I'm pretty happy for Falcons. I don't particularly like them, but they deserved to win it. XG actually looked very strong going into the finals. Their drafts in games 1 and 3 were really impressive. But Falcons did a great job of adapting to them. A lot has been said of the Falcons players, but we can't forget Aui2000, winning his second time as a coach. He's an absolute legend of the game.

Overall, I was a little disappointed by the results. Nigma and Heroic vastly outperformed expectations, but I was still hoping at least one of them would make it to the final day. I was also cheering hard for Noone and it was sad to see him come so close and miss again, just like all those years on VP. I hope they stick together, that team is the one I would most like to see win it all next year.

[–] Robomekk@lemmy.ca 2 points 10 hours ago

The Heroic games were definitely the ones to watch. But the whole event was quite good.

Only really watch DotA during the International every year, but quite enjoyed this one.

[–] Coelacanth@feddit.nu 3 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

I am categorically unable to just blanket feel happy for Falcons winning. I hate Saudi sportswashing, they have some players I don't vibe with and I don't really enjoy their playstyle. That being said, I am very happy for Cr1t finally winning TI, and I am happy for Aui_2000 who has come back from once being disrespected and underrated to now practically forcing the world to recognise him as one of the greatest minds of Dota. Also, nobody can say Falcons wasn't the overall best team of the tournament, so in that sense it was at least a fair victory.

I am with you though, Heroic were the stars of the tournament for me in terms of entertainment value, but they actually also played really well. That one Aegis steal is going to haunt their dreams for the coming year. I so wish we got to see more of them.

If PV stay together they can be a force, Noone still has some left in the tank and 9Class just needs to practice some more heroes like Void Spirit or maybe Weaver for his play style. Satanic might be the best young player in a long time, the kid is so fucking good.

[–] namingthingsiseasy@programming.dev 2 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

I understand what you're saying. I don't have any love or respect for Falcons as an organisation and I felt the same way when PSG won Eurocup this year. But I can feel happy for the players, while feeling regretful about the organisation behind it that made it happen. Obviously, nobody likes Ammar - I don't like him as a person either - but his talent is undeniable, and I really hope seeing things like offlane Huskar and Ursa shake the meta up a bit and influence other offlaners to play similar styles.

[–] Coelacanth@feddit.nu 1 points 14 hours ago

I'm not too fond of Skiter either if I'm honest. He's been in some situations before where he's looked pretty bad.

If Ammar could micro he'd probably be within the discussion of the overall best player right now. He's very very talented.

[–] sorrowl@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

If Ame loses this game 5 against Magnus again, he will probably have nightmares of that hero for the rest of his life.

[–] Coelacanth@feddit.nu 4 points 17 hours ago (2 children)

I don't see how Falcons lose this unless they make a series of uncharacteristically spectacular misplays. Naga can always stall and late game looks physically unwinnable for XG.

[–] verdigris@lemmy.ml 3 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Yeah XG's draft was... questionable to put it nicely.

[–] Coelacanth@feddit.nu 3 points 16 hours ago

Naga has been banned in 90% of the games for a reason (IceFrog please just remove the ult nobody likes what it does to Dota) and Jugg is literally not a hero. What a hill to die on for a game 5.

Credit where it's due to Ammar though, he knew XG like to play for the late game so instead of running the usual Falcons gameplan he just set up an ultimate late game inevitability. I think there maybe was still a path to victory for XG if they were able to play fast, but they just weren't.

[–] sorrowl@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

If XG get the absolute dream teamfight execution, I think they can still take it. It's going to be really hard though.

[–] Coelacanth@feddit.nu 2 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

Falcons are too good to let themselves get caught out like that. XG played this game too slow from the start and made too many individual mistakes. Ame choking, honestly whole team kind of choking.

With how XG like to play this just felt like a complete soul read and outdraft by ATF.

[–] sorrowl@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago) (1 children)

5% chance still, I'm huffing that copium.

[–] Coelacanth@feddit.nu 2 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

I hate Falcons and want them to lose, but I fear we might be nearing the point where we have to admit there might be a reason Ame is the Uncrowned and not Crowned King, my friend.

It's also a very Xiao8 move to pick Jugg and give up Naga in game 5 of a grand final.

[–] sorrowl@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

I'm afraid you are completely right... Fighting Pepegas Sneyking a twotimer... what a series.

[–] Coelacanth@feddit.nu 3 points 16 hours ago

Real ones remember POTM Bottom

[–] sorrowl@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 16 hours ago

Genuinely happy for Cr1t- though, he deserves that win after all the years struggling in NA.

[–] sorrowl@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

How is this Ursa 3 pick working lmao? I really hope XG can recover and somehow come back, maybe with a clutch RP. Their comp seems to have much better teamfight, but the gold lead rn is so massive it might not even matter.

[–] Coelacanth@feddit.nu 2 points 18 hours ago

It was the freest Ursa game ever, the Gyro was either an insane draft bait that caught Xiao8 totally off guard or it was the most ballsy and inspired improvisation by ATF.

Also when will people stop giving Malr1ne Sand King and Cr1t Hoodwink? I'm so sick of seeing SK getting stacked camps uncontested and then killing everyone with Hoodwink.

And finally, it's fascinating in a sense to see this chess game between the drafters, but it's also kind of disappointing that every game in this finals has been predetermined from the lineups.

[–] Coelacanth@feddit.nu 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

This has been an insane game, and after Heroic yesterday here's another series turned on its head out of a single Aegis steal. Fantastic strategy by XG proving again that they are incredibly competent at the 4-protect-1. These late game farm fests aren't my favourite thing to watch, but XG are putting their hopes and dreams on the back of Ame.

It's unfortunate they will get 3-0'd in short fashion by Falcons. I really hope I'm wrong though.