Gaimin Gladiators and Team Liquid roll back the tape to secure top 3 at Riyadh Masters 2024

The two teams that dominated the 2022-2023 Dota 2 season are back in business as they will take each other on in the upper bracket final of the Riyadh Masters.

^{Image: EWC}

In the last Dota 2 season, every major tournament up to the Riyadh Masters was won by Gaimin Gladiators, and their adversaries in the grand final for the majority of the tournaments were Team Liquid. However, these two teams have not had the best of years when it comes to the 2023-2024 Dota 2 season. A lot was expected, but with the rise of Team Falcons, the two dominant teams of the past took a back seat.

However, Gaimin Gladiators and Team Liquid have rolled back the tape to bring us a taste from last season as the two Western European teams found their form in the Riyadh Masters 2024. Both teams have secured top 3 at the tournament and will face each other on the 20^th of July for a chance to be the first team in the grand final. The road there, however, was tricky and both teams had to overcome some tough opponents to get to this place.
 

Team FalconsvsGaimin Gladiators

Gaimin Gladiators’ tournament got off to a rough start with a 0-2 loss against HEROIC in the group stage, but it has only been uphill from there. They beat Team Falcons 2-0 in the group stage, defeated Entity in the first upper bracket round of the playoffs and then sent Team Falcons packing to the lower bracket with a 2-1 win over the team of the season till now. This is no small feat as Falcons have won all premier LAN events that they have attended this year. To falter at one of the biggest ones would be taking a page from Gaimin Gladiators’ book from last season. GG look like the formidable team they did in 2023.

Team LiquidvsTundra Esports

Team Liquid have had a less than average season based on the lofty standards they have set themselves. But they have a chance to put all that behind them. After an impressive 2-0 win in the first round of the upper bracket playoffs against reigning champions Team Spirit, they took down Tundra Esports 2-1 in the upper bracket semifinal. Tundra were looking like and unstoppable team, but Team Liquid’s experience came in handy at the crucial moments.
 

The two behemoths of Western Europe find themselves pitted against each other once again. While GG got the better of Liquid last year, in their meetings this year, Liquid have won 7 of the 10 games, which will probably help with their confidence going into the upper bracket final. Whoever ends up winning, we are bound to have a WEU team in the grand final at the Riyadh Masters 2024, which isn’t something that has happened a lot this season.

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