Team Liquid put up a performance that had the crowd roaring as they came defeated Thunder Awaken and made it into the Top Four of the International 2022.
The game didn’t start with Team Liquid looking likely to secure a victory as Thunder Awaken started strongly. However, as the game progressed, both teams exchanged the advantage.
Thunder Awaken managed to make a comeback against Mega Creeps, while miCKe did an HP to engage in a match-winning fight.
Team Liquid were playing without buybacks despite overextending; this led to a one creep getting ahead toward the game ending push all within an hour.
Game two saw liquid dominate from the start, and they avoided the mistakes of game one. At the same time, zai’s Broodmother became the focus as the team closed Thunder Awake into uncomfortable positions.
Liquid took game three by the scruff, but Thunder Awaken were stubborn and rallied back, making game three a reverse sequence of game one. Late into the TA were looking strong and even got into the lead, but things changed quickly as miCKe proved to be the deciding player forcing an action that gave Liquid the edge in the game.
miCKe used his Blink Dagger to bash Sacred’s Enigma, which prevented him from any action. Liquid eventually ensured that all Thunder Awaken had no buybacks in the fight.
Although Thunder Awaken tried to buy time for one more fight, this only stopped Liquid players from ending the game by running down mid.
Matu was there to the Liquid’s rescue infesting miCKe’s pongolier to help him scale through a black hole.
The win ensured that Liquid would be at TI11 in the top-four placement despite getting through the Last Chance Qualifier.
They will face Team Aster as they try to finish in top-three while the South Americans (Thunder Awaken) became South America’s highest finishers in Dota 2 history.
Daniel Ademiju Idowu
