Aurora, the only Southeast Asian team competing at BetBoom Dacha Dubai 2024, opened the tournament by drawing 1-1 with Virtus.pro. As part of the first series of Group A, both teams displayed strong lineups and gameplay execution to win their respective games. Virtus.pro took the first game with methodical play, using its lineup's superiority to its advantage to win 1-0 before Aurora came back in the second game with a fast paced draft. Both teams, given the presence of other formidable teams in Group A, will only see a rise in the level of competition moving forward.
Aurora vs Virtus.pro: Match recap and highlights
Recap
Game 1 began slowly, which favored Virtus.pro since its heroes had superior lane matchups and took use of the space to acquire objectives and more form. Meanwhile, Aurora's Anti Mage led lineup required the squad to exercise caution. The team was unable to fight for the majority part and was forced to watch as its Barracks were taken down.
Virtus.pro appeared to be on track to win without resistance until it became overzealous and began pushing tier 4 towers which did not work out. The team maintained its lead, but Aurora managed to keep the networth disadvantage under control. Nevertheless, Kiritych showcased exceptional skills on Morphling that led Virtus.pro to a 44 minute victory
In game 2, Aurora played a classic lineup featuring a mid Dragon Knight, support Mirana, and carry Sven with impressive skill. The lineup's tankiness and defensive abilities dominated Virtus.pro from the start. Virtus.pro struggled to deal sufficient damage, falling behind and ultimately losing the game in just 37 minutes without putting up much of a fight.
Highlights
Here are some highlights of the series.
The first game of the series was marked by Aurora's characteristic slow pace and gameplay that did not work out at the end, but the second game was a welcome change, marked by the team's quick play and intent on winning early. Even Nuengnara "23savage" Teeramahanon on Sven played an active part, helping the team rack up kills.
In the coming games, it will be interesting to see if the team employs this approach more frequently.
Other teams in Group A include Gaimin Gladiators, LGD Gaming, Team Falcons, and Team Liquid. Aurora’s next series takes place against Team Liquid while Virtus.pro competes against LGD Gaming on 5th Feb.