Play In Stage: Early Highlights and Surprises
The Riyadh Masters 2024, one of the most significant Dota 2 tournaments of the year, has already begun to deliver a whirlwind of emotions in its early stages. Although only the Play In stage has been completed, it has not been short of excitement and unexpected outcomes. While we haven’t yet seen the top-tier teams in action, the performances so far have ranged from expected to surprising and even disappointing.
Expected Performances
As anticipated, Entity performed well, securing their spot for the next round.
Surprise Contenders
Teams like Blacklist International and Heroic exceeded expectations with their strong performances.
Disappointments
On the downside, the Chinese team Azure Ray was one of the first to be eliminated, marking a disappointing start to their journey in the tournament.
With some teams already eliminated, the remaining contenders must fight hard on the final day of the Play In stage to secure their spots in the Group Stage and continue their quest to become the champions of Riyadh Masters 2024.
Current Standings and Key Matchups
Direct Qualifiers
From the Play In stage, eight teams will advance to the Group Stage – six directly and two through the Decider Matches. Currently, four teams have already secured their direct qualifications:
- Blacklist International and Entity from Group A.
- Heroic and PSG.Quest from Group B.
Virtus Pro vs. Beastcoast
In Group A, the battle for the final direct spot is heating up. Virtus Pro faces Beastcoast in a crucial matchup. The Russian team must win to advance directly, while the Peruvian team needs only a draw to secure their spot.
Despite the odds favoring Virtus Pro due to their international experience, it’s not unreasonable to believe that Beastcoast can either win or at least draw the series, which would be enough for their direct qualification.
Source: Liquipedia
G2.IG vs. LGD Gaming
Another exciting match in Group A is between G2.IG and LGD Gaming. Both teams are tied on points, and the loser of this series will be eliminated. Given their current form and previous encounters, G2.IG is the favorite to come out on top.
In Group B, Aurora, Mouz, and Nouns are vying for the last direct spot in the Group Stage. They won’t have to worry about elimination, as Azure Ray has already been knocked out. With this in mind, Aurora is in a favorable position, needing only a draw against Heroic to secure their direct qualification.
Source: Liquipedia
The Favorites
With the Group Stage approaching, the eight teams that qualified through the EPT Ranking are expected to be the top contenders for the Riyadh Masters 2024 title. Although it’s still early to predict the champion, we can analyze the performances of these teams throughout the year to get an idea of who might emerge victorious.
Source: Liquipedia
Falcons
Falcons are the standout favorites, riding a strong winning streak that started at the BetBoom Dacha. Despite some losses, they remain the team with the most tournament wins this year.
Team Spirit
Team Spirit also emerges as a formidable contender, having won the PGL Wallachia. They excel in mid-year tournaments and will look to defend their Riyadh Masters title and The International championship.
Xtreme Gaming
Lastly, Xtreme Gaming is a major contender from China, being the only team to have defeated Falcons in a final. Their consistent performances in recent tournaments make them strong candidates for the championship.
The Riyadh Masters 2024 boasts a prize pool of $5 million, with the champion set to receive $1.5 million. The tournament is being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 4 to July 21.