DreamLeague Season 16 – DPC Week 1 Analysis & Match Predictions

The start of the 2021/22 EUW DPC season almost certainly marks a turning point in the scene’s history. After what seems to be the bulk of Dota 2’s competitive history, teams have, to an extent, seemingly stopped swapping veteran players and started giving young up-and-comers their spot under the sun.

While the EU scene still remains Dota 2’s strongest, it definitely doesn’t look like the way it used to just a couple of weeks ago. With the post-TI 10 shuffle’s dust finally settling down, it’s time to see if the young blood can give the old guard a run for their money. Our selection features Dota 2 odds courtesy of GG.BET.

Lasse Aukusti “MATUMBAMAN” Urpalainen

Team Liquid vs. Coolguys

Heading into the matchup, Team Liquid are the clear-cut favorites.

Liquid’s addition of Ludwig “zai” Wåhlberg was one of the most surprising, and beneficial transfers in the post-TI 10 shuffle. Although they failed to make it to TI, Liquid ultimately remains one of Europe’s strongest teams. Zai’s experience and overall levelheadedness will bring Liquid stability in comparison to Taiga’s inconcistency.

Coolguys represents the remnants of Serbian team Level UP, an organization that has never managed to tie a single squad for longer than three months. While keeping the bulk of the former Level UP roster, the additions of Greek veteran Dimitris “ThuG” Plivouris and rookie Omar “OmaR” Moughrabi do little to improve their chances.

With expectations high heading into the 2021/2022 DPC season, Liquid will be looking to open their season with a statement. The odds are certainly stacked against Coolguys, and we expect a clean & swift stomp by Team Liquid.

Prediction: Team Liquid to win 2:0
Odds: 1.47

Nigma Galaxy vs. Team Tickles

Despite failing to qualify for The International 10, Nigma Galaxy were one of the few teams that ended up not making any changes this offseason. The team’s roster still looks imposing and is easily considered a top-three contender in EUW.

Team Tickles represents what’s left of Vikin.gg, a team that surprised many last season. With only team captain Melchior “Seleri” Hillenkamp and Miroslav “BOOM” Bičan left from Vikin’s squad, the new additions of Erik “tOfu” Engel, Anton “dyrachyo” Shkredov, and Danish veteran Marcus “Ace” Hoelgaard seem to be a repeat of the old shuffle formula.

Nigma is the heavy favorite coming into the matchup, and in a similar situation to Liquid will be looking to make a strong statement against a significantly weaker opponent to open up the season.

Prediction: Nigma Galaxy to win 2:0
Odds: 1.85

Alliance vs. Team Secret

Closing out week 1 of the EUW DPC Upper Division we have two teams that had disappointing openings to the season. Team Secret heavily underestimated the rejuvenated OG, going into the first game of the series with what could only be described as a meme pick. While Secret’s draft for the second game looked much better, OG coordination and control proved to be too much as the series ended up a rarely seen stomp over Team Secret. Alliance had much of the same outcome, giving up 89 kills in total over the course of the two-game series.

Image Credits | Team Secret

Both mid-laner Sumail “SumaiL” Hassan and offlaner Daryl Koh “iceiceice” Pei Xiang struggled in their debuts for Team Secret but will have their shot at redemption against Alliance. The team’s talent is unquestionable, as currently stand head-and-shoulders above rest if they bring their A-game.

Alliance’s jelling issues are more than apparent after their first series, but hopes remain high for the roster. The series against Secret could prove to be a good waypoint for the revamped roster’s future in the Upper Division.

While Secret is the favorite coming into the series, both teams are still finding their ground, which makes us believe this could be a far more even series than the odds suggest. We see this match up going the distance.

Prediction: Total Maps | Over 2.5 |
Odds: 2.43

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