Cover-Credits:
The Lima Major 2023 Group Stage continues to provide surprises, upsets and even controversial moments on Day Three. While the eighteen teams managed to provide some entertaining matches, the biggest winners of Day Three were none other than HellRaisers, the only team that won all of its matches for the day despite getting off to a horrible start.
While HellRaisers ended up taking the spotlight for the day, there were also a lot of matches and game highlights to watch from the third day of the group stage. With that in mind, here is a full recap of the events that went down on Day Three.
Lima Major 2023 Group Stage: Day Three Recap
Group A
Tundra Esports slowly crumbling down
While The International 2022 (TI11) champion had a decent start to the group stage, Day Three saw the team being heavily humiliated as it was defeated by representatives of the region hosting the Major, Evil Geniuses as well as PSG.LGD.
Tundra Esports still has a couple of days to reflect on their mistakes and address them moving forward, but the losses will have had an impact on the team’s psyche.
Evil Geniuses took down the defending TI champion
Despite only managing to draw against EHOME on Day Three, Evil Geniuses’ 2-0 victory against the defending TI (The International) champion Tundra Esports saw the team get itself into a good position to qualify for the Upper Bracket of the Playoffs stage in the coming days.
While many would have expected the series to be a draw, the performances of carry player Crhistian "Pakazs" Casanova saw Evil Geniuses becoming the standard bearer for the South American region.
PSG.LGD grabs its much needed first win of the group stage
PSG.LGD had it rough for the past couple of days, as the team was in danger of ending up in the bottom of the group. However, despite drawing another series against Talon Esports, PSG.LGD was able to grab its much needed first win in the group stage by winning against Tundra Esports.
While PSG.LGD still needs a couple of more victories to remain in contention for an Upper Bracket slot for the Playoffs stage, its victory against the defending TI champion must have given them a major confidence boost.
Group B
HellRaisers rises to the occasion on Day Three
Despite HellRaisers’ horrible start to the group stages, Day Three saw the team finally step up to the plate as it won both of its matches against heavy favorites BetBoom Team and Team Aster.
While Hellraisers only has two more games to play in the group stage, its double victory on Day Three will give the players the much needed motivation to press onwards at the Major.
BetBoom in heavy danger of going home early
Despite being considered by many as a top contender for the championship title at the Major, BetBoom Team has come as a major disappointment so far during the group stages as the team currently sits in eighth place in the group standings.
While many were heavily criticizing the team, the massive drop in performance is understandable as BetBoom’s midlaner Danil “gpk” Skutin fell presumably ill right before the Group Stage, according to Escorenews.com. However with the Group Stage ready to wrap up in a couple of days, BetBoom Team needs to win its remaining matches to remain in the Major.
Knights managed to draw despite match-fixing allegations
Knights was finally able to win a game against Shopify Rebellion, however the Chinese team was only able to draw the series against the North American team as it continued its losing streak with 4 consecutive losses.
Additionally, the team was once again under fire for match fixing at the Major with several community figures pointing out unusual behavior and betting odds during its matches against Geek Slate and Entity.
Day Three of the Group Stage has provided a lot of upsets, as well as a good deal of drama along with some exceptional plays. We will continue to have more Lima Major action later today, as Day Four of the Group Stage will begin as early as 11:00 PM SGT.
You can check out the schedule and results of all the Lima Major games through AFK Gaming's event tracker below.
