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Mr. Cat Invitational Europe – Team Secret and Virtus Pro Await Stage 1 Results

By Jor'El "Sheen Sah" Jones

Image courtesy of moonduck.tv
Image courtesy of moonduck.tv /
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What exactly is the Mr. Cat Invitational Europe?

The Mr. Cat Invitational Europe is a organized by joinDota and offers a total prize pool of $50,000 for its 10 competitors. The tournament is limited to European teams and lasts for two weeks (May 2-18, 2017). The winning organization earns $25,000, with $12,500 for the runner-up. Advancing to Stage 2 guarantees $5,000.

Virtus.pro, finalists of the Kiev Major 2017
Image courtesy of wikipedia.org /

8 teams play to join Team Secret and Virtus.pro in Stage 2

Stage 1 (the quarterfinals) begins with Team Empire vs. Ninjas in Pyjamas (May 2, 2017). The winner of this series faces the winner of Cloud9 vs. Effect (May 3). The other half of the quarterfinals features Team Spirit vs. Comanche (May 4), the winner of which faces off against the winner of Vega Squadron vs. Prodota Gaming (May 5).

Fans will be excited to watch Team Secret and Virtus.pro (both participants in the recent Dota 2 Kiev Major). Both teams completed the Group Stage in Kiev undefeated. The finals ended Virtus.pro 2-3 OG. Nonetheless, $500,000 was awarded to VP. Team Secret ran out of magic immediately following the Group Stage, falling 2-1 to SG e-sports (0-3 Group Stage record). This loss (highlights are below) equated to a last-place finish from the Group Stage winners, Team Secret.

Numbered Stages? What format does Mr. Cat use?

Team Secret and Virtus.pro received Stage 2 invites, so they’re waiting for two teams to emerge from Stage 1. Given all Stage 2 organizations earn prize money, Team Secret and Virtus.pro are paid to show face.

All matches (Stage 1 and Stage 2) are Bo3. Each Stage is also double-elimination, so teams are allowed to fight their way back after losing.

But, Sheen Sah, who’s going to win it all?

My Kiev predictions were solid, only false in highly unexpected situations like the 1 seed losing to the 16th seed in the Round of 16. Team Secret has a lot to prove after petering out early in Kiev. Virtus.pro, on the other hand, is playing very well and confident heading into MCIE. I expect VP to make a deep run here, at least to the semifinals. The same should be true for Team Secret, but Mr. Cat may not be enticing enough for them to try their best. My gut tells me Virtus.pro wins the finals 2-1 over Cloud9. Disagree? Let me know on Twitter.

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