ESL One Manila: Team Empire Prevails Over Fan Favorites Secret

For the last match of the day, two powerhouses in the form of Secret and Empire in order to determine the last semi-finalist for ESL One Manila 2016.

The first game saw Secret pick Invoker, Crystal Maiden, Doom, Earthshaker and Clinkz, aiming to lock down their opponents in clashes, while Empire get Beastmaster, Enchantress, Batrider, Gyrocopter and Rubick for a more balanced team composition.

Ramzes666 on his Gyrocopter and EE on the Clinkz were effective in their respective roles throughout the game, with Secret generally keeping a slight advantage throughout the entirety of the match.

Scandal with an Aegis steal! @teamsecret read like a book! #ESLOne
https://t.co/XibTGFUYim

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— ESL Dota2 (@ESLDota2) April 23, 2016

While Team Secret got the first set of barracks on the top lane after a mistimed Roshan attempt by the CIS side, Empire was able to hold on thanks to a series of top-notch performances by Ramzes666 as well as Scandal’s Batrider.

However, their hopes were ended as Puppey and co. got the first map off a decisive engagement in the middle portion of Team Empire’s base at the 50-minute mark.

Sweet revenge for @teamsecret as they win game one vs the team that knocked them into the lower bracket! #ESLOne https://t.co/RNFLB9vIfq

— ESL Dota2 (@ESLDota2) April 23, 2016

As for the second game, Team Secret got themselves Crystal Maiden, Invoker, Enigma, Tidehunter and Drow Ranger, while Team Empire went for Enchantress, Spectre, Nyx Assassin, Rubick and Dark Seer.

First blood comes two minutes into the game when Ramzes666 on the Spectre, miposhka on the Enchantress and KingJR!? on the Rubick blocked Universe’s Tidehunter. The rest of the game went slowly in terms of kills as there were only seven kills in the space of fifteen minutes.

After winning a teamfight during the 17^th minute, Secret went on to assert more control over the game as they avoided a gank attempt by the Russian side as well as getting the first Roshan of the map. However, they were not able to capitalize on their Aegis and by the 24^th minute-mark, Empire won a huge teamfight in the middle lane due to a perfect Wall+Black Hole combo.

Even as Empire kept the pressure up, Secret kept on holding on – but by the 67th minute, a mind-blowing clash took place in the middle of the map, which allowed the Russians to finally bring it to a third game.

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!!?!?!!? THIS GAME #ESLOne #ESLOneManila https://t.co/EUsqKSpuYd

— ESL Dota2 (@ESLDota2) April 23, 2016

For the third game, Secret picked a Winter Wyvern, Lifestealer, Io, Outworld Destroyer and Beastmaster to allow them to take fights head-on while having multiple avenues of initation, while Empire picked Slark, Nature’s Prophet, Nyx Assassin, Enchantress and Disruptor, emphasizing mobility and map control.

The 40-minute match saw EE’s Lifestealer devouring neutral creeps and Slark boasting a 6-0-8 KDA record, getting kills all over the map with the help of his team.

In the end, Empire prevailed over Team Secret in order to take the match, 2-1, becoming the last team to proceed to the semi-finals. Secret will get $12,500 for finishing joint 5th-6th place in the tournament.

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