Closing out the game day with Team Liquid vs OG
The DPC 2023: WEU Upper Division - Tour II games continue to gain momentum. Within the top division, the second day of the regular season comes to an end.
Rounding out the day will be a match-up between Liquid and OG. A battle of the top teams in contention for the top 4, what could be better for Thursday night?
Both clubs will be fighting for a spot in the TOP 4 and consequently a passage to the Berlin Major 2023. Both clubs started the new round with a loss, which means they will have to pick up points in the following games by all means and start with this match.
Team Liquid took 1st place in the first round of DPC 2023: WEU Upper Division, winning 7 games out of 7. At the start of the new cycle, they have already managed to lose their first match.
OG finished in 5th place last season. The team won 4 out of 7 matches and missed the Lima Major 2023.
We try to analyze which team will be stronger in such an important encounter, and who will be able to earn the necessary points after the first defeat, levelling the situation in the table.
Team Liquid form
We begin our coverage with an analysis of Team Liquid's form. They'll have to play this game as a favorite.
The bookmakers are confident of Liquid's success. The odds for Nish and company to win are estimated at around 1.3.
Judging by the number, Team Liquid already has a win in their pocket. On paper it does look simple and easy, but I don't have as much confidence as the bookmakers.
Team Liquid's line-up
Team Liquid has not undergone any changes since the Lima Major 2023. Technically, they don't need to as Team Liquid was doing great in the first round and it seemed that nothing will prevent them from taking the first major.
Team Liquid players
Towards the end of the Lima Major 2023, Team Liquid fell ill with Boxi. The loss of the four was very critical, and despite reaching the grand final of the Lima Major 2023, the Liquid looked very unhappy.
In the first match of the second cycle, Liquid had Boxi back in action, but he was unable to affect the result. "Liquid" looked unaccustomedly weak, which brings worrying thoughts.
Team Liquid's performance
Last season Team Liquid played almost flawlessly in the top flight. The team did not lose a single series, giving up only two cards.
Having made it to the Lima Major 2023, Team Liquid were placed in Group B, where they eventually proved their worth. "Liquid" won their basket, closing with a score of 14-2, exactly the same as the DPC season.
As the Lima Major 2023 playoffs progressed, the team was well on their way to the grand final, but before the final wingers Boxi was forced to leave the tournament for health reasons. Thus Team Liquid fell to the bottom of the net.
In the losers, the Liquid managed to eliminate Talon and return to the top net final, where the Gladiators awaited them. With a replacement in the slot of four, Liquid were unable to compete with GG and lost.
In the first match of the second round, DPC Team Liquid extended their losing streak. Gaimin Gladiators did away with the Liquid with a score of 2-0.
Team Liquid heroes
The most popular hero of the last round for Team Liquid was Treant Protector. The character appeared in spades 13 times and had a 76% win rate.
Nature`s Prophet and Tiny were also popular. Both appeared in spades 8 times, but the first has a win rate of 87% and the second has a win rate of 75.
There were also Tusk (7 games, 71% win rate), Rubick (7 games, 57% win rate) and Snapfire (5 games, 100% win rate).
OG Form
Let's move on to the breakdown of OG's playing form. The odds of winning the international squad of a top club are slim.
OG play in underdog status and that's a fact. The odds of the team winning according to bookmakers are estimated at odds in the region of 3.
Not bad, but not good at all. OG have deflated after a successful 2021-2022 season and now fall short of their status as a contender for high places in international events.
OG roster
There have been strategic changes to the OG roster before the start of the new cycle. Nominally no one has joined the team, but the shift has taken place.
OG Players
Changes have come to the 5 position and also the captain's position. Former coach Chu replaced Misha at the 5th position slot and doesn't look good so far.
The main problem for OG in the new round, as far as I'm concerned, is the lack of a clear leader and captain. They looked rather disjointed in the first game of the new tour, and if things continue at the same pace, OG will start to have serious problems.
OG's performance
At DPC 2023: WEU Upper Division - Tour I OG finished 5th. The team played the regular season at 4-3.
The team beat Entity, Secret, Gaimin Gladiators and Into The Breach on their way to the top 4, but lost to Tundra, Nigma and Team Liquid. That's how they got to the re-match.
In the round-robin replay, OG played against Tundra and Entity. Both OG and Entity lost twice, which ultimately kept them out of the Lima Major 2023.
In the first match of the new round, OG's opponent was Tundra. The same Tundra that failed at Lima Major 2023 beat OG 2-0 in their first home league match, but truth be told, OG had a chance on both cards.
OG Heroes
The most picked character is Rubick (8 matches, 50% wins).
Also took Lina (6 games, 83% wins), Treant Protector (6 games, 50% wins), Death Prophet (6 games, 33% wins), Tiny (5 games, 80% wins), Snapfire (5 games, 40% wins).
History of face-offs
The teams have played each other in DPC 2023: WEU Upper Division - Tour I. That series ended on three maps with 2-1 in Liquid's favour but then Misha played for OG and Chu coached.
Result of the match
In this clash, we have every chance of watching a brightly contested three-card duel. Based on the results of the first series of these clubs, this outcome looks the most likely to me.
If picking a winner, Team Liquid has the better chance and that's obvious. Boxi has not fully recovered, it should be enough to beat the modified OG, but not without a run out.
Bottom line: total +2.5.
