Five DPC Week 2 Major Matches

Dota 2 main winter league continues! The second week of Dota Pro Circuit 2021 is here to please us with a wide variety of matches, and we will highlight the five main meetings of the upcoming seven days.

Elephant (0-1) — Team Aster (1-0)

Time: 26 Jan, 12:00 CET

One of the top DPC favorites in the Chinese division, Elephant started the league with a 1:2 loss to Invictus Gaming. Now the superstar squad is in a very difficult position: despite the fact that four teams from China are competing for the Major at once, only first place guarantees the tickets to playoffs. With two defeats, winning a round-robin league is not a trivial task, so victory is vital for Elephant.

Team Aster made a dream come true in their first match of the DPC: PSG.LGD lost to them, and the fans were very pleased. We saw a real three-map thriller, the last of which was finished 88 minutes after the horn sound, and Monet had three Divine Rapiers in his inventory at once. An extremely interesting confrontation with an unpredictable outcome awaits us.

Prediction: There will be three maps, but guessing the winner is almost impossible. 

Virtus.pro (1-0) — Live to Win (1-0)

When: 29 Jan, 15:00 CET

This will be a match between the two favorites of the CIS league. It is curious that the teams have not played with each other before, which means that there is a place for surprises. Last week, the rivals did not experience any problems: the Bears outplayed Team Empire in all respects, while LtW defeated NoTechies.

In many ways, it is in this meeting that it will be determined who will go in pursuit of the intermediate leader Natus Vincere.

Prediction: Virtus.pro is the favorite, but the match will be interesting anyway.

Neon Esports (2-0) — TNC Predator (0-1)

When: 30 Jan, 09:00 CET

In Southeast Asia, Neon Esports had an unexpectedly productive first week, winning two meetings against BOOM Esports and 496 Gaming. Their third opponent is more serious: TNC Predator players will certainly want to take revenge after a crushing defeat from Execration.

In many ways, it will be this Sunday that it will be possible to determine the general level and prospects of the Predators: either the champions of MDL Chengdu Major 2019 will be able to fight for the highest places in their region, or the loss of March will be too serious.

Prediction: TNC Predator will most likely win.

Team Secret (1-0) — Vikin.gg (0-1)

When: 30 Jan, 18:00 CET

The second week will end with a shocking European double-date. First, there's a place for a confrontation between Team Secret and Vikin.gg. Despite the fact that the teams showed themselves with different quality of play last week (Team Secret did not shake or roll but won a victory over mudgolems, but the Vikings were defeated by Team Liquid), their match is expected to be quite tense. Why? Yes, if only because their last face-to-face meeting ended in favor of Vikin.gg (2:0 at the EPIC League).

The Vikin.gg Saga: a story of five brothers united by a dream

Seleri's team is also the only team that has a bitter zero in the 'Maps Won' column. Vikin.gg's motivation will be over the top, and Team Secret is still gaining shape, so can be vulnerable. Get your popcorn!

Prediction: Three maps, impossible to tell exactly who the winner will be.

Alliance (0-1) — OG (1-0)

When: 30 Jan, 21:00 CET

Despite the defeat in the match against Team Nigma, the Swedish club performed well and even won one map. Unfortunately, the calendar has not yet been built in favor of Alliance: this week they have to play against OG, one of the favorites of the European division.

N0tail and his team won the match against High Coast Esports, spending, it seems, a little more effort and time than some of the fans bargained for, but the world champions are now sharing an intermediate second place with Team Secret. In Europe, the struggle is only at its beginning, and every match is decisive.

Prediction: Three maps, with a slight advantage to OG.