NewBee Tops iG in Nail-Biter, Bags ECL 2014 Title
After three months of endless battles between the Chinese top teams, the Esports Champions League 2014 Autumn Championship has drawn to a conclusion, with NewBee getting the top spot after beating Invictus Gaming (iG), 3-2. Chen “Hao” Zhihao and co. had a one-game winners’ bracket advantage; this helped them get the title and a handsome prize of $16,300 (P730,000~). iG, captained by Luo “Luo” Yinqi, fought to the very end and they ended up getting second place along with $3,260 (P146,000~).
Coming into the series with one game advantage did help NewBee to take the title from what seemed to be a formidable run by iG. iG took the The International (TI) 4 champions by surprise, getting ahead of the series, 2-1. In both games, iG showed immense discipline and map control, not allowing NewBee to take any lead within the game.
In the fourth game, iG was ahead throughout the early to middle part of the game. Having early dominance with successful pick offs and ganks left and right around the map secured a great lead for iG. However, the breaks of the game defined the outcome of the match: NewBee came back from a farmed-up carry Morphling by NewBee.Zhi “Hao” Chen. The TI 4 Champs forced a game five as a result.
In game five, NewBee overcame the odds of the pushing line-up by iG revolving around Lycan, Ember and Invoker. NewBee held the lead early to the game and never let go of it. It was a snowball for the TI defending champions; they seized and destroyed iG’s base, 43 minutes in.
The game at the 30-minute mark. Hao (on the Weaver) just picked off Chuan’s Skywrath Mage in the Radiant jungle.
The tournament featured 10 participating teams with a two-group round robin, with the top two teams from each group going to the playoffs. In this case, LGD Gaming, Newbee, iG and Vici Gaming went on to the next round. Vici Gaming was the first to be eliminated in the playoffs, followed by LGD Gaming, who placed third in the tournament. — with reports from Jasper Arcalas
The final standings are as follows:
1st place: NewBee: $16,300 (P730,000~)
2nd place: Invictus Gaming: $3,260 (P146,000~)
3rd place: LGD Gaming: $1,628 (P73,000~)
Game drafts:
Game 2 Draft:
Game 2 draft between NewBee and Invictus Gaming (Screen captured from TrackDota)
Game 3 Draft:
Game 4 Draft:
Game 4 draft between NewBee and Invictus Gaming (Screen captured from TrackDota)
Game 5 Draft:
Game 5 draft between NewBee and Invictus Gaming (Screen captured from TrackDota)
Featured image: CESPC (ECL official website)
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