The International 5

With the International 5 almost upon us, let us share some thoughts on how it might go and how it would compare to previous Internationals.

Thoughts:

This years format is much like the ti3 format.
Will Newbee (or any other team) come up with a new strategy?
Who will be the Cinderella team?
Who will do worse than expected?
Who will win?

Which hero will be picked the most?
Which hero will be banned the most?

Who will win the 1v1 solo mid championship (is there even one)?

But the groups are in 15 minutes, and the groups are where the most interesting DOTA happens usually D=

Answers;
I mean, I think the meta's already been pretty figured out coming into this event compared to say TI4. But we'll see some new meta emerge in a fashion, because that's the case for all tournies.

The rest; I have no idea, other than saying Secret are the team most likely to win going, with EG and LGD the main challengers.

Most Banned hero; If it's not Lesh I'll eat a hat. A small hat made of cake, but a hat all the same.
Most Picked; QoP I guess? Seems like one of the most likely to actually get through first stage picks and bans. Maybe SF as well.

Game 1 between compLexity vs MVP.Phoenix.... so intense

FFS again C9 with great play into a major throw..... WHY DO YOU HAVE TO DO THIS TO ME?

Late game decision making - EE seems to be one of the worst at that..

After a 5 man wipe bot lane, what do you do? Take bot rax, then rotate mid? Nah, let's dive the enemy into their damn fountain..

They had such a solid lead at around 40-45 mins, then threw it hard with those pick offs and bad decisions..

It was just that one decision that cost it for them. Like, they had a chance to push for the Racks sooner, but they backed off wisely. And then they made that one mistake.

Basically, as Ash said, they have poor late game decision making, oft times poor decision making in general, and it shows time and time again. It's why despite having the talent to be a top team, they just don't have the decision making that the other teams do.

2nd game LGD vs C9

What a game. Super intense and heart-breaking.

:C They were so close! My spark of hopes were extinguished when Envy got caught up top. It was a great game really. Imagine what the main event will be like.. holy ****.

But now I cant find my drip coffee... I NEED MORE almost 3AM here and I need my damn coffee.

Both the C9 game and the Secret game were important for two different reasons;

The Secret game gave Fnatic so much momentum, since like last times Fnatic met secret was at ESL, so winning the game here will be huge for momentum.

And the C9 game is similar; Because C9 did so well to come back into that game off of Envy's balls there (Like he had no TP when he got Rapier), it's just a shame two little things went wrong. (Bone7 seemed a little off in that game, he missed a lot of hooks, was level 12 at 60 minutes ect ect), and that cost them. Like Envy blinked in that last fight and got stunned, and that basically cost them the game.

But yeah, TI5 has been amazing. And that was just the first stage of the group games.

So far, my favourite games have been:
MVP vs Team Archon game 2
MVP vs Vega Squadron game 2
Cloud 9 vs LGD (game 1 and 2)

And it's already more exciting than all of TI4 put together.