The TI11 champions Tundra Esports suffered defeat at the hands of Team Liquid in the lower bracket of the ESL One Berlin Major.
When you win The International comfortably, it automatically puts a bullseye on your back. There is also the pressure of performing to the same level in the tournaments that follow. Tundra Esports destroyed the competition at TI11 in Singapore, but since then, have had a slight decline.
Having been dropped down to the lower bracket of the ESL One Berlin Major by 9 Pandas, Tundra Esports faced their Western European rivals Team Liquid in an elimination game to stake a claim in the top 4 of the Major. But Team Liquid, who went down to OG in the upper bracket, were more than prepared to take on the Aegis holders.
The first game took nearly 49 minutes to end, but it was a very one sided game with a kill score of 32-6. Tundra’s Naga Siren was able to keep some semblance of hope alive, but wasn’t enough to get them the win. The second game, weirdly enough, also had a lopsided kill score of 39-10, but this time, Liquid managed to finish it in 38 minutes.
Tundra will have to go back to the drawing board to figure out how they can get back to their best. It is a new meta that is developing around Dota 2 patch 7.33, and the TI11 champions will need some fresh ideas to rise back to the top.
As for Team Liquid, they are guaranteed a top 4 position in their backyard Major. They will face the winners of the game between OG and Evil Geniuses in the lower bracket semifinal.
