This article is part of our Dota 2 Recap series.
Striving to claim one of the four, highly coveted quarterfinal spots on their side of the bracket, the remaining eight teams at the Boston Major joined the fray on Day 2 of the main event. Each team that survived the day secured themselves at least $125,000 and a 5th-8th place finish. Day 2 was predicted to be the more boring half of the Round of 16, but it managed to be just as exciting as Day 2.
Team NP: Don't call it a comeback
Team NP, since its inception, has been regarded as a perpetual underdog. Despite having consistent success against teams considered to be far above their level of play, Team NP has been unable to shake the stigma of being just another erratic North American squad. Perhaps after today's 2-1 victory over the Chinese giant, EHOME, Team NP will be able to shirk their tainted title.
In Game 1, Team NP were flattened by EHOME. Their play was sloppy and disorganized, appearing to rely on reacting to EHOME rather than enacting a strategy of their own. Out-drafted and out-played, Team NP's impotent lineup was swept aside quickly and efficiently.
Returning to their bread and butter in Game 2, Team NP drafted a lineup with big teamfight potential. EHOME's lineup was reliant on getting ahead early to keep Team NP's heroes from farming for fear of being ambushed. Team NP suffered minimal losses, despite the heavy pressure from EHOME, and were able to protect their more important heroes. With synergy reminiscent of TI3-era Alliance, Team NP picked EHOME apart, forcing down objectives and crushing anyone in their path.
In Game 3, Team NP seized a boon in the form of a Naga Siren for Kurtis "Aui_2000" Ling. Leaving the core of their lineup largely unchanged, Team NP continued their phenomenal teamwork. Creating plenty of space of Aui_2000 in the early game, Team NP executed each engagement perfectly, erasing EHOME all at once on several occasions with their tremendous burst damage.
With the win, Team NP set up a showdown with fellow North American team, Digital Chaos, in tomorrow's quarterfinal match. Digital Chaos, though largely inactive since their second place finish at The International 6, took the top spot in Group A and disposed of Team Faceless 2-0 in their first round matchup.
Ad Finem: The Lions claw their way into top 8
Ad Finem shocked the analysts, the viewers, and even themselves with their 2-1 upset victory over Newbee. Celebrating the one-year anniversary of their team's birth a few days earlier, Ad Finem has much more to extol, having guaranteed their highest finish ever at a premier tournament.
With a patchwork lineup in Game 1, Ad Finem quickly found themselves in a precarious position against the heavily favored Newbee. Ad Finem's gold and experience were spread thin, having to mostly abandon their bottom lane after only five minutes. With their greedy support picks working against them thanks to their early setback, Ad Finem rolled over, unable to withstand the relentless onslaught from Newbee.
Looking to keep Ad Finem reeling and secure a swift victory, Newbee drafted an aggressive lineup, built to nab pickoffs and then push objectives. Ad Finem was able to delay Newbee's pushing power with some cheeky mid lane antics, creating time and space for their carry. Omar "Madara" Dabachach was the match MVP, racking up 15 kills and recording zero deaths as Morphling to deliver his team the victory and even the series.
In Game 3, Ad Finem ditched the gimmicky tactics and went toe-to-toe against Newbee, with both teams drafting lineups geared towards fighting. After several timely rotations from their support players, Ad Finem found themselves with an early game lead. With no intention of relinquishing their advantage, Ad Finem kept their foot on the gas, driving Newbee back into their own base. Nowhere left to run, Newbee were massacred in their own base as Ad Finem dove past the towers to secure kills, returning for the objectives with no fear of retaliation.
Having secured a top eight finish at their first Valve event, Ad Finem lept from their chairs to embrace one another, jubilant in their triumph. With this victory, Ad Finem have given themselves the opportunity to eliminate the remaining Chinese team at the Boston Major, LGD.Forever Young, who they will face tomorrow in the quarterfinals. LGD Forever Young defeated their main squad and heavy favorite, LGD, 2-0 in the final match of the Round of 16.
