| Groupstage I, Round 1 Battle Report | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Group A:  Replays | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | G | W | D | L | Pts | |||||||||||||||||||
 paiN | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
 BP | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
 VT | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
 ROCCAT.Tr | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
The first report has to start with a sad message. As we got word from team Trust and the ROCCAT management, our Thai and only Asian representative has to withdraw from the tournament, due to personal and organisational reasons. This gives their three group contenders one walkover win and three points each. No luck for them this time, though there will be plenty of options to compete again in a GosuGamers event.  Group A's other match between LOST.eu/BP and VT however, was fiercly contested and compensated well enough for the unfortunate circumstances. Despite attending both games with a crippled roster (only the two regulars Ducky and 13abyKnight played; neNo at this point still unconfirmed), the Europeans managed to take the first game after 64 minutes. Both teams distributed the kills onto their carries, resulting in a powerful Shadow Fiend by 13abyKnight on Sentinel and an overly farmed Sniper by PowerNet on Scourge. It was a game of clashes; neither LOST/BP nor VT made the mistake, of losing single heroes one by one. After several unsuccessful push attempts by the Americans, Ducky and co took their chance in the end and sealed the game in their favour. As for game two, it was PowerNets turn on the SF this time. Supported by mikeyjaiwhite on a Vengeful Spirit at Mid lane, the contrary Potm by 13abyKnight was in constant need of neNo's (ES) defensive Fissures. Hard times had yet again the side solo players, being on the one Hand Ducky's Clockwerk Goblin and Hai Lua's Dark Seer. Both suffered from constant harrassment and got picked off several times. Throughout the game, VT entered the important clashes better and took a game, slightly shorter than the first, but with recognisable resistance from an incomplete LOST.eu/BP stack. Coming up in round two, is the battle for the crown of America between VT and paiN, while BP can take the weekend off. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Group B: Replays | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | G | W | D | L | Pts | |||||||||||||||||||
 MYM | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
 Na`Vi | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
 Virus | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
 inF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
With the two best European teams MYM and Na´Vi, the roles in group B seem to be clearly distributed. Both teams played their first match delayed, yet didnt fail to impress. The match of the Danish DotA institution against inF featured a decisive first game, which laid the base for a lastly comfortable victory. The Poles fought well early on however, obtaining Necro'lic, one of their key heroes, on Aventer. Him sharing the tri lane with Morphling and VS on Top, left Maelks Clockwerk spamming Rockets for gold, while inF's side solo Prophet on Bottom emigrated to the native jungle and left Miserys Gorgon unchallenged. While the laning phase didnt go too bad for inF, KingA aka Playmate turned the action regulator up later on and plowed through the opposing defence, alongside the farmed Medusa. In game two, the Poles from inF were constantly on the backfur. MYM turned the show into a rather onesided affair, with MiSeRy as Shadow Fiend in the leading role. The opponents were left with no room to manouver and became victims of a team, presenting itself as strongest in the western world as of the moment. From the other match up between the not lesser successful Na`Vi and Virus, we were left with just one replay due to a reload of the first game. The Frenchmen made their homework and banned the key heroes Weaver and Enchantress right in phase one. Na`Vi seemingly unimpressed, went for a ganking heavy Dazzle-Gondar draft alongside Dendi, who dabbled in the art of invoking on mid lane. While the Scourge's trilane did a good job, pushing down to the base, Na´Vi's superior team play won the essential fights and sealed the game. While Virus will battle inF for a small chance of advancement, the culminating showdown for the group between MYM and Na`Vi commences next round as well. Both teams confirmed Sunday 16:00 CET as match time. A must see game, which you can bet on here! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Group C: Replays | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | G | W | D | L | Pts | |||||||||||||||||||
 DTS | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
 GoD | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| TR | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
