The International 2016 - Group Stages Day 3 - Recap and Highlights

Team Secret

Day 3 was do or die for Team Secret. If Arteezy was ever going to win a Valve LAN event, the team had to find some semblance of a recovery today. However, their day started on a low note with a 0-2 crushing defeat at the hands of Newbee. This cemented Team Secret’s spot in the lower bracket of the main event however they found a fresh breath of life after moving on to take a 2-0 victory over Team Liquid. Their 0-8 losing streak has finally come to an end! Only time will tell if this is enough to pull them out of the treacherous Best of One match versus LGD at the main event.

Secret VS Newbee : 0-2

Secret VS Team Liquid : 2-0

MVP Phoenix

Another day, another draw for the South Koreans was enough to secure their slot at the upper bracket of the main event. They started the day with a 1-1 tie versus South East Asian Dota 2 counterparts – Fnatic and then proceeded to level a series with Newbee. MVP Phoenix will take comfort and pride in the fact that they are the only SEA team to start from the upper bracket however they cannot allow complacency to set in. They will face OG in their opening match of the main event albeit in a best of three format.

MVP VS Fnatic : 1-1

MVP VS Newbee : 1-1

Vici Gaming Reborn

There was no joy to be found for the Chinese squad on Day 3. After a crushing 0-2 defeat at the hands of table-toppers Ehome, Vici Gaming Reborn proceeded to get dismantled by Fnatic in another 0-2. None of these games touched the 40-minute mark and as VGR begins their campaign in the main event from the lower bracket, they will have to use the following two days to regain their morale. Their opponents will be TNC in a best of one knockout match.

VGR VS Ehome : 0-2

VGR VS Fnatic : 0-2

Digital Chaos

Digital Chaos have emerged immensely victorious from the Group Stages. They took down Team Liquid 2-0 in their opening game of day 3 and dropped only one game to Ehome in their final series leveling the score at 1-1. DC have taken the second spot in group B and have cruised through to the upper bracket of the main event where they will face the ever unpredictable Wings Gaming in their opening best of three.

DC VS Team Liquid : 2-0

DC VS Ehome : 1-1

Team Liquid

Mediocrity has plagued Team Liquid all through the group stages and in what comes as a surprise to Dota fans across the globe, the squad will start the main event in the lower bracket. Team Liquid did not win a single game on day 3 as they dropped 0-2 losses to both Digital Chaos and Team Secret. Their first game of the main event is a best of one versus Navi and as upsetting as it is, one of these two teams will receive an early exit from the largest eSports tournament in history.

Liquid VS Digital Chaos : 0-2

Liquid VS Secret : 0-2

Newbee

Newbee’s performance today has guaranteed their slot in the upper bracket. They started the day with an almost NSFW demolition of Team Secret and then proceeded to draw their next one versus MVP Phoenix. Newbee looks like they’ve finally found their momentum. Let’s hope the next two rest days will allow them to retain it. They’re opening game will be a best of three match versus reigning champions – Evil Geniuses.

Newbee VS Secret : 2-0

Newbee VS MVP Phoenix : 1-1

Ehome

The dream run continues for the one and only as Ehome dropped only a single game today versus Digital Chaos. A magnanimous victory versus VGR transitioned into a well-fought draw with Digital Chaos, allowing Ehome to retain the top spot in Group B. They’ve chosen The Alliance as their opponents in the opening best of three for the main event of The International 2016.

Ehome VS VGR : 2-0

Ehome VS Digital Chaos : 1-1

Fnatic

Fnatic have begun to recover from their initial slump. Not enough to secure a slot in the upper bracket but it has been a recovery nonetheless. They’ve ended the group stage at a tame 5 to 9 after a 1-1 draw versus MVP Phoenix and a 2-0 victory versus Vici Gaming Reborn today. They’ll start their journey in the lower bracket in a best of one game versus Escape Gaming.

Fnatic VS MVP Phoenix : 1-1

Fnatic VS VGR : 2-0

Who will come out victorious?

The stage is set for the ultimate Dota 2 showdown of the year. With close to USD 20 million on the line, teams are battling it out for the lion’s share of the prize pool and a place in eSports history. The underdogs Ehome and Digital Chaos have really showed up in the group stages but can they hold their own against the mashup of veterans fighting their way through the lower bracket? Find out as the games go live on the 8th of August!