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We're continuing our review of what's going on at DreamLeague Season 22. The group stage matches continue, where teams are trying to earn points to qualify for the play-offs of the first ranking championship.
Azure Ray and G2.IG are among the contenders for the exit. This Chinese derby stunts the final round of the first stream of matches of the third game day in Group A.
Trying to figure out how the Chinese derby between Azure Ray and G2.IG will end. Will either side be able to close out the series and the standings.
Let's go.
Azure Ray's form.
We open the match breakdown with an analysis of Azure Ray's match form. In this match, AR will play the number one side, with odds to win at around 1.5.
Azure Ray at the Long Season last season looked like a team playing solely for the result, i.e. getting to the Major . We've seen a similar story with super teams coming together, some results in the first months and oblivion at the end.
I'm not sure that Azure Ray will follow the same scenario, but there are concerns about it. For now, though, we'll see.
Azure Ray made it to Bali Major 2023 by playing their home league. They played at the top-4, which is not a decent indicator for a team with such names.
At Bali Major 2023 Azure Ray were one step away from elimination from the tournament. The Somnus team managed to beat Bleed on tiebreaks for the top-6 of Group B.
They didn't make it far in the playoffs, but top-8 is already an indicator. Especially if we take into account the "freshness" of the team as a unit.
Due to poor performance due to lack of practice, Azure Ray could not guarantee themselves a direct entry to The International 2023. The slot had to be earned during the qualifiers and Azure Ray managed it: in the final of the qualifiers they beat Xtreme Gaming with a score of 3-1.
At the main tournament of the year the famous Chinese got into Group B, where they faced top teams like Liquid and the same BB. They managed to secure the third place, after which they easily defeated Entity 2-0 in the knockout matches for seeding in the play-offs.
Azure Ray started the playoffs with a victory over the main tournament opener - the Nouns team. After beating the Americans Azure Ray met perhaps their main rival at this tournament - their compatriots from LGD Gaming. And that match they lost without a chance, with the score 0-2. Then Azure Ray beat BB Team, but in the match for the top 3 Ledge and Gaimin Gladiators.
At the end of The International 2023, Azure Ray finished in the top 4. At the Long Season 2024 they rebuilt the roster, strengthening it considerably.
- Azure Ray roster: Lou, Ori, Faith_bian, fy, 天命.
Azure Ray's first major appearance was ESL Kuala Lumpur 2023. There they played well in the group stage, finishing top 1 in Group A. They played to a score of 8-2 on mapmaps.
The success in the group stage led the team to the championship in the first major tournament for the club. Azure Ray were crowned champions of Kuala Lumpur 2023, beating GG in the grand final.
AR are looking good in 2024. Won the qualifiers for BB Dacha and DL Season 2022, but will miss ESL Birmingham after losing in the final of the qualifiers. In addition, finished in the top 4 at BB Dacha.
Azure Ray bounced back from the first game day of DL S22 with a 0-2-0 score. The Chinese drew with Gaimin Gladiators and Falcons. The next day was a real failure for Azure Ray: losses from BB Team and Heroic moved them to the penultimate line of the group stage.
Azure Ray's most popular heroes
Storm Spirit remains the most popular Azure Ray hero. The character has appeared 9 times and has a winrate of around 66%.
Next are Pugna (8 matches, 62% win rate), Pangolier (7 matches, 71% win rate), Batrider (7 matches, 71% win rate), Techies (7 matches, 57% win rate).
There's also Keeper of the Light (6 games, 66% win rate), Silincer (6 matches, 50% win rate), Medusa (6 matches, 50% win rate).
Form G2.IG
We continue the analysis of Azura Ray vs G2.IG with the analysis of G2.IG form. Here they will play as number two, and the odds for their victory are at around 2.1.
In the first round of DPC 2023 Invictus Gaming took the top 6, almost losing their place in the top division, but they survived. Naturally, Major e was out of the question.
In the second round of DPC 2023: China Upper Division there was no talk about Major e either, but somehow Invictus Gaming got there. The team made it to the top-3 in the home league, only to fall to the ground with a bang: at Berlin Major 2023 Invictus Gaming finished in the top-18.
The third season of DPC gave hope for an IG comeback. IG went to Bali with a top-2 DPC in their pocket, but the curtain came down. The team finished top-18, thus failing to confirm their status as the top-2 team in China.
- IG lineup: Monet, NothingToSay, JT-, BoBoKa, xNova.
After a series of failures, which can be attributed to the failure at the qualifiers for The International 2023, IG completely rebuilt the roster, inviting all the top players from the region. Now the team has a lot of potential to fulfil.
The renewed G2.IG squad showed great results in the group stage of ESL One Kuala Lumpur 2023. The Chinese took the top 1 in Group B Ledgeiv on only one map. In the first play-offs match, G2.IG faced Gaimin Gladiators. In an intense match, one of last season's top teams, GG, proved to be stronger and closed out the series with a 2-1 score.
Falling to the bottom grid of Kuala Lumpur 2023 the team lost to BB Team and left the championship. As a result, G2.IG finished in the top 8 at the first major tournament of the season.
Next, G2.IG played 3 qualifying tournaments. BB Dacha 2024: CN and SEA Closed Qualifiers, where they finished top 8, DL Season 22: China Qualifier, where they finished top 2 and ESL One Birmingham 2024: China Closed Qualifier, where they finished first.
DreamLeague Season 22 G2.IG got off to a terrible start. The team played two series and lost both of them with the score 0-2. The second day was much better - already two draws.
The most popular Invictus Gaming heroes
The most popular IG pic is Timbersaw. The character appeared in the team's games 5 times and has 60% wins.
Other picks include Spirit Breaker (4 matches, 75% wins), Medusa (4 matches, 75% wins), Silencer (4 matches, 50% wins).
There was also Void Spirit (3 matches, 100% wins), Brewmaster (3 matches, 100% wins), Monkey King (3 matches, 66% wins).
History of head-to-head meetings Azure Ray - G2.IG
Previously the teams have played each other twice during the season: at the qualifiers for DL Season 22, when Azure Ray won and at the qualifiers for ESL Birmingham 2024, where G2.IG won.
Predicted result of G2.IG vs Azure Ray at DreamLeague Season 22
This Chinese derby promises to be an interesting one for The International, as both teams know each other well, know the strengths and weaknesses of their rivals and have already played each other during the season. Everything suggests a draw, but I'm leaning towards a win for Azure Ray, even despite their lacklustre performance on the second match day.
Bottom line: Azure Ray wins.
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