Hello again. Nice to see you again at EGamersWorld.
The Riyadh Masters 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is underway. The $15,000,000 tournament is just gaining momentum.
We are still reviewing the Play-In Championship, where 12 teams in two baskets are trying to earn a place in the group stage of the championship. The second round of Basket B matches are coming up.
The second stream of matches will open with Quest Esports - 9 Pandas. The match risks becoming the centrepiece of the draw.
Both teams have become a formidable force on the international stage. Moreover, both teams have come a long way before that.
Another argument in favour of watching 9Pandas - Quest Esports is the regional clash. Both teams represent different parts of Europe, which means they are close to each other in spirit and generally skilled in Dota.
Let's see how this match will end. Will one of the teams manage to get an important victory by defeating a direct competitor, or we are waiting for a draw.
Let's go.
Quest Esports uniforms.
Let's start the analysis of the match by analysing the Quest Esports form. In this match, the club from Western Europe will play as favourites.
Bookmakers confirm the pre-match position of Quest. The odds for their success are at 2.6.
It is very easy to believe in such a figure. Quest have been recruiting since Long Sogpeg of the second round of the DPC, and reached the maximum at Bali Major 2023, where they lacked just a little bit to get to The International 2023 bypassing the qualifiers.
Quest Esports is the main discovery of the season. It was hard to imagine them in the top 4 of Major a, but here they are.
They started their rise to the top of Major a with a top-5 finish at DPC 2023: WEU. Then the team was one map short of reaching the Berlin Major 2023, but not enough.
In the third round of DPC 2023: WEU Tour 3 the team again showed a top game and that time they had enough. It was enough for the top 3 of the tournament, and as a result, they made it to The Bali Major 2023.
- Quest roster: TA2000, No!ob, ATF, OmaR, kaori.
During the Bali Major 2023 Quest Esports showed from the very beginning of the tournament that they did not come there to rest. The team finished top-1 in their group and then went on to play in the top set of play-offs.
In the end, Quest's walk through The Bali Major 2023 ended with them in 4th place, which can be called more than successful, but still not enough for a direct entry to The International. 9Pandas, on the other hand, made it there.
The most popular Quest Esports characters
Among the most popular Quest characters are Shadow Demon (14 matches, 71% wins), Snapfire (14 matches, 64% wins), Techies (12 matches, 83% wins).
Also playing with Undying (9 games, 77% wins), Templar Assassin (8 matches, 50% wins).
There's also Silencer (7 games, 100% wins), Medusa (7 games, 100% wins), Doom (7 matches, 85% wins), Enchantress (7 matches, 71% wins).
Form 9Pandas
We continue the match analysis by analysing 9Pandas' performance. They have what it takes, but just not for the advantage in this particular match.
Bookmakers agree with that. The odds on 9Pandas' success are estimated at 4.1.
Such a figure for Bo2 is nothing new. The team Ledgea Quest, but with a minimal gap. And how else could it be, because the teams are very similar in terms of storyline on the professional scene, and this minimal difference is caused by their performance at The Bali Major 2023.
9 Pandas started the year in third place at DPC 2023: EEU Division 1 Tour 1. However, at the first international tournament of the year - The Lima Major 2023 - while still under the banners of HellRaisers, playing with stand-ins, they managed to get out of the group. \
In the second season of DPC 9Pandas took the top 1 spot, beating all direct competitors, namely Team Spirit and BB Team. In addition, 9Pandas surprised everyone at The Berlin Major 2023. In Germany, the Pandas made it to the Top 3, which was the best result for the region in a year.
The third DPC cycle of 9Pandas ended with qualification to the last Major of the season - The Bali Major 2023 - with a third-place finish in the home league. Next up was the DreamLeague S20
- 9Pandas roster: RAMZES, kiyotaka, MieRo, Antares, Solo .
All year long the team has been gaining in performance and this applies primarily to the international scene. At DreamLeague S20 they had a top 7, and at Bali Major 2023 they had a top 6. Quest had a Top 4, and that's the difference.
However, we should not forget that this will be the teams' second match. In the first game, 9Pandas will play against Xtreme, while Quest will play against Secret. Both teams have a chance to shut out their opponents 2-0.
Most popular 9Pandas characters
The most peaked character in 9 Pandas is Skywrath Mage. He has appeared in Pandas games 6 times and has 3 wins.
He is followed by Bounty Hunter (4 matches, 50% wins), Tiny (3 matches, 66% wins), Bloodseeker (3 matches, 33% wins). Also in the pool are Chen and Doom (2 matches each, 100% wins), and Enchantress (2 matches, 50% wins).
Head-to-head history
The teams saw each other during the group stage of The Bali Major 2023. Then the winner could not be found and the game ended in a draw.
Match outcome
In this match I expect a similar outcome to The Bali Major 2023. The teams are worthy of each other and I believe that they will be able to squeeze one map each.
Bottom line: a draw.
