The Razer Global Challenge has finally come to an end after two months of group stages and one month since the playoffs first began. GosuGamers is proud to bring you our final round of predictions for the final weekend of this epic online tournament brought to you by DotA-League and Razer. The 3rd place match takes place at 15:00CET and the grand finals at 18:00CET.
Last week:
NWO > yB (3-0)
Nv.cn > MYM (3-2)
What a week. While the series between NWO and youBoat was a quiet three game affair, the MYM vs Nv.cn series that followed was a precedent-setting five-and-a-half game epic -- a Homeric series that produced some truly great games for those who watched the replays, and a sordid and urgent topic of discussion for the opinionated readers of GG.net.
While surely no fan of DotA could be pleased with the intrigue that plagued the MYM/Nv.cn series, the two teams in the middle of it all should be commended for their professionalism and the exceptionally high level of DotA they put out on display in spite of everything. GosuGamers would like also to commend DotA-League for their handling of such a tough situation and the expert work they’ve done to provide the community with some truly great games on as level a playing field as we’ve ever had for an online competition.
Congratulations to NWO and Nv.cn for making it to the finals (these teams really did beat, convincingly, some of the best teams in the world to get to where they are now); to youBoat and MYM for getting as far as they have and showing that they’re at least better than the rest of the also-rans – better luck next time boys.
This Week:
MYM vs 
youBoat – 3rd place match – 15:00CETOf course it’s not a nice thing to have to play the bronze medal game of a tournament: their minds heavy with the memory of recently-dashed hopes, and roiling in self-pity, the unenviable players must pull themselves together for as long as it takes to live out the charade that is the bronze medal match – a pageant for the not-good-enough also-rans, where their bitter rivals can look on, with smug delight warming the cockles of their hearts, and jovially they toss cheap sentiments at the once-mighty, now-lowly spirits they no longer acknowledge as equals. Show not these players the hundreds they stand to win (or already have won) for their competitive spirit allows them no succor in mere money.
*ahem*
The loveable Danish team (feat. MiSeRy) MYM put on some fearsome displays to get as far as they have. Undoubtedly they expected to reach the finals of the tournament (secretly, we were hoping for that to happen as well) but a shot at third place will have to do for the legendary team. If not that, they can at least take comfort in the Nirvana.my scalps, still warm and flopping around in a crimson mess in their saddlebags. Mushi, Yamateh, Xtinct, Net, Ice. Surely there have been worse disappointments for Meet Your Makers. They’ll get over it.
YouBoat were the little team that almost could from Sweden, and many a tear were shed by some of us here at GosuGamers (okay, one admin in particular) when the darkhorse team was unceremoniously dumped out of the tournament by the five-man undertaking squad that is New World Order. The team must be proud to have made it as far as they have. Certainly we’re proud of them as well, and we look forward to tracking their performances in tournaments to come.
Prediction:
MYM should take this set without too much difficulty. YouBoat may take one game if MYM do not take the series as seriously as they should.
MYM > youBoat (2-1)
NWO vs 
Nirvana.cn – 1st/2nd place match – 18:00CETNew World Order:
Universal Soldier 2-0; EARTH 2-0; LGD 2-0; yB 3-0
These guys, have they even lost a single game in the entire tournament yet? What a month for the European superstars. While we were dedicating at least 4 lines of column space every week to how we had doubts about them (a whole mess of “but”s and “not sure”s) they were busy doing their best A-team impressions and dispatching challengers like Batman villains-of-the-week – Nice try ZSMJoker, but it’s back to Arkham Asylum for you!
We’re sorry guys, just let us back into Azen’s Facebook fanclub and we’ll never doubt you again.
Let’s look at our European idols:
Puppey – Iconoclastic DotA genius of Ks.Int and current leader of NWO. Famous for his roaming Earthshaker, but plays any hero with aplomb. He never quite gets the attention he deserves for his performances, but at least he’s surely, by now, cemented his status as a fearsome captain and inimitable drafter.
Azen – A long-time star of pro pick-up leagues, now one of the most stable carries in Europe. Plays any carry or semi-carry role to near-perfection, and also famous for his handling of powerful laning heroes such as Bane Elemental. In light of his Wind Runner against LGD, those who like to make fun of his jungle Morphling from ESWC need to ask themselves if they feel lucky – punks.
