T1 vs Vikin.gg: Match Recap, Highlights, and Kuku Interview

T1 has gotten off to a great start in the ESL One Summer 2021 with a convincing win over Vikin.gg in the upper bracket round 2. Kuku and his teammates had an easy win in game 1, but they seemed to be losing the second game. Having lost two Barracks, T1 was on the verge of losing the second game and taking the series to a third game. But T1 exhibited some top-notch decision making and teamfight execution to make a spectacular turnaround to win the game and take the series 2-0. While Vikin.gg falls to the lower bracket, T1 moves ahead in the upper bracket and will face the winner of Quincy Crew vs Tundra Esports.

T1 shows a clinic of top-quality Dota 2 to defeat Vikin.gg

Recap

Game 1 saw stable drafts from both sides and the laning stage went quite even. Vikin.gg lacked the damage to take down enemy heroes who were tanky and had enough sustain from items and spells as the game progressed. In the teamfights, T1 consistently came out on top, and eventually sealed the game in 40 minutes.

In Game 2, T1 was having damage issues in the early phases of the game, as their attempt to take down the enemy offlaner Timbersaw failed, resulting in them losing some crucial teamfights. Vikin.gg took a massive lead by destroying two Barracks but T1 showcased impeccable spellcasting to make a turnaround. With excellent target prioritization and 23savage going ham on his Spectre, T1 won the match in 45 minutes.

Highlights

Here are some highlights of the series.

Since the AniMajor, T1's primary strength has been its teamfight play. They patiently wait for the right moments, jump the desired targets and then showcase exquisite spellcasting to win teamfights. It is as a result of this that they have been able to recover from situations when it appeared that they were out of the race. If T1 keeps delivering performances like these, they will be the primary contender for a top-two finish in the ESL One Summer 2021.

After a spectacular display against Team Nigma, Vikin.gg failed to deliver the same type of performance today. They played well overall but were simply outclassed in crucial situations. They will be back on June 18, 2021, to face Team Unique in the lower bracket of the ESL One Summer 2021

Interview: T1 Kuku talks about the bootcamp in Europe

In the post-match winner’s interview, T1’s captain, Carlo "Kuku" Palad, talked about why the team is currently bootcamping in Europe.

Kuku also talked about the TI10 SEA qualifier bracket, saying it was difficult to pick a winner with so many strong teams participating. However, he also felt that TNC Predator had the best shot of winning the qualifier.