Shopify Rebellion and TSM both cruised to 2-0 sweeps on Saturday in Group Stage 2 action at DreamLeague Season 19.
Shopify Rebellion toppled Gaimin Gladiators, while TSM took care of beastcoast as both squads improved to 1-1 in the Group Stage 2 standings.
Sixteen teams are competing in the $1 million Dota 2 event, which runs through April 23. The winner will receive $300,000 and qualification to the Riyadh Masters.
Two groups consisting of eight teams battled in Group Stage 1. The top four teams from each group moved on to Group Stage 2, while the bottom four teams were eliminated.
Group Stage 2 merges all eight teams into one group and features best-of-three matches. Four teams advance to the playoffs, with the top two teams moving into the upper bracket and the third- and fourth-place finishers competing in the lower bracket.
Those four teams will duke it out in a double-elimination bracket. All playoff matches are best-of-three, besides the April 23 grand final, which is best-of-five. Whoever wins that match earns the $300,000 and qualifies for the Riyadh Masters.
On Saturday, Shopify Rebellion won in 44 minutes on red before closing the match with a 31-minute victory on green. Iran’s Kasra “Mikey” Mesbah led the winning side with an 11.0-2.5-13.0 kills-death-assists ratio, while American Quinn “Quinn” Callahan paced Gaimin Gladiators with a 5.0-6.5-5.0 ratio.
TSM prevailed twice on green, winning in 46 minutes before making quick work of beastcoast in 26 minutes. Enzo “Timado” Gianoli of Peru finished with a 12.0-0.0-11.5 K-D-A for TSM, while none of beastcoast’s players managed to average more than five kills.
In other Group Stage 2 action Saturday, Team Liquid defeated Tundra Esports 2-1, and Evil Geniuses also earned a 2-1 win courtesy of a 33-minute victory on green on the decisive third map.
Group Stage 2 standings with match record, map record:
T1. beastcoast, 1-1 (2-3)
T1. Evil Geniuses, 1-1 (3-3)
T1. Gaimin Gladiators, 1-1 (2-2)
T1. OG, 1-1 (3-2)
T1. Shopify Rebellion, 1-1 (2-2)
T1. Team Liquid, 1-1 (2-3)
T1. TSM, 1-1 (2-2)
T1. Tundra Esports, 1-1 (3-2)
–Field Level Media