Welcome to EGamersWorld.
It's not long until the Long Sogpeg of The International 2023, but that's no reason to take a break from quality Dota 2. DreamLeague Season 21, the biggest commercial tournament before the Long Run main event of the year in October, is back on the screens.
The $1,000,000 championship features play-offs, where the lower grid of the main stage will begin today. And it starts with a match between Entity and Gaimin Gladiators.
A Western European derby is always a reason to watch a match, and even more so in a setting like this. It's not often you see Gaimin Gladiators in the first round of the lower play-offs, but now they're here.
Let's see if the Gaimin Gladiators have a chance to pick up another major championship before The International 2023, or if Entity will get outplayed by the best team of the year in their first lower grid match.
Let's go.
Gaimin Gladiators uniforms
We start the match analysis by analysing the Gaimin Gladiators form. In this match the best team in the world will play the first number one.
This is indicated by the bookmakers. The odds for the victory of GG are at around 1.2.
Such a figure is not surprising, even considering the current form of Gaimin Gladiators. The club has shown that it can switch on at the right moment and show championship play at any stage of the tournament.
At the DPC 2023 Tour 1 WEU Division 1, the team took the top 2, which opened the way for them to The Lima Major 2023. The first Major season of the tournament was a trailblazing triumph for the Gladiators. Gaimin Gladiators won the tournament without losing a single map in the championship play-offs.
The next DPC cycle in the home league ended even worse than the previous one. Then GG lost to tiebreaker for the top 2, but more than compensated for the failure with a performance on the international stage. Even twice.
On the eve of Long Copega DPC 2023: Tour 3, GG took the championship in two international arenas. They won the $1,000,000 DreamLeague S19 and The Berlin Major 2023, defending their status.
In the third round of the domestic league, Gaimin Gladiators were expectedly one of the top contenders to win the league, but failed to get the regional championship. At the end of DPC 2023: WEU Tour 3 GG took 2nd place, but they made it to the Major, and that's the main thing.
- Gaimin Gladiators lineup: dyrachyo, Quinn, Ace, tOfu, Seleri .
There was also DreamLeague Season 20, where in the first group stage GG felt like they played half-heartedly. Nevertheless, they made it to the next stage and then won the grand final.
After winning DreamLeague Season 20, Gaimin Gladiators won another title. This time it was the Major a Champions Cup again. At Bali Major 2023, GG were once again beaten by Team Liquid in the grand finals.
GG had high chances to finish all the big tournaments of the year with victories, but at Riyadh Masters 2023 they were unlucky. In the first round of play-offs "gladiators" fell to the lower play-offs grid, where at the stage of TOP-4 Ledge or Talon Esports and left the championship.
Prior to the DreamLeague Season 21 Long Convergence, Gaimin Gladiators picked up another trophy. It was the BB Dacha trophy, where the Gladiators defeated TSM 3-1 in the grand finals.
At DreamLeague Season 21, Gaimin Gladiators had a hard time making it through the group stage. They had to play re-matches against Quest, but the Gladiators did well and shut down their visions with a score of 2-0.
The most popular Gaimin Gladiators heroes
The most frequent pick was Rubick. The character has appeared in the GG peak 8 times and has an 87% win rate.
Next came Pangolier (6 matches, 83% wins), Doom (6 matches, 66% wins), Keeper of the Light (5 matches, 80% wins), Ember Spirit (5 matches, 80% wins).
We also took Ember Spirit (4 matches, 100% wins), Terrorblade (4 matches, 75% wins).
Form Entity
Let's move on to the breakdown of Entity's game form. In this match, the team will play the second number.
Esports betting sites do not believe in the success of Entity. The odds for their victory are at around 4.
The obvious state of affairs. Entity is not the equal of GG, although they play quite well.
In the first round DPC and company played "average", but were saved by three-team re-matches, as a result of which Entity reached the top 4 and as a result made it to The Lima Major 2023. At the first Major event of the season - The Lima Major 2023 - the team reached TOP-6, which was a good result, but it got worse.
At DPC 2023 WEU Division 1 Tour 2 Entity looked even better. Played on the top-6, but it's good, they kept the slot and that's enough.
In the break between the end of the previous cycle and the end of the new cycle Entity visited DreamLeague S19, but it was, to put it mildly, so-so. Entity could not win a single game and as a consequence left the tournament at the TOP-16 stage.
The third DPC season ended woefully again. The victory against D1 Hustlers on tiebreaks saved them from leaving the first division.
- Entity lineup: watson, Stormstormer, ATF, Kataomi, Fishman.
At DreamLeague S20 the team repeated the "success" of the 19th season. The final place - the usual TOP-16, but further it was worse.
After the failure at DL S20 Entity also looked toothless at Riyadh Masters 2023. At the end of the biggest commercial tournament of the year Entity finished in the top 20.
A breakthrough came at The International 2023 - Western Europe Qualifier, where Entity managed to finish in the top 1 and thus guarantee themselves a place at the main event of the year.
At DreamLeague Season 21 Entity did well in the group stage, playing with substitutes (ATF plays for the team instead of Gabbi). The team finished top 3 in Group A, missing one map to the upper grid.
Entity's most popular heroes
Entity took Mirana (5 matches, 20% wins), Pangolier (3 games, 33% wins), Rubick (3 matches, 33% wins), Bane (2 games, 50% wins).
Dark Seer, Pugna, Storm Spirit and Anti-Mage also appeared in the picks. All have been picked twice, but none have won once.
Head-to-head history
The teams have previously played each other numerous times over the course of the season. Over the last 5 matches, Entity managed to take only 1 (!) card.
Predicted result of the match Gaimin Gladiators - Entity at DreamLeague Season 21
I like to believe in Entity, but I have a feeling that Gaimin Gladiators will be stronger. And much stronger, which will allow them to beat their teammates 2-0. Not ruling out another scenario, but that's the way it is for now.
Bottom line: 2-0 win for GG.
