Matchförutsägelse: Team SMG - Blacklist International | Dota 2

Welcome to EGamersWorld.

Preparations for The International 2023 are in full swing. The main tournament of the year this season will take place in October in Seattle, USA, the heart of competitive Dota 2. However, the season of The International can already be declared open, as the qualifiers for the most prestigious tournament of the discipline are coming to an end in the regions.

We have already witnessed the end of the qualifiers in North and South America, China and Eastern Europe, and in just a few hours we will learn the name of the triumphant qualifier in Southeast Asia. Team SMG and Blacklist International will face off for the only slot at October's The International 2023.

Both teams were in the final match for a reason. Even before the Long Qualifying Round they were considered to be the main favourites for the race and they confirmed their status. Now the last step remains.

We're trying to figure out how the top grid rematch of The International 2023 - SEA Qualifier will end. Which of the teams will be stronger and end up as the second team from Southeast Asia to play at The International 2023 in October.

Let's go.

Team SMG uniforms

Let's open the match analysis with an analysis of Team SMG's uniforms. We'll discuss them first, as they were the first to reach the finals.

Despite SMG winning the Southeast Asian top set, I can't call them the favourite. They are still often chaotic, and in bo5, that can play havoc with them.

Team SMG started the year with a "mediocre" result. The team finished in the top 5 at DPC SEA 2023 Tour 1: Division 1, and then played at The Arena Anthem.

The local The Arena Anthem ended prematurely for SMG, as the team didn't finish it. But they did finish the second round of the DPC.

At DPC 2023: SEA Upper Division Tour 1 MidOne and company took the top 3. This, by the way, was enough to get to The Berlin Major 2023. However, they didn't manage to show their game there.

Team SMG failed The Berlin Major 2023 at the group stage. The team played groupstage with the score 1-2-5, which cut off their chances to qualify for the play-offs. As a result, The Berlin Major ended with SMG in the top 16.

• Team SMG roster: MidOne, None, masaros, ah fu, Januel.

The last tournament before the qualifiers for The International 2023 was the third round of DPC. There SMG took their usual top 5, didn't go to Major, but at least kept a slot in the first league. However, it doesn't make any sense at the qualifications.

They made their debut at The International 2023 - SEA Qualifier with a duel against Geek Fam, especially being an outsider. After losing the first one, SMG outscored Geek Fam 2-1 on class.

In the match for the top 3, Team SMG faced Execration. The team with the highest number of DPC points before Long Sogpega qualifications went to the lower part of the qualification grid, but SMG is at the top and seems to be ready to fight to the fullest.

The grand finals went to the top of the grid. In the small final of The International 2023 - SEA Qualifiers they defeated Blacklist, 2-0.

The most popular Team SMG characters

The top most picked Team SMG characters is headed by Crystal Maiden. The character has appeared in the peak 6 times and has an 83% win rate.

Apart from Crystal Maiden, Disruptor and Underlord are also appreciated, having been peaked 5 times each with 80% winrate. There was also Skywrath Mage (4 matches, 100% wins), Doom (4 matches, 75% wins), PL, Viper, Slark, Riki appeared 3 times each and has 100% wins.

Blacklist International Form

We continue our match review with an analysis of Blacklist International's match performance. Raven and company are the second to advance to the grand finals.

Prior to the Long Sogpeg Championship Blacklist were more prepared to take these qualifications, but stumbled badly as the tournament itself progressed, falling to the bottom set. Good for them, utilised their second chance and are now ready for a rematch against SMG.

In the first round of the DPC 2023 Blacklist International, they finished in the top 4, one step away from reaching the Lima Major 2023. This is nothing, because at DPC 2023: Sea Division 1 Tour 2 the situation was worse. At DPC 2023: SEA Tour 2 Blacklist International were already in the top 5. There was obviously no Major to speak of.

In between very mediocre results at DPC 2023, the team participated in local events. This was the BTS Pro Series Season 14, where BI took the top 3.

The key result for the year, however, was a top-2 finish in the third round of the DPC followed by an appearance at Bali Major 2023. Unfortunately for Blacklist and their fans, the club with big name players failed to show class at their only international tournament of the season. At Bali Major 2023, Blacklist finished in the top 14.

• Blacklist International lineup: Raven, Karl, kpii, TIMS, kuku.

Bali Major 2023 was the last tournament for BI before the Long Sogpeg qualifiers for The International 2023. Despite a very mediocre result, the club kept the squad unchanged.

The team met Army Geniuses in the first round of the upper grid, where Blacklist got to thanks to the top 2 on the third round of the DPC and 360 DPC points in the asset. The match ended 2-0 in favour of Blacklist, but the match was not an easy ride, Blacklist had problems, especially on the first map.

In the match before that Blacklist played against Bleed. The match, which promised to be a battle of equal teams, turned out to be a beating of one of the sides. Iceiceice and company could not do anything against the serious-minded BI and as a result went to the lower grid.

Blacklist International played against SMG to advance to the grand finals. Being the favourite on paper, the team lost to MidOne and company with a score of 0-2.

The match for the grand final of the qualifiers was played against Geek Slate. The Skem team, who had previously sent home Bleed and Execration, failed to bring their victory march to an end and Ledgeil the more venerable Blacklist with a score of 0-2.

Blacklist International's most popular heroes

Among the most popular heroes of Blacklist International is Pangolier. He has appeared in the peak 9 times and has 77% wins.

Next are Rubick (8 matches, 62% wins), Doom (6 matches, 83% wins).

There were also Techies (5 matches, 100% wins) and Enchantress (5 games, 60% wins).

Head-to-head history

During the year the teams have played 4 Bo3 and so far the stats are in SMG's favour. MidOne and company have defeated Blacklist three times, including a match in the final of the top grid of The International 2023 - SEA Qualifiers.

Predicted result of Team SMG vs Blacklist in The International 2023 - SEA Qualifiers finals

Taking into account the result of the previous face-to-face clash between the teams and the global statistics of the clubs' meetings, we can assume that SMG will take the victory, however, I have my doubts. I still believe that the 0-2 loss to Blacklist was more due to underestimation of the opponent than due to any playing qualities like team synergy or personal performance level.

I expect a fight in this match and I expect a successful Blacklist rematch. To me, the Filipinos at The International 2023 can perform better than SMG will. My bet is on Raven and company.

Bottom line: Blacklist wins.