Cover-Credits:
The new OG players seem to follow a similar strategy and thought process to their predecessors. When the team faced Natus Vincere in its OGA Dota PIT Season 5: Europe/CIS debut, the team played some funky strategies but one, in particular, stood out, namely Ammar "ATF" Al-Assaf's offlane Faceless Void. It had been a close series tied at 1-1 heading into the third game, but OG's move to pick a Faceless Void in the end for the third game proved to be a masterstroke as it allowed the team to play the game at its pace, and NAVI was helpless in responding to it, losing the game and the series 2-1.
OG vs NAVI: Match Recap and Highlights
Recap
During Game 1, both teams found some decent farm in the laning stage, but NAVI's mid-game draft allowed it to secure some crucial kills and take down objectives. It was not all bad for OG either, as it always managed to find some counter kills, and as the game progressed, its core duo - a mid Lina and a safelane Clinkz - increased their damage output significantly. It all came down to that one Roshan fight and the buybacks. NAVI's decision making was poor around the pit and it lost the game in 43 minutes.
In game 2, a comprehensive performance was put on display by NAVI, playing methodically and preventing OG from recovering. As part of its draft, OG chose a support in Visage and a carry in Void Spirit. The draft did not turn out as it had hoped, and NAVI won in 32 minutes.
In game 3, it was another interesting draft from OG, with the team selecting an offlane Faceless Void and a position four Ember Spirit. As in the previous game, the laning stage was not optimal since two of the three lanes were lost. However, NAVI slowed down in its pace in the mid game, while OG made some great moves to take the lead. ATF shrewdly barely used Chronosphere in spite of the fact that there were setups that prevented NAVI from committing fully to a teamfight. This went on for a long time and it was only after a three man Chronosphere that NAVI decided to tap out in 31 minutes.
Highlights
Here are some highlights of the series.
OG and NAVI appeared to have entered this OGA Dota PIT Season 5: Europe/CIS series with a mindset of experimenting with strategies. Though NAVI did not go for something too out of the ordinary, OG, on the other hand, was all in on exploring non-traditional builds as well as off-meta heroes. As it turned out, OG came out on top 2-1, but NAVI fought hard as well.
OG progresses to the next round of the upper bracket where it will face the winner of Tundra Esports vs Team Spirit. On the other hand, NAVI falls to the lower bracket.
