If there’s ever a well-deserved rivalry in the Dota Pro Circuit 2023 (DPC 2023), it’s definitely between Team Spirit and HellRaisers. The two teams have been undefeated throughout the second Tour of DPC 2023, and had their final showdown over this past weekend.
Here’s a look at how two rivals of different upbringings became the top seeds at DPC EEU division.
Roman “RAMZES666” Kushnarev joins HR Dota 2
HR may be a household name in competitive Dota 2 for ages, but their roster is relatively new to the fans. If it wasn’t for their recent success in DPC 2023 and qualifying for Lima Major, HR would have been yet another run-in-the-mill Division 1 team.
Instead, HR now tops the charts when it comes to the best in EEU region, overshadowing the likes of former powerhouses, such as Virtus.pro or Natus Vincere. That said, HR does have some elements of nostalgia, being led by two former VP players, Roman “RAMZES666” Kushnarev and Alexey “Solo” Berezin. The duo, often proclaimed to have a father-son bond in their pro career, have been fundamental in VP’s glory days.
Yet, we have to give credit where it’s due because HR isn’t built out of just the duo. In fact, RAMZES666 has just recently joined HR for Tour 2, so the past Tour’s success is better associated with the other players. Gleb “depressed kid” Zyryanov, Matvey “MieRo`” Vasyunin, and Vladislav “Antares” Kertman are the new blood of HR that seemingly proven themselves to be worth more than their experience.
Even after losing at the twelfth place at Lima Major, it’s the young squad’s first debut at a major. Additionally, they lost their series to Talon Esports, which has certainly been a more powerful opponent at Lima Major that went on to win third place.
Team Spirit, on the other hand, needs no introduction. They do deserve a pat on the back, considering how well they held up after Alexander “TORONTOTOKYO” Khertek’s departure.
By now, it goes without saying that Spirit is more formidable than TORONTOTOKYO’s all-star squad, BetBoom. But, of course, the rivalry between the Team Spirit players at Berlin Major could prove otherwise.
Lets dive back at the decisive final showdown between HR and Team Spirit. Just to recap, both teams have not lost a single match until their showdown.
The outcome of the series ultimately decided which team won Tour 2. The only reward would be the much higher DPC points, and bragging rights.
On paper, Team Spirit were favored, boasting a massive hero pool. We have seen how viable Disruptor, Rubick, and Undying are when they offer sustainable lane dominance. Yet, Spirit knows very well how they can punish such picks in their own unique approaches.
HR on the other hand, was giving off the unconventional opponent vibe, where they rely on each player’s signature heroes. HR frequently played around niche combos that likely won’t work twice, but that isn’t an issue as they rotate these combos every game. However, if anything, it comes off as a gimmicky play, but it has been working effectively throughout the Tour for us to not call it viable.
Source: HellRaisers
If there was any team that could put an end to HR’s mischievous playstyle, it was Team Spirit. Yet, it was not meant to be as HR won out in Game 3. The full match is linked below for your enjoyment:
Read next: Talon & SMG to represent SEA at Dota 2 Berlin Major
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