Cover image source: Adela Sznajder | ESL One Genting
Fnatic and Mineski came out on top in the SEA Qualifiers, booking their spots at million dollar LAN. Fnatic will look to seal their qualification for TI9 at Paris while Mineski look to improve upon their past results, and placing well to have a shot at direct qualification.
Fnatic have looked like the best SEA team by far and a third-place finish at Stockholm has come at quite a good time for them. The team have played at every Major so far and have been the top seeds from SEA each time around. The Paris Major qualifiers were no different, as Fnatic took down TNC 2-1 in the winner bracket finals. After Armel’s Puck gace TNC an early lead in the series, Fnatic struck back with a mid-Pangolier for Abed in game 2. In game 3, TNC found their Drow pick countered by MP’s Spectre and the game never looked like it was going their way.
After a slow start to the season, Mineski seem to have picked up, qualifying to their second Major of the season. Former players, Ninjaboogie and Bimbo returned to the squad to guide to team to an exciting 2-1 win over TNC in the lower bracket finals. Mineski started off the day with a 2-0 over EVOS Esports in a rather clinical and one-sided series. Against TNC, they conceded the first game with Armel’s Ember styling on them throughout. In games 2 and 3, Mineski’s decision to pick up offlane Omniknight for kpii worked out rather well for them as it deterred TNC’s ability to fight quite heavily. While game 2 saw Mineski run away with a sub-30-minute win, game 3 took a slightly more laboured effort after TNC started showing signs of life.
Moments like this live on in your memory forever! So proud of my boys today, see you all at Disneyland! @kpiidota @moon_dota @ragingpotatwo pic.twitter.com/hxD2Ycc82t
— Zak Holman (@DashOCE) April 1, 2019
While Fnatic has clearly shown that they can compete at the highest level, Mineski needs to improve upon their performances at LAN if they wish to pick up enough points for a direct slot at TI.
