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Aurora emerged victorious over 1win with a 2-0 win on Thursday, 8 October, during the second upper bracket quarter-final of BLAST Slam Season 8. This outcome relegates the 1win team, including British player Ari, to the lower bracket of the Dota 2 playoffs.
For fans in the UK, all eyes were on Ari during this best-of-three match. He is a key player for the Russia-based 1win team, which also includes 33, Whitemon, bzm, and Pure. The team advanced to the quarter-final after surviving a Last Chance Match earlier in the tournament.
An intense 77-minute opener
The first game was a true test of endurance, lasting a staggering 77 minutes. It was a closely fought battle, indicating that neither team could secure a quick victory. Although 1win managed to draw out the game against their higher-ranked opponents, they were unable to secure a map win.
The second game was comparatively shorter, with Aurora wrapping it up in 54 minutes to clinch the series without dropping a single map. This clean sweep marked a significant turnaround for a team that had a rocky start to the event.
Rankings showdown: 5th vs. 13th in Elo ratings
On paper, Aurora was the favored team. They currently hold the 5th spot in the Elo power rankings with a rating of 1972 and a record of 183-116 across 299 rated matches. In contrast, 1win sits at 13th place with a rating of 1853 and a record of 184-123 from 307 rated matches.
Despite their strong rating, Aurora’s recent form was not as convincing. They suffered a 0-2 defeat against PARIVISION in their first Seeding Match, followed by losses to Natus Vincere (0-2) and Team Yandex (1-2). However, they did manage wins against Team Liquid (2-1) and GamerLegion (2-0), making this their second 2-0 victory in their last six series.
1win, on the other hand, had won two consecutive series leading up to this match. They defeated Team Nemesis 2-0 and narrowly edged out OG 2-1 in Last Chance Match 2 to secure their spot in the quarter-finals. Despite their recent successes, their inconsistency was evident in their record, including a 2-1 win over Natus Vincere, a 0-2 loss to Team Spirit, and a 1-2 defeat by GamerLegion.
Looking ahead to the upper semi-final
With this win, Aurora advances to the upper bracket semi-finals, where competition has been fierce. Team Yandex, who defeated LGD Gaming 2-1 in the first quarter-final, poses a strong challenge in the upper half of the bracket. Team Yandex also handed Aurora a 2-1 defeat in their previous encounter, adding to the anticipation of their upcoming clash. Additionally, Team Spirit, who previously defeated Team Yandex 2-1, remains a team to watch in the tournament.
Despite their loss in the upper bracket quarter-final, 1win still has a chance in the lower bracket. They will now face off against other teams in a bid to stay alive in the competition. Similarly, LGD Gaming, who secured a 2-1 victory over GamerLegion in Last Chance Match 1 before succumbing to Team Yandex, will also be vying for a comeback in the lower bracket.
Ari and his teammates from 1win must now regroup and fight their way through the lower bracket to have a shot at victory before BLAST Slam Season 8 concludes on 11 October.
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1win0
PARIVISION0
LGD Gaming02.82
Aurora01.57
Cloud Dawning0