Tournament Overview
In the first game, Falcons established a massive lead by continuously targeting the mid-lane during the laning phase. However, Beast’s critical initiation turned the tide when pushing the mid-high ground, wiping out Falcons’ shield-carrying team. Although Falcons regained the lead by capitalizing on Spirit’s mistake in the second-shield fight, Undying took over the game, completing a comeback.
In the second game, Collapse’s Beast continued to wreak havoc, leading his team to sweep the map right after the laning phase, securing significant advantages by repeatedly catching Falcons’ heroes farming. Despite Falcons’ efforts to resist with some good fights in the mid-game, Spirit maintained their lead and secured the victory.
Game One
Radiant: Falcons, Dire: Spirit
Ban/Pick and Lane Setup: ATF’s Vengeful Spirit and Cr1t’s Ancient Apparition against Yatoro’s Undying and Miposhka’s Naga Siren in the top lane; Malr1ne’s Tiny against Larl’s Dragon Knight in the mid lane; skiter’s Sven and Sneyking’s Chen against Collapse’s Beast and Mira’s Squirrel in the bottom lane.
The first 5 minutes of the laning phase saw similar creep score counts, but consecutive deaths for Naga Siren allowed Vengeful Spirit to farm uncontested, while Dragon Knight was also frequently targeted by Ancient Apparition and Tiny, giving Falcons a 3K gold lead at the 10-minute mark.
At the 11th minute, Tiny’s VT combo instantly killed Undying under the first tower, then Chen pushed down the mid lane tower with his creeps, widening the gold difference to 6K.
Following this, Falcons pressured the top lane, with Tiny’s burst damage and Vengeful Spirit’s sustained output causing Spirit’s heroes to die upon showing themselves. With the fall of the second top tower, Falcons had stretched their gold lead to 11K at the 15-minute mark.
At the 19th minute, Falcons forced a high ground push with the Roshan buff, Beast charged into the fray with BKB, dealing explosive damage. Sven, without BKB, was taken down immediately, followed by Undying turning into Tiny to clean up the battlefield, wiping out Falcons completely.
At the 23rd minute, Falcons initiated a fog of war attack in the tri-lane area, Spirit responded with a fog of war and immediately killed Tiny, despite Falcons’ timely retreat, Chen was still chased down and killed by Spirit.
At the 27th minute, both teams fought over the second Roshan buff, Tiny with BKB struck first, killing Naga Siren. Beast charged in but couldn’t escape, Spirit, somewhat disjointed, was defeated four for one by Falcons, who acquired the second Roshan buff through Sven.
At the 30th minute, Falcons initiated a fog of war push on the top high ground, only to be ambushed by Spirit. Squirrel traded its life for Sven’s Aegis before Falcons retreated.
At the 36th minute, Spirit attempted to siege the top lane tier one tower. This time, Falcons’ five heroes were completely isolated, allowing Spirit to pick them off one by one. Only Vengeful Spirit and Ancient Apparition barely managed to escape as Spirit pushed down the top high ground and claimed the third Roshan buff.
Continuously avoiding battles, Falcons lost their mid high ground to Spirit’s shield-carrying team. At the 43rd minute, after the shield expired, Falcons launched their final attack. Tiny jumped into the fray and was instantly killed by Undying. Vengeful Spirit tried to save him but was tied up by Squirrel and died for nothing. Falcons used all their respawns but could only take down Squirrel, conceding defeat.
Game Two
Radiant: Spirit, Dire: Falcons
Ban/Pick and Lane Setup: Collapse’s Beast and Mira’s Earthshaker against skiter’s Dragon Knight and Sneyking’s Phoenix in the top lane; Malr1ne’s Sand King against Larl’s Ancient Apparition in the mid lane; Yatoro’s Wraith King and Miposhka’s Earthshaker against ATF’s Legion Commander and Cr1t’s Satyr Soulstealer in the bottom lane.
Sand King faced a passive lane against Ancient Apparition, but Legion Commander managed to suppress Wraith King, stabilizing the situation. After 5 minutes, small skirmishes erupted continuously, with Spirit taking the lead in kills and a 2K gold advantage due to higher burst damage.
At the 11th minute, Earthshaker initiated on Dragon Knight farming, Beast rushed in, and Phoenix sacrificed itself to ensure Dragon Knight’s retreat. Soon after, Earthshaker stomped Legion Commander in the bottom lane, who tried to use his ultimate skill but only delivered additional attack power.
At the 13th minute, Falcons initiated a fog of war attack on the jungle, Earthshaker was taken down, but Legion Commander, farming in the bottom lane, was hit by Sand King’s ultimate, leaving it with low health. Wraith King finished off the remaining damage as Legion Commander once again activated its ultimate, granting Sand King an additional 10 attack points.
Falcons continued to pressure the bottom lane, aiming to increase Legion Commander’s attack power, but it resulted in continuous deaths for Legion Commander, with Spirit holding a 7K gold lead at the 15-minute mark.
At the 20th minute, Spirit took down the bottom lane crystal, Falcons seized the timing to strike. Legion Commander dueled with the isolated Wraith King, but the output was insufficient, granting Wraith King 20 attack points instead. Fortunately, Sand King initiated with its ultimate, dealing full damage alongside Phoenix’s ultimate, achieving a four for two trade.
At the 22nd minute, Earthshaker initiated in the mid lane but was spotted by the true sight ward. Falcons focused fire on Earthshaker, Beast rushed in to trade for Legion Commander but failed to escape. Sand King and Dragon Knight pursued but were gunned down by Wraith King’s full damage shots. Wraith King attempted to continue the chase, while Phoenix invoked fygod, dealing full damage with Scorching Ray, counter-killing Wraith King and Ancient Apparition, wiping out Spirit. Spirit, unwilling to concede, regrouped and continued to attack the bottom lane after respawning. Legion Commander farming in the tri-lane area was killed yet again.
At the 26th minute, Falcons caught Beast and aimed to push the second top tower, but Spirit, despite being outnumbered, counter-attacked, eliminating three members of Falcons’ team (2, 4, and 5) and counter-pushing Falcons’ mid high ground.
At the 28th minute, Falcons continued their assault on the top lane and caught Wraith King, but Beast, in excellent condition, dominated the battlefield, becoming the lone wolf in the wind.
At the 30th minute, Spirit secured the Roshan buff and pressured the bottom high ground. Phoenix and Satyr Soulstealer were taken down while clearing the lane, leaving Falcons watching as Spirit destroyed two lanes. Subsequently, Spirit shifted to the top lane to continue their push. Legion Commander jumped in to duel Earthshaker but was isolated from its teammates. Spirit picked off the heroes one by one, Falcons spent their respawns but failed to kill any member of Spirit, conceding defeat.