Analysing the Competition: Our TI12 Lower Bracket Predictions

Dota 2

18 Oct

Otomo

The International 12 (TI12) lower bracket will start in just a few short days. Eight teams will battle it out to stay alive, with half of them advancing and the other half going home.

We have gathered all the data, examined all the teams, and we have made our TI12 lower bracket predictions for you to know what to expect when the playoffs begin.

Strafe Esports TI12 lower bracket predictions

TSM vs Shopify Rebellion

Shopify Rebellion
Credits: Youtube. @h0lyhex0r

The first lower bracket match will include two teams that have faced off against each other numerous times. TSM and Shopify Rebellion are North American teams and have played against each other six times this year.

The results of these six matches are two draws, two victories for TSM, and two wins for Shopify Rebellion. It's impossible to pick a winner in this matchup based on past results.

Both teams placed second in their last major tournament appearance. Shopify took second in DreamLeague season 21, losing to Team Spirit in the finals, while TSM took silver in BetBoom Dacha against Gaimin Gladiators.

So far, TSM has impressed at the TI12 group stage, going 4-4, while Shopify has looked a lot less stable with a 2-6 score.

It's nearly impossible to pick one team from these two, as they have near-equal performances in the past. However, we believe that TSM enters the lower bracket with more momentum on their side. TSM also tends to pick more unorthodox heroes such as Zeus, Pudge, and Lone Druid, which could surprise Shopify and cost them the game.

Strafe Esports prediction: TSM wins with a 2-1 score.

Evil Geniuses vs Gaimin Gladiators

In the last six months, Gaimin Gladiators has taken on Evil Geniuses six times.

Half of those matches ended with a 1-1 draw for the two teams, while the other half saw Gaimin Gladiators emerge victorious.

We believe that trend will continue at TI12. EG entered the tournament as the best team in South America yet they barely scraped by the group stage.

Gaimin Gladiators on the other hand came out swinging, going 5-3 in the groups. They had the misfortune of facing Talon Esports in their seeding match. Talon has been the Gladiator's kryptonite in the past.

Everyone enjoys seeing the underdog pull off an upset, but we honestly can't see the three-time Major winners dropping out of TI12 this early.

Strafe Esports prediction: Gaimin Gladiators take this 2-0.

Keyd Stars vs BetBoom Team

BetBoom team at TI12

We're going into unknown territory now, as these two teams have never played against each other in the past. It'll be a brand-new matchup for them.

BetBoom Team is comprised of the biggest names in Eastern Europe and they have proven themselves to be impressive competitors. They placed top three in every DPC Tour, as well as two top-three finishes in DreamLeague.

Yet BetBoom is also a volatile team, doing well one day and then bombing out the next. BetBoom failed to make it to the top eight at any of the Majors this year, faltering when faced with International competition.

Keyd Stars on the other hand have had a Cinderella run so far. Open qualifier teams tend to be underestimated and Keyd Stars looked like the most likely team to be eliminated from Group D.

Apart from their 0-2 loss against Talon, Keyd Stars took a game off every other team in their group, a notable accomplishment against the likes of Tundra Esports and TSM.

So on the one hand we have an incredible but unstable Eastern European team, and on the other, we have a rising star from South America, now that's a tough one.

Honestly, it's hard to pick between these two squads, but we believe that with their backs against the wall and their greater International experience, that BetBoom Team will come out on top and make it to the top 12 at The International.

Strafe Esports prediction: BetBoom wins a tough 2-1 series.

Tundra Esports vs Entity

Tundra Esports
Credits: Twitter.@TundraEsports

The defending International champions are off to a rough start in the playoffs. Despite going 7-1 in the group stage, one (very unexpected) loss to nouns has put Tundra in the lower bracket.

This doesn't mean Tundra Esports should be underestimated. The TI11 champions have 8 Aegis under their belt if one includes the team's coach.

With four days to prepare and their lives on the line, we can't see Tundra getting eliminated from the first stage of the playoffs.

Entity will need to pull off an incredible draft to advance and so far that seems unlikely, as Entity has played the fewest heroes in the tournament amongst all remaining teams.

Perhaps Entity could pull a rabbit out of a hat just when they need to, but then again they are facing an incredible opponent. It would have to be a pretty huge rabbit and we just don't see it happening.

Strafe Esports prediction: Tundra Espots advances with a 2-0 score.

That's our TI12 lower bracket predictions, be sure to leave a comment to tell us if you agree or not and how you think the first round will play out.