Gaimin Gladiators Secure Upper Bracket Final Spot at TI 2024

The International 2024 is reaching its peak as the remaining eight teams battle for a chance to lift the Aegis of Champions. Today, Gaimin Gladiators secured a commanding victory over Tundra Esports, pushing them into the lower bracket with a convincing performance.

As last year’s finalists and champions of Riyadh Masters 2024, Gaimin Gladiators continue to demonstrate why they are considered one of the strongest contenders for this year’s title.

Tundra Falls, Gaimin Gladiators Prepare for Team Liquid. (Credit: Valve)

The series between Tundra Esports and Gaimin Gladiators didn’t quite live up to the hype, as Gaimin Gladiators outplayed and outpaced Tundra Esports in every aspect.

From the very start, Team Tundra found themselves on the back foot in both matches, struggling to keep up. The fast-paced playstyle of Gaimin Gladiators proved overwhelming, thanks not only to their impressive individual and team skills but also to their well thought out drafts and solid preparation.

Game 1: Tundra Struggles to Keep Up with Gaimin Gladiators’ Tempo

Game 1 statistics. (Credit: Valve)

Game 1 kicked off with a surprising mid pick from Tundra in the form of Alchemist. Gaimin Gladiators, however, quickly took control of the early game, with Storm Spirit making great use of the first active rune and successfully rotating to secure kills.

Tundra opted for a risky, greedy draft, relying on both Alchemist and Luna, who need significant farm to become effective. In contrast, Gaimin Gladiators went with a fast-paced lineup featuring Storm Spirit, Lone Druid, and Broodmother, all of which excel at pushing towers and taking early teamfights.

Gaimin Gladiators executed their strategy flawlessly, tightening control over the map and limiting Tundra’s ability to farm—particularly devastating for a lineup so dependent on gold. The turning point came at the 30-minute mark during a crucial Roshan fight, where Gaimin Gladiators wiped out Tundra, securing a massive 17k net worth lead. From there, they grouped up as five and closed out the game, taking the first victory of the series.

Game 2: A 20k Lead by 20 Minutes—Gaimin Gladiators Sweep the Series

Game 2 statistics. (Credit: Valve)

Game 2 followed a similar script to the first, with Gaimin Gladiators sticking to their signature fast-paced playstyle. This time, they led the charge with Sand King in the midlane and Pit Lord in the offlane, both setting a relentless tempo from the start.

Gaimin Gladiators once again excelled at early rotations and quick objective-taking, grouping up and applying pressure before Tundra’s greedy core lineup had a chance to scale into the late game. By the 20-minute mark, Gaimin Gladiators had already amassed a 20k net worth lead, and Tundra found themselves slowly falling apart. Unable to stop the bleeding, Tundra eventually conceded, giving Gaimin Gladiators a swift and dominant 2-0 series win.

"They’ve Seen Us Too Many Times": Seleri Anticipates a Tough Matchup with Liquid

Old Rivals, New Battle: Can Team Liquid Turn the Tables on Gaimin Gladiators? (Credit: Valve)

Following the series, Melchior "Seleri" Hillenkamp, captain of Gaimin Gladiators, was interviewed to share his thoughts on their dominant performance against Tundra Esports. When asked how they managed to pull off such a convincing win, Seleri responded:

"We just had really nice lanes. We were able to play our game, they played a bit too slow for how we like to play and I think we just executed really well. I am very proud of how we played."

Seleri's comments highlight the team’s confidence and their ability to maintain control from the very start, which proved key in their overwhelming victory.

With their victory, Gaimin Gladiators now advance to the upper bracket finals, where they will face Team Liquid, a team that has also been dominant throughout the tournament. This matchup is highly anticipated and has become a classic rivalry, as Gaimin Gladiators have consistently been a major challenge for Team Liquid.

When asked if he expects a similar outcome in their upcoming match against Liquid, Seleri was cautious but respectful of their opponents, saying:

"No, it's never easy, I am sure Liquid is ready. They've seen us too many times,  I am sure they are ready this time".

Seleri’s response expresses respect for Team Liquid’s preparation, suggesting the upcoming match will be a challenging and intense showdown.

Read More: Team Falcons vanquish Eastern Europe's last hope from TI13

Featured Image Source: Twitter. @GaiminGladiator