Clutch Gamers Secure First MPGL Asian Championship 2018 Grand Final Slot

M-King

Saturday, July 7, 2018
10:00 pm

| DOTA 2

MPGL Asian Championship 2018 Day 2 Recap

Clutch Gamers were the first team to book a spot at the grand finals of the MPGL Asian Championship 2018 after drubbing Execration, 2-1, at their winner’s finals meeting.

After a successful opener, the spectators at the Central Plaza in Khon Kaen, Thailand, as well as the online viewers from around the world, were once again treated to an intense MPGL Asian Championship 2018 Grand Final action. The final series of the day saw two of Southeast Asia’s promising teams giving it their all in a full best-of-three series for a guaranteed grand finals slot and $20,000 cash prize.

The first game of the winner’s final series went heavily in favor of Clutch Gamers after Karl‘s Puck, a hero he was popularly known for back in the glory days of Warcraft III DotA, horribly lost in the mid lane against AhJit‘s Lina. Karl managed to die twice in front of a Dire Tower, and once in the hands of AhJit in the game’s first eight minutes.

Execration’s abysmal laning phase reflected all throughout the course of the game as Clutch Gamers looked to be always one step ahead of them. After 32 minutes of play time, the Southeast Asian squad finally forced the gg call out of the Philippine-based team, ending the game with a 27 kill advantage.

With their backs pushed on the edge, Execration was forced to bring in their A game. The dynamic duo of Karl and Nando, who were respectively playing Ember Spirit and Mirana, led their squad’s team fights despite a slow, yet steady, early game. After a series of successful skirmishes that picked off AhJit’s item dependent Kunkka, Execration was able to dictate the phase of the game.

Clutch Gamers tried to prolong the inevitable thanks to Skylark‘s efficient Dark Rift plays as Underlord. But Execration was able to slam the nail in their opponent’s coffin in a team fight that was gravely turned around due to yol being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The back-and-forth series evidently showed the potential of both participants. But as much as the action-packed series transpired, Clutch Gamers decided to end it in the most anticlimactic way possible thanks to their Drow Ranger and Vengeful Spirit aura strategy, that was ultimately topped with a last pick Huskar for AhJit.

There can’t be any sugar-coating. Clutch Gamers obliterated all of Execration. Imagine Karl’s Puck losing to AhJit’s Lina in the first game then multiply it by five. Four minutes into the game, AhJit’s Huskar already notched 17 last hits and 12 denies while Karl’s Sniper was still stuck at seven. Execration tried to remedy the situation with by switching lanes but all of it were being dominated by Clutch Gamers.

The outcome of the series was already decided as early as the laning phase ended. There weren’t even too many team fights as Execration tried to avoid the five-man push of Clutch Gamers as much as they can. After 22 minutes, Gabbi’s squad reigned supreme against his former captain Kimo’s Execration to be the first MPGL Asian Championship 2018 grand finalist.

Meanwhile, the tournament also bid goodbye to its first contender as EVOS Esports got eliminated by Keen Gaming in the do-or-die loser’s bracket.

The GESC: Thailand Dota 2 Minor silver finishers schooled the Indonesian representatives during the entirety of their best-of-three series. Keen Gaming’s yoona was also finally able to find success in his Dark Willow after his losing streak against Execration yesterday.

EVOS Esports ended their MPGL Asian Championship 2018 journey at the fourth place with $10,000 cash prize. Keen Gaming, on the other hand, extended their tournament lives wto fight for the remaining grand final slot against Kimo’s Execration.

The MPGL Asian Championship 2018 Grand Finals resume tomorrow with the loser’s finals bracket at 12:00 p.m. (GMT +7).

Follow the MPGL Asian Championship through these links:

MET: facebook.com/organizedbyMET