The Playoffs for BLAST Slam VI kicks off with an absolute banger of a match, as Team Liquid take on Team Falcons in a Best of 5 single elimination series.
Falcons, the TI14 champions, have not looked too sharp since the start of the new year, making this series anyone’s for the taking.
Here is our preview and predictions for the upcoming Team Liquid vs Team Falcons match up in the BLAST Slam VI quarterfinals.
Teams that win The International always get a target placed on their backs, and it appears Team Falcons are no exception. It seems like every opponent has been studying their gameplay, which might explain their shaky start heading into BLAST Slam.
Photo: Shaun Lee at BLAST Slam IV
According to offlaner Ammar “ATF” Al-Assaf, Falcons only managed to win 5 out of 24 scrim matches leading into the group stage, which may explain their 6-5 record. Though this record is by no means terrible, it’s just not enough for a team of Falcons’ caliber.
However, Falcons did look far more composed in the play-in match against Xtreme Gaming, where they won the TI grand final rematch 2-0. With a break between the play-ins and the main event, we can count on Falcons to fine-tune their gameplay and gather enough data on the newest patch. We still believe Team Falcons remain the tournament favorites.
Team Liquid seems like they are finally stabilizing with their new roster. While they are yet to win any tournaments with the lineup, their overall synergy has noticeably improved.
Several players, including ATF himself, have spoken positively about their scrim performances. And given how experienced the entire Liquid roster is, we can reasonably expect them to bring that level of play into official matches very soon – and BLAST Slam would be the perfect time to do so.
Photo via PGL
BLAST Slam is also a single-elimination tournament, which works in Liquid’s favor. Historically, this team thrives under high pressure, which is exactly what this tournament brings to the table. While they don’t look like the “best team in the world” by any means, they are still a very solid contender capable of beating anyone on a good day.
Read also: Blast Slam VI betting preview
The two teams already played against each other in the group stage, with Team Liquid taking the Best of 1 victory. However, that match stretched beyond the 60-minute mark and easily could have gone either way.
If we take a look at head-to-head history, Team Falcons have won seven of the last eight match ups between the two teams. The singular loss was in the group stage match mentioned above.
On paper, Falcons are still the clear Dota 2 betting favorites, but it’s important to note that this is a Best of 5 series. Historically, Team Liquid have performed well in this format.
Even with their shaky form, we still favor the Falcons to win the series, but expect Liquid to put up a strong fight. If both teams perform at a similar level to what we saw in the group stage, Liquid even have a realistic chance of pulling off an upset.
Our pick:
Odds courtesy of GG.Bet. Read our GG.Bet review for more info.
It is our belief that the winner of this series will have the best shot at winning the entire tournament.
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Featured image: Shaun Lee at BLAST Slam IV
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