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The October Dota 2 festivities are already in full swing in August. Preparations for Dota 2 The International 2023 are in full swing, as qualifiers for the world's most prestigious event are taking place in the Long Island regions.
One of the first teams from China will be the first to trample their way to The International 2023. Here, 13 teams will play for the only one at the main event in the world of Dota 2. Among them are IG Vitality and Limit.
Both teams will start from the lower grid of The International 2023 - China Qualifier. All because of the dismal results over the course of the DPC league and beyond.
The winner continues their journey through the qualifier grid onwards, where they will play the loser of the Xtreme Gaming/Aster.Aries pairing. The loser leaves the qualifiers.
Trying to figure out which of the teams not the first magnitude will be able to extend their stay at the qualifier, and who will have to say goodbye to wet fantasies after this Bo3.
Let's go.
IG Vitality uniforms
Let's start the analysis of the first match of The International 2023 - China Qualifier by analysing IG Vitality's form. They are the favourite in this match with odds to win at around 1.5.
You can agree with IG Vitality's advantage. They looked a little better than their future opponents during the season, but they didn't have any good performances.
Invictus Gaming's youth team had a productive year, but by no means effective. All the results were, to put it mildly, poor.
They started the season with two local tournaments - Moon Studio Campfire and The Arena Anthem. At the former, we placed top 6, and at the latter, top 7. This is to understand the environment that IG Vitality has been competing in for most of the year.
At the beginning of spring, IG Vitality made their way to the second division of the local DPC league. To do so, they had to win the open qualifications and then get into the top 3 of the closed qualifications. However, getting into the second division did not give anything, because IG Vitality quickly took the top 8, leaving the league for which they had just selected.
Next, they again made it to the second division and failed again. This time, to be fair, IG Vitality progressed - already 7th place! But it doesn't change the essence of the matter.
- IG Vitality roster: ukiyo, ButterflyEffect, 项羽, 鱼王, ponyo.
The last event where IG Vitality shone before the qualifiers for The International 2023 was the local Moon Studio Miso Soup. IG.V wouldn't be themselves if they didn't watch their backsides. They finished the tournament in 9th place.
IG Vitality's most popular characters
Among the most frequently picked characters is Timbersaw. He has appeared in IG Vitality games 6 times and has a 16% winrate.
The top 2 character is Lion. He has 5 matches and 80% winrate.
Faceless Void and Spirit Breaker have 4 games each. While the former has won 2 matches, Barathrum has 0% wins.
Form Limit
Let's move on to Limit's form. In this match, they will play as an underdog with odds to win around 2.3.
Again, it is possible to understand the gap. The teams are virtually identical in terms of performance, but IG Vitality has a name, while Limit is nothing more than a stack. Though a stack with some history.
In fact, this team appeared on the radar under a different name. Previously, under the tag Limit were Outsiders from CN, which even played in the first division of the local DPC league.
Earlier this year, Outsiders from CN took 3rd place at the DPC CN 2023 Tour II. For a good half of the teams playing at these qualifiers, such a result is the limit of dreams.
In the top league, the opponents were still stronger than their Division II counterparts, so Outsiders Fron CN quickly fizzled out and prematurely left the first division.
Before rebranding to Limit were seen at the local GGWP Dragon Series 2, where they finished in the top 6. Next, they turned into Limit and went to play the second division, where they failed miserably. DPC finished the third round at the last line of the second division and here they are.
- Limit lineup: Rain pause, Iristina, 冷鸟, Q, 出省.
Before Long Sogpeg qualifiers were played at dubious events like LingNeng, Trendy Invitational, where at the time of writing betting tipNNEW, which is 15 August, the group stage was underway.
Limit's most popular heroes
Limit plays Storm Spirit (8 matches, 50% wins), Skywrath Mage (7 matches, 42% wins), Bloodseeker (7 matches, 28% wins).
In the pool there is Lion (6 matches, 50% wins), Crystal Maiden (6 matches, 16% wins).
Also taking Silencer and Ember Spirit. Both heroes have appeared in the peak 5 times and have 60% wins each.
Head-to-head history
Previously the teams crossed paths in the second division of the Chinese DPC League. Then IG.Vitality celebrated a 2-0 victory.
Predicted result of IG.Vitality vs Limit at The International 2023 - China Qualifier
The amazing format of the qualifiers for The International 2023 makes us happy with such matches. What can we expect from the Top 7 and Top 8 of China's second division? A bloodbath, I think.
If it was bo3, I'm sure it wouldn't end on two cards. Since it's a bo1 format, it's a bit of a guessing game. Let Limit take the win.
Bottom line: Limit wins.
