Easily the favorites to win TI10, PSG.LGD have been dominating game after game in both the group stage and the main event of The International (TI10).
If they manage to best the competition, PSG.LGD will be the fourth Chinese team to ever raise the TI Aegis.
Additionally it will be Zhang “y`” Yiping and Zhang “Faith_bian” Ruidas’s second The International title if they manage to take the crown. The two players claimed their first Aegis back in 2016 along with legendary Chinese team, Wing Gaming.
At the time of writing, they have only lost two games. One to Team Secret during the group stage and one to T1 in their upper bracket best-of-three series during the main event.
With so much going right for them, what are PSG.LGD doing that makes them almost unbeatable at TI10?
PSG.LGD are insanely good at adapting to their opponents
During the postgame interview after their upper bracket series versus T1, y` openly admitted that the team will adjust their playstyle depending on their opponent.
Unlike teams like OG and Team Secret, who thrive by forcing opponents to adapt to their dominant playstyles, PSG.LGD don’t lock themselves away behind one signature style.
All three core players are amazing laners who very rarely lose their match ups, and can execute a variety of styles. Pair their stable lanes with playmaking supports who are able to go offbeat by ear, and you have a not-so-secret recipe for a good game.
Their adaptability comes from their massive hero pool
PSG.LGD ended day three of the TI10 main event with 51 unique heroes played, making them the most versatile and unpredictable team when it came to drafting.
With such a large pool of heroes available to them, their opponent’s can’t weaken them in the draft alone.
- EG Fly on IG Emo’s famous “?”: ‘It was funny and a little random’
- T1’s Kuku wants TI10 grand final to be filled with Southeast Asian players
How do you stop a team full of talented playmakers?
Pretty much every player on PSG.LGD has had their moment in the spotlight after making a game changing play this DPC season, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise. Every player on the team is that good.
Unlike other rosters that tend to coordinate around one or two star players, PSG.LGD does not pigeonhole themselves. What makes them so terrifying is that the only way to stop them is to outplay the entire team. Remember, only two teams have managed to best them thus far.
PSG.LGD are so disciplined, they never lose sight of the game even when they’re losing
There were a few scenarios where PSG.LGD almost lost but managed to turn them around with some big plays. Making those plays aren’t easy, especially in a high pressure environment such as TI10. Remember, a lot of money is on the line.
Players that lack discipline tend to lose track of what they need to do because numerous things are going wrong at the same time. Second guessing calls, being unable to think clearly, forgetting to take key objectives, and making panicked choices.
In the few games at TI10 that looked grim for PSG.LGD, it’s clear the main reason they were able to turn a few of them around was because of their overall discipline and restraint.
One of the greatest examples of PSG.LGD’s incredible discipline was during their series against Fnatic in the group stage. On the verge of losing, the team was able to come back by patiently waiting for the just the right moment to strike.
Tournament favorite PSG.LGD is set to face European superstar Dota 2 squad Team Secret in the upper bracket final of The International 10‘s playoffs.
The winning team will secure themselves a top two finish at TI10 and at least US$5 million in prize money. PSG.LGD will face Team Secret on October 16, 2021, at 6:00 p.m. GMT+8.
Catch all TI0 matches broadcasted live on the Dota 2 The International official Twitch channel.
Hungry for more Dota 2 action? Check out the Heroes of the Game documentary presented by foodpanda.
READ MORE: Topson’s flawless Dawnbreaker keeps OG’s three-peat dream alive at TI10
