by Evil Geniuses are the champions of the Dota BTS Pro Series 13 tournament after defeating TSM via reverse sweep in the best-of-five grand final series on December 10.
The series began with a closely contested game, where TSM were able to gain the upper hand after the 30-minute mark. Despite having a lineup composed mainly of control heroes, EG were unable to stop Jonathan “Bryle” Guia’s Leshrac and lost the first game of the series.
The second match was a clear demonstration of TSM’s superiority, as Enzo “Timado” Gianoli joined Bryle in dominating the game. The two core players of TSM did not suffer a single frag in the entire run of the second match, and together they recorded a total of 28 kills.
Due to the momentum of the series, it was widely anticipated that TSM would emerge victorious in the third game and clinch the series. However, Evil Geniuses surprised all by delivering a commanding performance, with Jean Pierre “Chris Luck” Gonzalez Salazar, Adrian “Wisper” Cespedes Dobles, and Crhistian “Pakazs” Savina showcasing their skills on Rubick, Timbersaw, and Chaos Knight, respectively.
Timado was completely stymied, and Ember Spirit player Bryle struggled to find room to operate on the map. The series lasted for 35 minutes as EG secured their first win in what became their journey toward a massive comeback.
Game four was a highly competitive match between the two teams and their cores, Pakazs and Bryle. Despite being slightly behind throughout the game, TSM attempted to regain ground with their Templar Assassin. EG, however, had an advantage with their champions Lina and Timbersaw, allowing them to further extend their lead.
TSM’s morale was diminished after the third game. The confidence they had previously gained from the first two matches was now depleted as EG cruised to victory in the fifth game in 25 minutes.
This tournament is the first showcasing of Evil Geniuses’ newly formed roster. The win becomes a feather in their cap as they look to build momentum heading into the season proper.
The highly competitive nature of the 2023 DPC season was evident in the close series between the top two organizations in the Americas. However, TSM were unable to field their full team due to the absence of Matthew “Whitemon” Filemon and the fact that Matthew “Ari” Walker and Gainullin “kasane” Ilyas were still on European soil. David “MoonMeander” Tan Boon Yang had to step in as a substitute.
With Division 1 action set to begin in a month, it is likely that Whitemon, Ari, and kasane will make their way to North America soon.
