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BOOM Esports have capped their astonishing run at The International 2022 by completing the biggest upset in the Dota 2 tournament yet. In their most recent outing, the Indonesian team defeated Team Secret in the first round of the lower bracket.
The team came into the tournament with a 99.6 percent chance of elimination. However, they have toppled the odds by making their way into the lower bracket having finished eighth in the group A standings.
Prior to the start of the match, BOOM Esports were outsiders on top esports betting sites, with odds set at $2.55 and Team Spirit at $1.56. It comes as a shock to the Dota 2 esports community to see the Asian franchise defeat and eliminate the TI10 reigning champions from the tournament.
The Russian team seemed to have issues coordinating themselves in the tournament group stage, leading them to a lower bracket run and an elimination game.
With Spirit being the favorites, they were expected to win the game and, down the line, the tournament, having had a good regular season. Fans went as far as to speculate that the squad would be the first team in Dota 2 history to win the competition via the lower bracket.
BOOM Esports were able to evade elimination in this match and continue their winning streak, having gotten the better of Evil Geniuses and the tiebreaker wins over BetBoom Team and Soniqs in Group A.
The Southeast Asian lineup seemed prepared for the match after banning several of Magomed “Collapse” Khalilov’s usual off-lane heroes. BOOM’s Erin “Yopaj” Ferrer made use of Mars, while Saieful “Fbz” Ilham picked Beastmaster.
Team Spirit, on their end, chose an offlane Outworld Destroyer to go with Lifestealer, Illya “Yatoro” Mulyarchuk’s hero.
The Russian team started the game strong after the team’s Lifestealer won the top lane. In the match’s first major fight, Spirit survived a gank launched by BOOM, which only showed how strong the team’s Lifstealer, as well as the OD picks, were.
To save his carry, Collapse cast OD’s Astral Imprisonment while Yatoro gave his off-laner extra HP by using Lifestealer’s Infest ultimate.
BOOM started playing with caution after losing the fight in the bottom lane, only engaging in scuffles when all five heroes were there. The move eventually paid off when Spirit were unable to keep up with BOOM’s players, and the team fight ultimates.
BOOM Esports team did not allow themselves to get into disadvantageous team fights, nor did they get cornered in tough spots. The Asian franchise were eventually able to get into the lead and take control of the map.
The team reached Spirit’s Dire base and took down the Dire Ancient while the Russian team could do little but watch. Spirit attempted to defend themselves once more, but BOOM were already too far in the lead and snagged their 1-0 victory.
The win earned the Southeast Asian squad at least a 9th-12th finish in the TI11, while Spirit ended their run in 13th place. BOOM’s new position also guarantees the team US$339,282 at the lowest in prize money.
Spirit’s loss cost fans the opportunity to see the team have their rematch against PSG.LGD in the second round of TI11’s lower bracket. Both teams previously faced off in the grand finals of the TI10.
In their lower bracket second round fixture, BOOM Esports will take on PSG.LGD instead on October 21. PSG.LGD are favorites to win the game on GG.BET with odds of $1.36.
