Preview: Virtus.pro in The Kiev Major qualifier final

In the grand final of The Kiev Major 2017 closed regional qualifier, our Dota 2 roster will face one of the three teams competing in the losers’ bracket. The winner will get the only slot at the Major reserved for teams from the CIS.

Tournament standings and current form

Virtus.pro G2A took the first place in the group stage after consecutively winning all nine matches. In the first round of the playoffs, VP.G2A sent Natus Vincere and then Team Empire to the lower bracket. Two matches will decide who the Bears’ opponent will be: Na`Vi will play Team Spirit in the first one, and the winner will then face Empire.

Head-to-head games

Virtus.pro have played two games against both Team Empire and Natus Vincere G2A, while only facing Team Spirit in the group stage. Na`Vi were stronger than VP in the early game on virtually all maps in the matches. Na`Vi had a stronger early game than VP virtually every time. An exception was the deciding game of the winners’ bracket semi-finals, where Virtus.pro took the lead at the 5th minute and never lost the initiative, winning after 28 minutes.

The group duel against Team Empire was an equal fight, and in the first playoff game, our Dota 2 roster was defeated. However, in the two remaining games of the winners’ bracket final, VP.G2A’s picks and aggressive play style proved quite a surprise for Empire

It’s worth noting that Virtus.pro lost both of the playoff games in which there was a Magnus on the opposing team, who is now a prime candidate for banning during the draft.

Draft preferences

Virtus.pro have shown a good command of a broad hero pool, and have improved notably tactics-wise with the team’s new coach. It’s quite likely that VP.G2A won’t be trying to surprise the opponent in game one, and will go for an alternative game plan only after finding that the opponent has made the correct counter-picks.

Choosing heroes flexibly and having a plan for the draft stage are going to play a key part in the grand final, as our team will likely be facing either Natus Vincere G2A or Team Empire. Both teams’ picks will probably have been studied closely during the games in the losers’ bracket, which will additionally improve VP.G2A’s chances.

Where to watch the match

A simple choice of streams is available to all who wish to witness the showdown of the CIS region closed qualifier:

In Russian, by RuHub Studio
International, by Beyond The Summit

The holder of the only slot at The Kiev Major 2017 will be decided March 13 at 18:00 CET.