Dota 2 Arlington Major
The Dota 2 Arlington Major features a jam-packed schedule. Sixteen matches on the first day, sixteen matches the following day, and so on. However, the first matches are perhaps the most crucial since they reveal which teams appear potential and set the tone for the days ahead. With so many roster changes and stand-ins in Arlington, forecasting results becomes difficult.
However, here is our forecast for the opening day of the Arlington Major 2022.
ON THE FIRST DAY, GROUP A TESTS TOP SEEDS FROM EUROPE AND CHINA.
OG/OUTSIDERS VS FNATIC
Fnatic faces two formidable opponents in their debut on Dota 2 Arlington Major. On day one, it was daunting to face Team OG with Sébastien “Ceb” Debs as their motivating (hard) support. After all, with the identical lineup, the lather won the Stockholm Major 2022. And just as Fnatic felt they could relax, they were confronted by Outsiders (formerly Virtus.pro). Outsider’s first major appearance of the DPC (2021-22) season was at the Arlington Major, where they defeated the International 11 (TI11) Champions, Team Spirit.
PSG.LGD/THUNDER AWAKEN VS TALON ESPORTS
Another one-sided encounter, this time between Talon Esports and PSG.
Thunder Awaken and LGD Talon is a relatively young Southeast Asian club backed by veterans and prodigies. They will, however, pale in compared to PSG. LGD, the Chinese superpower that just won the Riyadh Masters 2022. While most powerhouses ultimately lose their edge, LGD remains unrivaled in terms of DPC performance at the Dota 2 Arlington Major news.
Thunder Awaken is also a strong favorite in Arlington, but not as flamboyant as OG or LGD. Instead, they provide an alternative feeling of power by being on the same playing field with other high-performing prospects. Nonetheless, TA may not be at their best today since they are playing with a stand-in, which provides a nice handicap in Talon’s favor.
THE OTHER GROUP MATCHES A
Aside from that the Dota 2 Arlington Major, the remaining match-ups are very balanced, although we wouldn’t put our money on Quincy Crew’s assured triumph, particularly given they face Team Liquid and RNG. As a competent Western European team, Liquid requires little introduction, but RNG is the more substantial danger heading into Arlington. And that danger is Anathan “ana” Pham, the retiring two-time champion who serves as RNG’s stand-in.
According to rumors, Ana has a strong compatibility with Chinese clubs since he began his professional career in the Chinese premier league at the Dota 2 Arlington Major. Let’s hope it’s not as awful as Ana’s Riyadh Masters experience with Team Liquid.
Fortunately, Liquid is playing with their entire squad here in Arlington, so we can be certain they will go well versus OG as well at the Dota 2 Arlington Major. Both adversaries have been at each other’s throats from the beginning of the DPC WEU Tours, so it’s a fair match-up.
GROUP B COULD EXHIBIT TEAM SPIRIT DOMINANCE OR FLOP
BOOM ESPORTS/TEAM ASTER VS EVIL GENIUSES
Evil Geniuses are the most anticipated team to watch in Group B, particularly after redesigning their strategy and players. Fortunately, BOOM Esports is a formidable challenger since they are the top team in the SEA this season. EG will also face Team Aster, a Chinese powerhouse best known as a Chinese veteran’s club.
As much as we want to cheer for EG on Dota 2 Arlington Major, the odds are stacked against them in their initial matches at Arlington Major against BOOM and Aster.
BEASTCOAST/TUNDRA ESPORTS VS TEAM SPIRIT
Team Spirit is hardly a ‘underdog’ heading into Arlington, but after their upset at Stockholm Major and defeats to regional opponents. It’s impossible to endorse them as a sure bet to win. They will face beastcoast, who ousted the former from Stockholm. Their other match, against Tundra Esports, is also reason for worry. Tundra’s momentum since DPC Tour 1 is an understatement as they became Western Europe mainstays.
OTHER GROUP B MATCHES
The Natus Vincere’s namesake is a sight to see, as it evokes memories on Dota 2 Arlington Major. For what it’s worth, Navi is little more than a shadow of its former self, making its matchups with Entity and Beastcoast quite equal. Beastcoast, on the other hand, may be more effective in this match-up due to their success in Stockholm.
BOOM against Tundra, on the other hand, will be a treat since both teams are generally considered as top prospects from their respective areas at the Dota 2 Arlington Major. Perhaps this will finally resolve the debate over which area is better between the SEA and the WEU.
That pretty much covers up the forthcoming day 1 at Arlington Major, which is a loaded betting slip if you’re cheering for these clubs. Nonetheless, we will discuss the remaining matchups, which are Outsiders vs. RNG and Entity vs. Aster. In retrospect, the Chinese powerhouses’ debut is still the buzz of the town, therefore it’s two for the Chinese.
Anyway, at the end of the day, we’ll know if the Chinese teams are worth the hype or whether it’s just another success story for the European teams at Arlington Major.