TnC drop to Lower Bracket, to face VG.R in Main Event

After solid performances in the first two days of The International 2016 (TI6) Group Stage, Filipino squad TnC fumbled on Day 3. After being swept 2-0 by OG and winning over Escape Gaming (ESC) 2-0, TnC was forced to the Lower Bracket after Alliance upset Evil Geniuses (EG).

Team standings after TI6’s Group Stage, TnC was unfortunately forced down to the Lower Bracket after a rough Day 3. Pic courtesy of Wykhrm Reddy

Despite TnC’s 5-5 record before Day 3, which put them on track for an Upper Bracket finish at the Main Event, they still needed to beat OG, one of the strongest teams in the tournament and the top team of Group A. The Pinoy squad needed to beat OG for a sure chance at the UB, or hope that the other teams can clear the way for them, but unfortunately OG proved too much for TnC to handle.

In Game 1, TnC wanted to run their highly successful Shadow Demon-Kunkka support duo, but was denied after OG picked Kunkka for themselves to support their core duo of Drow Ranger for Johan “N0tail” Sundstein and Invoker for Amer “Miracle-“ Al-Barkawi. The Pinoy squad then opted to pick up Terrorblade for Marc Polo “Raven” Luis and Tinker for Carlo “Kuku” Palad. OG got off to a strong start as TnC were unable to stop David “MoonMeander” Tan on Axe from farming the jungle, allowing him to get the core items he needed to take the fight to TnC. After already losing out on the laning stage, TnC were unable to get into fighting shape in time to stop OG’s aggression. Eventually, MoonMeander’s Axe and Miracle’s Invoker proved too much to handle as TnC called GG after 46 minutes.

Game 2 saw OG draft  a surprise Outworld Devourer pick, the first time he was picked in the tournament, for Miracle, coupled with Drow Ranger for Notail. TnC was able to snag their SD-Kunkka support duo, along with a carry Juggernaut and a mid Nyx Assassin to counter the OD. The Pinoy squad was unable to get their lineup going however as their SD-Kunkka support duo and mid Nyx were unable to get through OG’s tanky and mobile lineup, with sustained healing from a support Oracle.

TnC were able to bounce back from their crushing loss against OG with a quick 2-0 over ESC, but they needed Alliance, who they were tied with in Day 2, to lose to EG so they could slip through to the Upper Bracket. Unfortunately for the Pinoy squad, Alliance showed up as they took a convincing 2-0 sweep over EG, pushing the Swedes into the UB.

Now, TnC will have to kick off the Main Event with a best-of-one lower bracket match against Chinese team Vici Gaming Reborn on August 8. Given their track record of 2-0 sweeps against other top Chinese teams, TnC might have a good shot of at least breaking through to the safer best-of-three LB matches. Should TnC lose against VG.R, they will be going home with a shared 13th-16th place and around $100,000 for their  troubles. If the Pinoy squad makes it through however, then they will have to face the loser of the OG and MVP.Phoenix UB match. Until then, who knows what can happen? If the Group Stages have been indicative of what can happen in TI6, then it’ll be anybody’s game.

Stay tuned to eSports by Inquirer.net’s as we follow TnC, who will be fighting for their lives from the Lower Bracket, in The International 2016!

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