualifyer.
Low-Risk, and Opportunity Capitalization
Throughout most of the match Newbee played to their vision, did not over extend and pushed when they got kills. Nothing out of the ordinary from this team. They move as a unit and work together to control portions of the map that make sense through the course of the match. Their draft was excellent and because of their lack of mistakes it forced Vici to be aggressive and play into Newbee's better put together team. Which ultimately led to Newbee's victory. It was not a stomp by any means. The start of the games Vici was laning very well. Newbee took a page out of virtus.pro's book and focused Vici's mid lane Zeng "Ori" Jiaoyang. Both games at 20 minutes were highly contested by both teams. Newbee having a small gold advantage, about a thousand in both games. That being the case Newbee was first to break high ground and take a barracks in both games. This was due to having the right lineup to take team fights, so that they could comfortably take Roshan and defend their side of the map methodically.
Defense Wins Games, Drafting Wins Championships
Game One Draft Recap
Tusk was the first pick by Vici Gaming, followed by a Bane, Gyro from Newbee. Which led into the Razor pick up for Vici Gaming. Gyro is a great pick against Tusk, with a bkb tusk almost becomes a liability rolling into Gyro. Bane is a strong support in the meta and it's safe to assume the Razor pick up, enfeeble and sleep work great on Razor. Also the synergy with Bane and Gyro should not be overlooked as well.
This leads to an excellent set of bans from Newbee, they know they still have to pick a hero for Yang "eLeVeN" Wei Ren and they take out two they really dont want to see in Tide and Batrider. I feel like that pigeon holed them into a Tiny pick or EarthShaker, because we have seen him or Zhi "LaNm" Cheng Zhang run tusk in the past. Needing a reliable stun they pick Tiny. Especially with SK and BM out of the pool. Now Vici gaming is high magic dmg, brawler kind of lineup. Newbee go for Pugna, this makes things very awkward for Razor and the gang.
Relying heavily on magic damage and needing some sort of push to counter this Pugna Vici picks the PL, which is immedialy responded to with an Eathshaker pick up from Newbee. I do not think PL was a good choice befor the ES pick, firstly ES is in the pool and fits in the opposing lineup and PL does not synergize well with your lineup.
Game One Draft Analysis
Vici Gaming did not pick a hero to deal with Gyro
Vici Gaming without Tiny in a team fight it is hard to see them winning they did not give themselves dynamic ways to win
Newbee eliminated key heros crucial in Vici Gaming's recent success
Newbee picked the right mid laner
Game Two Draft Recap
Some of the usual phase one bans come out. Omni, Razor and Bane from Newbee. Tusk, Naga and Tiny from Vici Gaming. First pick to Newbee is brilliant. Elder Titan, leaving Gyro in the pool. Of course Vici gaming picks Gyro. Elder Titan is one of the strongest counters to Gyro. They also pick up SK, who is strong in the meta, but not so great against ET. Rubick is picked up by Newbee which reveals nothing and he is happy to steal most any spell. Offensive capabilities abound for Newbee.
DP and KotL banned by Newbee two heroes that give ET and Rubick fits really disjoint any team fight they try to set up. DK and Tide banned by Vici. Tide I understand, you don't want his body in there the ravage counter initaitions with the earthspliter would be bad, but I don't understand the DK ban as much. I think that what they have thus far gets the better of DK, with the aoe magic the stuns. I also dont see it synergizing well with the ET and Rubick. I think they should have picked up DK, but they dont have a player to play it if it's planned that Ori is on the gyro.
Disruptor is picked and followed by a Naix pick. Disruptor is okay, but enraged Naix still runs through a static field. And Newbee goes with the good old reliable combo with Nyx. Vici picks up pugna which does not answer what Newbee are doing, but it does force the issue.
A TA ban into an Chun "Sccc" Song invoker, followed by Zhang "Paparazi" Chengjun Jugg two signature heros. Both great final picks.
Game Two Draft Analysis
Newbee answered Gyro in a big way
Newbee scale way better into the late game
Vici Gaming picked a nice push oriented lineup
Vici Gaming tried to answer Lifesteal with Jugg and Pugna, but Invoker was picked and he slows that chase too much.