Piecatt – Pro pick-up league star and known for high-level performances in teams such as Blight Sweden. Piecat/Pajkatt plays any carry, semi-carry, even ganking hero to the highest standard and is famous for his Kunkka and Battlefury Wind Runner. When he isn’t handling NWO’s solo lane, he can be seen handling one of the more unorthodox heroes for the team.
Miracle – One of the most talented supporters in Europe, and in our opinion, the most versatile. Miracle made his name in Ks.Int and was famous for his flawless Lion. Though Miracle handles the warding support heroes in NWO, his highly-developed ganker’s sense allows his team to be the exceptionally versatile team they are.
Kuroky – The crown jewel to NWO’s roster of superstar DotA players; likely the most famous DotA player in Europe (after he who shall not be named) and with extremely good reason. The German prodigy made a name for himself as a dominant carry player for World Eaters and Ks.Int. He went on to become one of the most distinct, confidenct, and versatile players in European DotA – and always good for a surprise or two.
Nirvana.cn:
Global Challengers 2-1; LOST.eu 2-1; DTS 2-1; MYM 3-2
If anything has been shown in this RGC tournament it’s that this Nirvana.cn team are nothing if not Euro-killers. These are the boys the Chinese government will want to see face every single European team attending WDC – analyze their DNA to see what makes them so apt at taking down the foreign elite. To the dedicated “Asia > EU” warriors of GG.net these guys have not been so much a five-man squad of Chinese stars, but rather a glorious five-pack of Viagra pills with mice and keyboards.
Vigoss: Who? Artstyle: Ping for fans/haters. Maelk: See you at WDC ... oh wait.
Let’s take a look at these neodymium-hogging superstars from the mysterious Orient:
Zhou – Likely the most talented carry player in China and former member of the now-defunct cD (runners-up at SMM 09). Famous for his Morphling and Visage, and should be famous nowadays for his Pugna and Doom, the Nv.cn drafter is one of the most stable players we’ve ever seen; put this man on any team in the world and he will be the first-choice carry. World-class in the truest sense.
Insence – Primary support player for Nirvana and former captain of cD. Insence will most often be seen with the more aggressive/roaming support hero, such as Vengeful Spirit or Lion, but also plays the warding support when teammate Dgc handles his Engima. Insence belongs to the top tier of Chinese supports, a class of players that every supporter in the world looks to for guidance.
Banana – The most versatile player on Nv.cn. Banana is often stuck with handling the hero no one feels comfortable playing, a rather thankless job that often takes players outside their comfort zone. The lesser-known player handles the team’s ganking heroes very effectively, though he has never quite garnered the type of recognition his more illustrious team members have.
YaphetS – Nirvana’s impossibly slick solo-mid player, a name almost synonymous with Shadowfiend. PIS was taken in with Dgc from the old CH team to become their primary solo player. The former pub-league star’s laning prowess is out of this world thanks to his combination of incredibly powerful micro and light-speed reflexes. Give this DotA prodigy any of his favourite semi-carries (Storm, Lion, SF) or virtually any micro-intensive hero and he’ll put on a show.
Dgc – Often known as the best Enigma and Crystal Maiden in China. Dgc was plucked from CH and now handles the purest support heroes for Nv.cn; he’ll be seen in every trilane Nirvana runs, babysitting either Zhou or YaphetS. Possibly the most highly-rated support player in China.
Prediction:
We’re really not sure which direction to lean in this match-up. Questions arise, such as: Are NWO better than DTS, MYM, and LOST.eu? Is Nv.cn that much stronger than LGD that they can defeat a team that swept their illustrious compatriots? Quite honestly we don’t know the answer to these questions. Let’s say it’s likely the final result will be close either way; though if we had to choose, we tend to favour Nv.cn in this match-up. We will once again repeat the familiar refrain of “NWO still have much to prove.”
Nv.cn > NWO (3-2)
Links
DotA-League - Your source for news and match times for RGC
GosuBet - Our own match-ticker and betting system
