Welcome to the Weekly Recap, where we gather the top stories that happened in the past week to help you catch up with the busy world of eSports!
Dota 2
TI7 Group Stage Roundup:
LFY unbeaten in 10 games in Group B, Liquid ahead of the pack in Group A
In a group that included a four-Major winner, an Asian champion, a streaking team known for its deep hero pool and an NA team with a 10k MMR player, nobody expected LGD.Forever Young will take the early lead as of Day 2 in the group stages of the International 2017.
LFY, a minor team of the LGD Gaming franchise, is sitting pretty at the apex of Group B with 10 wins in as many games. Next to them is the invited Chinese giant NewBee, who has struggled and is at 6-2, just a game ahead of four-Major winner OG and Kiev Major runner-up Virtus.Pro.
LFY opened its campaign with a 2-0 sweep of Filipino side Execration, then thrashed HellRaisers (Planet Dog) later on the same day. The surprise leader then faced and overcame a tough challenge from VP, before stunning Invictus Gaming and downing Cloud9 (Team NP) in its last match.
In Group A, Liquid is ahead of the pack with eight wins in 10 games, beating three of five opponents and splitting with tourney favorite Evil Geniuses and (surprise surprise!) LGD, the bigger sister of the LFY squad.
LGD is at 7-3, while EG and TnC Gaming round out Group A’s top four with five wins in eight matches played apiece.
In danger of missing the main event is Group A’s Fnatic, which won only once in eight matches. In Group B, both HellRaisers and C9 are in the battle to reach the lower bracket, as the pair have won one match in eight games played each.
Na’Vi parts ways with Biver, Pajkatt
After seventh months of near-fruitless time together, Natus Vincere has decided to part ways with support Biver and carry/captain Pajkatt.
The pair joined Navi simultaneously last December 2016, but the partnership didn’t work as planned, as the TI1 champion never won anything of note and failed to qualify for the Kiev Major and the International 2017.
“I am very sorry to part our ways [with the players], but I believe that the guys will achieve whatever they want in the future,” said Navi team manager caff.
Left in the Navi lineup are midlaner Dendi, offlaner General and support SoNNeikO.
A day before Biver and Pajkatt’s departure, Navi appointed former carry as its new coach for the next season.
Resolution joins Empire as Planet Odd players disband
Safelaner Resolution was able to get a last-minute ticket to play in the International 2017 as he joins Team Empire following the disbandment of Planet Odd.
Resolution replaced Empire carry Chappie at the 11th hour after the latter failed to secure his papers to play in the USA.
Planet Odd’s other members – midlaner w33ha, offlaner Moon, captain/support MiSeRy and support Saksa – are currently without a team.
“After having discussed at length with the players, we have mutually agreed to part ways with the roster as they wish to embark on to success in different constellations,” said the team in an announcement on Facebook.
League of Legends
Title race blown open as SKT beats KT Rolster early in Week 9
SKT T1 defeated KT Rolster in Day 1 of Week 9 in the LCK Summer Split as the former deals the latter a crucial blow to its chance of earning the top seed entering the playoffs.
With the defeat, KT Rolster (14-4) will be tied with the winner of the last day match between Samsung Galaxy and Longzhu Gaming. If SSG wins, KT will get the first seed because of past matchups, while Longzhu will get the top seed if they beat SSG.
SSG defeated Longzhu in the pair’s first meeting this season, with Samsung winning the series 2-1.
SKT is ensured of a top-four seed at 13-5.
Counter Strike: Global Offensive
Chiefs win WCA Asia Pacific
Chiefs eSports Club dominated B.O.O.T-dreamScape 16-5, 16-14 in the final to win the World Cyber Arena Asia Pacific regional qualifiers.
Both finalists have made it to the World Finals, but it was Chiefs that took home the lion’s share of the prize pool with an overwhelming performance from start to finish.
The Australia-based squad won seven of eight series in the elimination round, losing only to Recca Esports, which did not even make it to the playoffs.
Chiefs dispatched fourth-seed Mongolz in the first round of the knockouts then cruised past the Singaporean B.O.O.T.-dreamScape squad in the upper-bracket final.
In the final, the Chiefs showed –dreamScape who are in charge with an 11-4 start at Mirage, then finished the map 16-5 before holding off the latter 16-14 in Train in Map 2.
The Chiefs took home $22,315 in prize money, while –dreamScape pocketed $11,157.
