Many teams like Fnatic and Newbee leave DOTA 2 The International 8
Today was the first day of DOTA 2 The International 8 (TI8) main event, with many teams eliminated like Fnatic, TNC Predator, Newbee and more.
Best-of-ones are notorious for bringing some of the most heartwrenching defeats and victories at the International and this year was no exception. Just missing the cut for an upper bracket spot in Group A, hopes were high for fan favorites like Jacky ‘EternalEnvy’ Mao and Saahil ‘Universe’ Arora to take the best-of-one match against Team Serenity. Unfortunately, a number of continual mistakes, as well as a less than stellar laning phase led to the downfall of the storied organization and Fnatic were eliminated. Team Serenity move on to face OpTic Gaming in the second round of the lower bracket.
Alongisde Fnatic, Filipino squad TNC Predator fell to their SEA brethren Mineski. During the contest, TNC seemed to be in firm control most of the time, although Mineski continued to weather the storm, and another fight shortly after gave Mineski the comeback victory. Now Mineski move on to face Virtus.Pro tomorrow.
Unfortunately, veteran squad Newbee was third to fall, unable to repeat their performance from last year’s TI where they finished second. In comparison, their adversaries, the nascent Winstrike squad were the clear underdogs having only been formed in June just two months prior to TI8. The best-of-ones, however, are unforgiving and despite being one of the closest contests on the first day of the main event, Newbee eventually were defeated.
The last best-of-one match saw a Chinese teamkill, as Vici Gaming took out Vici Gaming Thunder. Like Newbee, VG had a relatively successful season going into TI8, finishing sixth overall in the DPC rankings, including a second place finish at ESL One Katowice 2018. Both teams drafted relatively well with great control and potential for teamfighting. But as the game went on and VGJ.Thunder began to lose more ground, however, that sealed VGJ.Thunder’s fate.
For remember, we are four days away from the final of DOTA 2 The International 8 (TI8).