 NE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Also called group of death, the arguably toughest group had two interesting match ups to offer. While DTS are constantly working their way back to the top, TR and GoD fought an even battle and leave themselves undefeated. The uprising Danes, who got the best of their bigger brother shift in Qualifier 3, had to play their first match against the Russian stars around prime supporter NS; game number one didnt work out too well for them however. Link on a slitting Bloodseeker, was not able to to pull the chestnuts out of the fire for his team, due to superior team play by their opponents. Lights Puck in this game was yet again a sight for sore eyes. The second encounter did not turn out a lot better. While NE's Night Stalker grabbed a lot of early kills due to nice roam play by Lich and WD, a fast Linken Sphere on DTS' Storm Spirit gave the momentun back to the Russians, who took the victory in a time below 27 minutes.  The second match between TR and GoD had to be replayed due to a reportedly ddos attack onto the Dutchmen. Game one of the series was stamped by PGG on a solo mid Earthshaker. The experience and gold he accumulated there, enabled him to go Arcane Boots straight, without the need of smaller items along the likes of Magic Stick and Soul Ring. GoD seemingly suffered from the countless ranged stuns, although their performance managed to whet one or anothers appetite. A strong Necrolyte backed the TR pushes in the end, yet the Dutchmen were set to claim revenge. And revenge was what they achieved in game two. Again pgg on Earthaker, again solo mid, but Bamboes Batrider took the show away, winning the lane easily, whilst roaming the map and massively contributing to global domination. Not a lot worked out for the Russians this time, dropping the game below 30 minutes and sharing points with GoD, who have good chances of advancing into Groupstage II. The next round features TR and DTS in a Russian duel. As for NE, its all or nothing already, in their second series against GoD. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Group D: Replays | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | G | W | D | L | Pts | |||||||||||||||||||
 FEARZ | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
 EnDs | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| GGnet | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
 Kw.rs | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||
Doubtlessly the most tumultuous group among all after Round 1, including this time: Admin interventions and the most nerve-racking game thus far! What was supposed to be an entry win for Team GosuGamers, turned out as the most thrilling game of the tournament. After merciless play from the Greek contestand EnDs early on and a disconnect from Azen coming along on top, the party for our very own Inhouse team seemed to be sorely spoiled. Both tri lanes fulfilled their duties, though the draft from EnDs did a slightly better job, laying the base for a successful mid game. The "Good Game" call was near, when Puppey and co started a comeback of epic dimensions. Despite an unjustified enrichment off the dc'd Azen, which lastly cost them the game in an armchair decision, GGnet turned the tides with amazing team coordination and Morphling play by KuroKy. In the end, it was the Ancient tree, which fell first, concluding a game, GGnet can be proud and gained self confidence of. As for the encounter several days later, GGnet convincingly managed to turn the obtained self confidence into kills. Earthshaker and Sand King by EnDs didnt work out as counter picks to Puppeys Broodmother, while Azen on his new key hero Demon Witch pulled out all the stops, in a rather onesided affair. Kw versus Fearz marked the last game and another boiling point of the GosuCup Groupstages thus far. Both teams agreed to a rematch after the unjustified use of two external players on the side of the Serbians, who won the first encounter afterwards. In the following series with clean rosters, FEARZ showed their true potential and took two rather easy victories. Buktop playing his affiliated Invoker both times, was not able to turn the games this time, yet their next encounter against the strong Greeks from EnDs may open the doors for sunnier times again. Apart from the small duel between the places three and four, Team GG will face FEARZ in the next round, in a decisve match for the Group outcome! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
So far, so good for the first round, but with Na´Vi vs MYM, DTS vs TR and GGnet vs FEARZ, the best matches of the Groupstage are still in front of us. Positively surprised in the first round have VT, GoD, alongside the expected strong perfomances from MYM and Na`Vi and DTS, who can be underlined as the tournament favourits. Follow our coverage for Interviews, replays, streams and summaries from the GosuGamers ROCCAT battlefield and dont forget to check the VoD page.
Links
GosuGamers.net - Replays - Groupstage I
GosuGamers.net - VoD's - ROCCAT DotA GosuCup #3
