Gaimin Gladiators advances to The Berlin Major Grand Finals
The anticipated match 9Pandaz and Gaimin Gladiators was thrilling for fans to watch as both teams pushed each other to the limit. All eyes were on the series as there was bad blood between Gaimin’s midlaner, Quinn "Quinn" Callahan, and Pandaz’s safelane hard carry player, Roman "RAMZES666" Kushnarev. It was also a crucial match for both teams. The winner of the series will move on to the grand finals of The Berlin Major. Both teams had met once before their upper bracket series in the Group stages, where the series resulted in a tie.
Game 1
In game 1, 9Pandas drafted Tiny mid against the Ember Spirit from Gaimin. Since the start of the laning stage, 9Pandas played in Gaimin Gladiators’s face, pressuring lanes with perfect rotations. As the game progressed, the advantage 9Pandas built began to snowball into an insurmountable lead into the midgame. However, Gaimin was calm and played carefully from behind, looking for a window to get back into the game. Taking calculated risks, they poked at 9Pandas, hopefully looking for a misplay. At 27 minutes, Gaimin Gladiators’ efforts came to fruition by winning a team fight at the bot lane. Eventually, Gaimin Gladiators took the aegis and pressured 9Pandas high ground. Unlike Gaimin, 9Pandas crumbled fast. Eventually, at 39 minutes, 9Pandas tapped out of game 1.
Game 2
Despite 9Pandas winning the initial laning stage in game 2, Gaimin Gladiators was able to slow down the momentum of 9Pandaz. With their draft focused around the late game, Gaimin capitalised on the strength of their Terroblade. As Terrorblade hit his item timing, Gaimin Gladiators secured the aegis and brought the fight to 9Pandaz. Although 9Pandaz prepared for the fight, they were not ready for Terrorblade with a second life and soon enough, 9Pandas’s defence crumbles.Gaimin was able to take advantage of their momentum and secured two lanes of racks. Soon enough, at 34 minutes, 9Pandas tapped out of game 2, giving the series to Gaimin Gladiator, marking the third consecutive grand finals for Gaimin Gladiators.
In both their previous grand finals, Team Liquid was the opponent, and in both grand finals, Gaimin Gladiators triumphed over Team Liquid.