GAMERS GALAXY: Invitational Series Dubai 2022 playoffs set, three teams already out

Groups and play-in stages are already done and dusted in Dubai, where nine teams fought on the first two days of the GAMERS GALAXY: Invitational Series Dubai 2022 for a spot in the playoffs.

Unfortunately, for three of the competitors, their tournament run came to an end early. It was just one squad that got eliminated in the group stage, and although the first day looked extremely grim for TSM FTX, who made their LAN debut with a 0-3 score, they were, in the end, the ones to knock out the first team from the event.

With the group stage battle being a best-of-one brawl, there was no room for error, but after closing day one with three losses and no victory, TSM FTX landed the most important win against Fnatic on day two and forced them to a tiebreaker with elimination on the line.

It was Enzo "Timado" Gianoli O'Connor’s signature Morphling, along with a perfect Death Prophet counter pick to Fnatic’s Bane that kept TSM FTX alive and sent the SEA representatives packing in the ninth place.

However, the play-in stage wasn’t any easier. TI10 champions Team Spirit landed in the play-ins after placing third in their group, Team Secret and Nigma Galaxy SEA were already waiting to fight for their tournament lives in the single-elimination bracket.

TSM FTX’s momentum after two consecutive crucial victories was stopped by Team Secret, who managed to secure a couple of signature heroes after being pushed to a decisive game three.  Clement "Puppey" Ivanov’s Chen and Daryl Koh "iceiceice" Pei Xiang’s Timbersaw made it impossible for TSM to drag the game to a late game scenario where their Terrorblade would have been in complete control.

Along with TSM, Nigma Galaxy SEA, who had to play the event with Aliwi "w33" Omar standing in, also dropped out in the play-ins after a quick 0-2 loss to Team Spirit.

Both victors of the play-in stage, Team Secret and Team Spirit will continue their Dubai adventure, but from the playoff lower bracket rounds.

BOOM Esports prove themselves on LAN

While some scrambled to make it further into the tournament, one team was completely dominant. BOOM Esports, SEA champions of DPC regional league and Regional Finals, proved that they are a force against international teams as well. They finished the group stage undefeated, taking games from Team Secret, OG and Nigma Galaxy SEA. They are the top seed of Group B and will start the playoffs pitted against Tundra Esports, who finished second in Group A.

First place in Group A was claimed by Nigma Galaxy, who ended the group run 3-1, their only loss coming at the hands of Team Spirit, while the three victories were landed against Fnatic, TSM.FTX and Tundra Esports.

GAMERS GALAXY: Invitational Series Dubai 2022 playoffs Day 1:

The playoffs are set to begin Friday, March 4th at 11:00 CET with the upper bracket semifinals Nigma GalaxyvsOG followed by the second semifinals, BOOM EsportsvsTundra Esports. Day one will close with the first playoff elimination series, Team Spirit, versus the loser of OG vs Nigma Galaxy.

^{headline image courtesy of Gamers Galaxy}