South America’s hopes at The International 2024 came to an end after Heroic fell 1-2 against Aurora, marking the region’s exit from the tournament’s main stage. Despite their best efforts, Heroic’s journey concluded in the lower brackets on a day filled with tension and high-stakes Dota 2.
A Rollercoaster Day for Heroic
Heroic had shown resilience earlier in the day, staving off elimination by defeating fellow South American team beastcoast in a thrilling three-game series. That victory provided a glimmer of hope for the region, but their momentum couldn’t carry them through the next round.
In contrast, Aurora found themselves in the lower brackets after a convincing defeat by Cloud9 in the upper brackets. The team had previously made headlines with an upset victory against Team Zero during the Deciding Seed series, which positioned them in the upper bracket initially.
Heroic vs. Aurora: A Three-Game Showdown
The series began with Heroic taking the lead in Game 1. Leaning on a strategy they had used earlier in the tournament, they drafted Shadow Demon alongside other comfort picks. Aurora, meanwhile, placed their faith in Morphling for star player 23 Savage, along with Elder Titan and Tiny.
However, despite a seemingly solid draft, Aurora’s passive farming strategy was their downfall. Heroic dominated the game, forcing 23 Savage into a rage buyback before the SEA team called GG after 30 minutes.
In Game 2, Aurora adjusted their approach, drafting Spectre and opting for more aggressive support heroes to counter their passivity from Game 1. Heroic responded with a bold Troll Warlord pick for K1, initially carrying their momentum from the previous game.
However, a critical fight at Roshan shifted the game in Aurora’s favor. Timbersaw, played by lorenof, became unkillable, and Aurora capitalized on Heroic’s mistakes, closing out the game to force a decisive Game 3.
Game 3 saw both teams taking risks with their drafts. Heroic picked Omni Knight, while Aurora countered with a Void lineup designed to build Nullifier, a crucial item in shutting down Omni’s abilities. Heroic added a spicy pick with Abaddon, piloted by Davai Lama, marking the first time the hero appeared in the tournament.
Despite Heroic’s strong start, Aurora’s Tusk proved to be the game-changer, with pivotal plays around the 35-minute mark turning the game in their favor. In the end, Aurora secured a chaotic and strange win to eliminate Heroic from the competition.
What’s Next for Aurora?
Heroic’s loss places them in the 9th-12th place bracket, earning them a respectable $49,724 in prize money but leaving them short of the main stage. Aurora, on the other hand, continues their journey in the lower brackets, with their next series scheduled for Friday, September 13th, at 13:00 CEST.
Conclusion
With Heroic’s elimination, South America will no longer be represented in the main stage of The International 2024. Despite a valiant effort, they fell short in a tournament full of upsets and tough competition. All eyes are now on Aurora as they look to continue their lower bracket run and defy the odds in the days ahead.