The important dota is heating up with the DPC 2023: EEU Upper Division - Tour II matches. There's another exciting derby ahead.
HellRaisers and Vp will play their first Upper Division match in the second round. Both teams will be in contention for the top 4 and so we'll expect them to come out on top from the opening games of DPC 2023: EEU Upper Division - Tour II.
HR will start in the second round having retained their place in League One after DPC 2023: EEU Upper Division - Tour 1. The Hellraisers then finished 3rd in the league, finishing the season 5-2.
Vp finished the previous season in 4th place. Then the team won 4 matches out of 7 played.
Let's see which team will be stronger at the start of the new season and start their way to the coveted Top 3 with a win, and who will have to give the first points to their direct rival on their way to the majors.
HellRaisers form
Let's start the breakdown of the match by analysing the HellRaisers' form. They are predicted to be favourites for this match.
The bookmakers trust HR. They'll put their odds at 1.5.
A fairly manageable figure for a reasonably competitive team. We saw the strength of HellRaisers last season when Solo and company managed to climb into the top 3. I wouldn't say it was too much of a challenge, given the problems with the roster.
HellRaisers line-up
As it became known closer to the start of the Lima Major 2023, HR played in a rather toxic atmosphere almost all season. The Hellraisers' then-carry Daxak did not suit the team and at the last minute they had to look for a replacement. They found one, but on a temporary basis, and so they approached the new tour with a new keeper.
HellRaisers players
- RAMZES
- kiyotaka
- MieRo`
- Antares
- Solo
RAMZES is the new HR player. To be honest, such a personnel reshuffle does not seem like a good decision to me.
Ramzes' joining HR is a desperate move because there were no worthy candidates in the roster. They could have brought in a young roster player, but HR apparently decided to go the opposite route and add another egocentric performer with leadership tendencies to the apparent authority of Solo.
In his last team (Darkside) Ramzes acted as number 1 and pulled the blanket over himself. The days of the "golden squad" of Vp, when Solo and Ramzes played together, are gone, and now it is uncertain whether Ramzes' flamboyant personality will rub shoulders with Solo, who is building a clear vertical of leadership for his Vp roster.
HR performance
HellRaisers finished the first regular season 4-3. In addition to DPC, HR played in outside tournaments for BB.
They played in the BB Universe: Episode 1 - Cosmic Zone. There they managed to make it through the group stage but didn't make it to the play-offs: HR crashed the first game in the top flight and then lost to Ooredoo Thunder in the bottom flight and left the event.
At the Lima Major 2023, the HellRaisers were placed in Group B. Nominally one of the weakest teams in the basket, they managed to win 7 out of 16 matches and then beat Geek Slate in tiebreaks, thereby qualifying for the main stage of the championship.
In the first round of the playoffs, HR faced their last match in the Lima Major 2023. Talon Esports beat their archrivals 2-0, knocking them out of the tournament.
HR Heroes
The most chosen HellRaisers heroes were Enchantress (4 matches, 75% wins), Tusk (4 matches, 75% wins), Alchemist (3 matches, 100% wins), Crystal Maiden (3 matches, 100% wins), Legion Commander (3 matches, 100% wins).
In addition, like to use meth cairns, which suits Ramzes with his pool. Of these, Naga Siren (6 matches, 50% wins), Sniper (5 matches, 60% wins) can be noted.
Vp Uniforms
Let's move on to a review of Vp's playing form. The team is playing in this match in the status of the outsider.
Bookmakers do not particularly believe in the success of Virtus.pro. The odds of their victory are estimated at around 2.3.
The number is clearly not critical, and the difference between the teams is quite blurred. In my opinion, the teams worth playing here are worth each other.
Composition of Vp
Virtus.pro, as well as HellRaisers, will play in the new round with a renewed lineup. This decision was dictated by the need to make adjustments in a failed attempt to assemble a capable line-up of "young and hot".
Virtus.pro players
- Kiritych
- squad1x
- Noticed
- sayuw
- Fng
Kiritych and Fng have joined Vp before the new tour. No questions about the former: he played in Nemiga and was a memorable character and team headliner.
The other is fng. The last time fng actively played Dota was last May when he played for the dubious "star mix" CIS Rejects, with whom he expectedly failed.
Vp here is trying to find a Solo of the 2017 period, but something tells me they won't be able to do so. The fng and his "genius" are left somewhere in 2021 when he and Alliance were winning Western Europe.
Vp's performance
DPC Virtus.pro finished in 4th place last round. The team finished last season 4-3, losing to all their direct rivals: BB, Spirit and HR.
Prior to the start of the first round, Vp played at BB's Xmas Show. There the team finished in 4th place.
After an "average" performance at DPC 2023: EEU Upper Division - Tour 1, the team played at BB Universe: Episode I - Comics Zone. The team failed the tournament, not with a bang, but finished in the top 8 without taking any prizes.
Vp Heroes
Virtus.pro's most selectable character remains Disruptor (9 matches, 55% wins). On the heels of Thunderer is Undying (8 matches, 50% wins).
Also VP picks Shadow Fiend (4 matches, 75% wins), Silencer (4 matches, 50% wins), Lina (4 matches, 50% wins).
Haven't played on new patch yet, so waiting for adjustments.
History of head-to-head encounters
Last season HR outplayed Vp in DPC 2023: EEU Upper Division Tour 1, but a slightly different HR were the creators of victory then. The teams still haven't played with updated rosters.
Match outcome
In this encounter, you can expect a roughly even fight. Both squads will be practicing due to the presence of newcomers.
If they have to pick a winner, they should logically be HR because of their better-coordinated roster with one substitution and the experience they gained at the Lima Major. However, I don't believe the Hellraisers will win outright.
Bottom line: victory for HR.
