Mars Dota 2 League 2017: Invictus Gaming and Evil Geniuses

There isn’t much information available regarding the Mars Dota 2 League 2017. The eight teams have been revealed, so this article will take two teams and explain their playing form heading in. Let’s see how Invictus Gaming and Evil Geniuses have been doing.

Things we know about the Mars Dota 2 League: it’s organized by Mars Media; all matches will be played offline at the Optics Valley International Tennis Center in China; the tournament lasts five days (July 5-9th, 2017). When considering each team’s playing form, I’m only looking at the last four weeks of professional play. Comparing Invictus Gaming and Evil Geniuses, only one team is ready to win it all in July 2017.

Mars Dota 2 League – 4 invitees, 3 qualified teams, 1 replacement

Invictus Gaming: out of form

In the last two months, Invictus Gaming has won $40,000. If I’m being totally honest, it’s been a sad 40k. A Top 4 finish (2-1 loss to Team Liquid) earned iG $10,000. Not bad; Top 4 is Top 4. However, Invictus Gaming has missed the Top 4 twice in the last four weeks (once in Manila and again at EPICENTER). Both exits came in sweeping fashion, and the first was against Team NP. I hope iG considers this unacceptable. I did, because I didn’t see it coming.

Losing to NP still earned iG another $10,000. Invictus’s run at EPICENTER 2017 ended against Team Secret. The tie for 5-6th Place gained iG $20,000. After taking a $250,000 prize from the Kiev Major, I’m sure Invictus Gaming is hungry for more. Hopefully we see that hunger throughout the Mars Dota 2 League.

Evil Geniuses: in form

Since their Top 4 finish at the Kiev Major 2017; EG has played in two tournaments and made the finals of both. At the Manila Masters, Newbee finished second to Evil Geniuses in a four-game series loss. Despite losing to Team Liquid at EPICENTER 2017, EG earned $100,000.

After beating Invictus Gaming 2-1 at the Manila Masters, Evil Geniuses went on a three-game losing streak. Newbee swept EG 2-0, sending them into the losers’ bracket; then, Team NP won Game 1 before allowing a reverse sweep. Thus, the grand finals became a rematch of the winners’ finals. This time, Evil Genius won by three games to one in a match worth $125,000.

Thanks a lot for reading my form review of Invictus Gaming and Evil Geniuses, make sure you check out part 3 for LFY, LGD Gaming, and Clutch Gamers. Reach out on Twitter and share any thoughts you have. I reply to all tweets sent my way.