Cover-Credits:
PGL Arlington Major 2022 has concluded, with Team Spirit defeating PSG.LGD 3-1 in the Grand Finals of the Major, while also confirming our final twelve teams that will be getting a direct invite to The International 2022 (TI11) which will be held in Singapore. However, the Arlington Major itself was filled with some of the best series from teams around the world playing amongst each other, providing some of the best highlights for the audiences to watch. Here are the top five games that you need to watch in case you missed all the action from the Arlington Major.
Image via: Juan Valero | ESPAT
Five Top Games to Watch From The Arlington Major 2022.
Team Spirit vs PSG.LGD Game 2 Grand Finals
During Game 2 of the Grand Finals between Team Spirit & PSG.LGD, the audience worldwide saw PSG.LGD had an almost perfect game by the 48th minute mark, only to throw away the game in three major teamfights, one near the top barracks of Team Spirit in the 49th minute, the other two being around the Roshan pit in the 57th & 74th minute. Illya "Yatoro" Mulyarchuk’s Monkey King picked up a Divine Rapier during the final teamfight around the Roshan pit and performed an incredible comeback versus PSG.LGD, who went on to lose the series 3-1.
2. PSG.LGD vs OG Game 3 Upper Bracket Semi Finals
In game 3 of the Upper Bracket Semifinals between PSG.LGD & OG, PSG.LGD showed the world that they are one, if not the best teams in the world at the moment having come out of Group Stages on top of their group. Despite OG’s draft of Keeper of The Light for Bozhidar "bzm" Bogdanov & their signature Morphling on Artem "Yuragi" Golubiev, PSG.LGD’s draft allowed them to even the playing field after their successful base defense at the 29th minute mark. Wang "Ame" Chunyu’s Alchemist & Zhang "Faith_bian" Ruida’s Razor combined with the support duo of Dazzle & Tiny helped PSG.LGD to keep them in the game while Cheng "NothingToSay" Jin Xiang’s Pangolier wreak havoc on OG’s backline.
3. OG vs Team Aster Game 3 Elimination
Team Aster & OG met each other in the Lower Bracket Semifinals, after having dispatched their own opponents in Entity & beastcoast respectively. In game three of the series, both OG and Team Aster were neck in neck in terms of networth and objectives before the 35th minute mark, where a massive teamfight occurred going in favor of Team Aster, not only forcing buybacks from two of OG’s player but also securing Roshan. Although OG managed to claw their way back into the game, Du "Monet'' Peng's Faceless Void became the difference maker where he manages to survive the teamfight while activating back to back Chronospheres to prevent OG from winning on the 49th minute mark. The game concludes with Yu "皮球" Yajun typing in all chat “ATF=ATM?”, as Ammar "ATF" Al-Assaf habits came back to haunt him.
4. PSG.LGD vs RNG Game 2 Group Stage A
The past and the present collide as Royals Never Give Up (RNG) played against their Chinese rivals, PSG.LGD during the Group Stages at the Major. RNG, having come out of the CN DPC Tour 3 as the top team of the region, were looking to prove themselves against the top teams in the world while also being bolstered by Anathan "ana" Pham as Daniel "Ghost" Chan Kok Hong could not attend due to visa issues. During Game 2 vs PSG.LGD, they were performing well with the lineup core of Nature’s Prophet, Puck & Viper and were looking to tie out the series against their fellow countrymen. However, NothingToSay’s Pangolier & Faith_bian’s Razor managed to turn things around for PSG.LGD at the 26th minute mark, while helping Ame’s Spectre to come back into the game to secure a 2-0 victory.
5. Talon Esports vs Outsiders Game 1 Group Stage A
Group Stage A was considered to be the group of death by the community, as it featured top teams such as OG, PSG.LGD, Liquid and Fnatic. However, Talon Esports had a DPC season to remember, as the Southeast Asian team managed to claw their way up from Division II in DPC SEA 2021/2022 Tour 1 all the way towards qualifying to the Major at the end of the season. During their first group stage match against Outsiders, Talon Esports provided some outstanding teamfights despite the networth advantage going towards the way of Outsiders with Rafli "Mikoto" Rahman’s Lina paving the way for a possible comeback. However, luck was not on their side as the combination of Roman "RAMZES666" Kushnarev’s Juggernaut with a Divine Rapier and mega creeps pushing into Talon’s base would eventually seize the victory for Outsiders.
With the Arlington Major coming to a close, Dota 2 fans can still expect some action with GAMERS GALAXY: Dota 2 Invitational HatYai Thailand coming up this week from 18th August to 20th August, followed by ESL One Malaysia 2022 starting on the 23rd August before the TI11 Regional Qualifiers begin.
