On the way back to the top
Western Dota teams look quite healthy after their dominant performance at the Frankfurt Major, and despite EHOME taking home the most recent title, there are high prospects for yet another Western success story. Two teams stand out as fan favorites, Alliance and Evil Geniuses, who are keen on positioning themselves at the top of the scene again.
Alliance is back
Alliance’s performance at the Frankfurt Major was poor, but not surprising when considering how the team has played previously. The Swedes were just a shadow of their former selves with only a glimmer of hope here and there, which was brightest during the Frankfurt Major Qualifiers.
It took a turn for the worse when they weren’t able to win a single game on home soil during DreamHack Winter. The team seemed disconnected and lost. The once so wonderful teamfight coordination and well timed pushes that made this team so strong were gone. Even on an individual basis, the players were unable to live up to what their fans had come to expect. It seemed as if the Frankfurt Major had taken its toll.
However, shortly after they re-acquired EGM to rebuild their TI3-winning roster. “Some of you might call this a mistake, that looking back is a sign of weakness. But to me it feels like fate. The circle is once again complete and Jerry, you are now back where you belong”, said
Fader vår, Alliance’s captain, in the team’s announcement.
It indeed felt foolish, considering they had already tried it again with EGM at the beginning of 2015, only to fail. The fans, however, were needless to say quite ecstatic at the prospect of seeing their reunited team find old strength. And in 6.86, the team very much looks like it can live up to the hype.
Attending their first LAN at WCA with their new old squad, Alliance immediately took home the gold. Yes, the event was plagued with a variety of issues and started the day 6.86 was launched, but Alliance showed what made them once so successful--they were a team.
What followed came at even a surprise to the players themselves: they were directly invited to the Shanghai Major. Fans, community members and analysts tried to argue for and against this decision, but Alliance took it upon themselves to prove they were worth their invite and went ahead to win yet another LAN event, the StarLadder i-League Series. It seemed as if they didn’t even break a sweat as they took down other favorites, Team Liquid or finalists Evil Geniuses, by sweeping both in 2:0 victories. It was almost all too easy.
Once again, the team showcased the teamwork, understanding and unity that made them once so strong. Critics have argued that they benefit from the current meta that allows their heroes to be successful, but there’s a case to be made that Alliance is forcing their own heroes upon the meta yet again.
They have drafted and played the likes of 
Puck and 
Juggernaut quite consistently, even though both heroes are underpicked in the meta (only 5 and 9 appearances respectively from both heroes in MDL). While it might be true that a lot of their comfort and signature heroes, such as 
Chen or 
Lone Druid are viable yet again, Alliance has proven, especially in the recent Captain’s Draft series, that their hero pool is far from all they’ve got. Losing only 14 games out of their 43 in 6.86 so far, Alliance will be looking to further prove their worth in Shanghai. The TI3 winning roster is back and maybe it really is fate for them to be glorious yet again.
EG vs China
The International 2015 was quite a Chinese success story, until 
Shopify Rebellion stepped up. Early on, the Chinese teams established themselves as the more dominant force in the group stage and continued their streak by seizing 3 of the 4 semi-finals spots of the upper bracket. Evil Geniuses established themselves as the sole Western hope for the title and eventually put an end to CDEC’s dream run to claim the title. It was a dent in the already hurt Chinese pride, which took a hit as Evil Geniuses also dominated the first grand tournament on Chinese soil, the Dota 2 Asia Championships (DAC) in early 2015.
The Frankfurt Major was a Western affair, but Evil Geniuses failed to turn up. The team lacked the cohesion and strategic foresight they had shown at TI5. Following the Frankfurt Major, the team was able to shake off any doubts by taking home The Summit 4 in a spectacular fashion after being down 0-2 to Virtus.pro.
Even if they hadn’t won The Summit 4, EG will always go into any tournament as one of the favorites, such as StarLadder or MDL. And they proved why they were maybe even the favorites going into each respective event, as they reached the finals in both. However, they fell short, losing 0-2 Alliance and 0-3 
EHOME.
The results were pretty one sided, but the performance was still quite admirable, especially leading up to the finals. Still, EG has missed that last step, the last piece of the puzzle that could put them back on top again. Figuring out their opponents but also knowing what to do against their strategies, being one step ahead of the game and then succeeding with individual prowess - those are the Evil Geniuses that took home TI5.
EG have bested all of the big Chinese teams multiple times and these teams will, pushed by the expectations of their own fans, look to deny them a second major title on home soil. With a recent title under their belt, granted it was an online only Captain’s Draft tournament, the team has gotten a lot of much needed practice to further strengthen their bonds and are now ready to put an end to any talks of a potential second place curse.
Both Evil Geniuses and Alliance have a shot at redemption in Shanghai. For Alliance, it’s a chance to show the world that they are back, that they are still among the strongest players in this world. As for EG, they have a shot to pave the way for a record breaking year by claiming an early Major title, setting the bar for the rest of the year.
Image Sources:
They're back baby!
wahzzzzze
3rd ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
The second sentence in the last paragraph just stops off with S.
ALLIANCE IS BACK TO FOUNTAIN KAPPA
Alliance will win, I can feel it in my bones
NA'VI IS BACK KAPPA
@wbd - thanks!
first
they do NOT look healthy!
Agreed, I wonder when meds testing time begins.
Team Secret will win...
look at fears eyes? how does he look healthy? they stare at a pc screen for like 12 hours.... doing nothing but doto..... lol f that
Team random will come
lol team alliance will come from the depths to emerge again
ALLIANCE IS BLACK
Aren't they old to play now?
Nice post, although getting third place at Frankfurt is not not turning up for EG. I'd say that's pretty good.
@filthy casual - Agreed. They could certainly benefit from some type of structured aerobic exercise as part of their training.
Studies have shown many times over how effective aerobic exercise can be for brain function, and that little boost might be what they need to get back to peak form.
WHO WILL BE DUMPSTERED
WHO WILL BE STER
TUNE IN TO THE NEXT EPISODE OF
DOTA 2 PRO SCENE
EG will win....!!
Best doto. Sumail doto....!!
EG fangays WutFace
Your all lucky you arn't playing against Justin the Beaver