A last-minute stand-in hasn’t stopped Southeast Asian Dota 2 squad OB Esports x Neon from blowing expectations out of the water. They’ve now guaranteed a top-six placing at the ONE Esports Singapore Major after a 2-1 series win over Vici Gaming.
Neon will face Team Secret in the next round of the lower bracket. The plucky SEA squad can be heartened that Secret look fallible, struck down by PSG.LGD earlier today.
Neon started the series against VG with a shaky first game. Drafting a Medusa, a notably slow-paced hard carry, the team was unable to execute their blitzing playstyle. VG’s Yang “poyoyo” Shaohan was able to farm freely and eventually took over on his Juggernaut.
Facing elimination, Neon roared back with a vengeance. The roster fully leaned into their aggression, picking up Spirit Breaker and a signature Nature’s Prophet for Rolen Andrei Gabriel “debil_2000” Ong. VG opted for an off lane Alchemist strategy that backfired greatly. Neon’s constant warmongering prevented VG from having sufficient space to buff up their carry Gyrocopter.
Neon carried the momentum into the third game, picking Nature’s Prophet and Puck. Debil_2000 forwent a traditional carry once more by taking Leshrac. The burst potential from these heroes prevented VG from ever gaining a foothold yet again and the Chinese squad saw a familiar story play out. They eventually conceded the game, wholly unable to keep up.
