Ben Madilynn
The Gaimin Gaimin Gladiators have accomplished an impressive feat, winning three consecutive titles in the Bali Major. This achievement is remarkable, and shows the team’s skill, consistency, and dedication. The Gaimin Gladiators are an esports force that must be taken seriously. Their dominance in the Bali Major shows their high level of performance.
Success of the team can be attributed a number of factors. First, the Gaimin Gladiators are a team of talented players with a good understanding of the strategies and mechanics of the game. They have been able to win over their opponents repeatedly because of their individual skills combined with their teamwork and communication. In addition, the coaching staff and the management of the team have played a vital role in the success of the team, by providing guidance and assistance to the player. Their hard work and dedication have clearly paid off as they are now one of the best teams in the Bali Major.
Again, again, and again: Gaimin Gladiators are your new Bali Major champions — and the most dominant Dota 2 team in the world.
The grand finals were again contested by Team Liquid and Gaimin Gladiators. The clash of Western Europe’s two best teams played familiarly — the Gladiators came out on top, 3-1With shocking ease.
GG will take home US$200,000 and 600 Dota Pro Circuit Points. Liquid will claim US$100,000 and 550 DPC points — also meaningless for the first team to qualify for The International 12.
Bali Major final game one: On a knife-edge
It’s difficult to call a Major trophy and a US$100,000 difference in prize money inconsequential — but both WEU titans have dominated this year’s Dota Pro Circuit, and secured their TI12 invites even before the Major.
It was more a question of pride and legacy going into TI12. A Gaimin Gladiators win puts them in the history books as one of two teams to win three Majors in a row — the other being OG — and a Team Liquid win would finally banish the specter of three separate grand finals losses to their regional rivals.
The first game was played on a razor’s edge from start to finish. Gaimin gladiators won the first game by a small margin, but they also dominated several early fights.
But Anton “dyrachyo” Shkredov committed a costly mistake when he chose to Sunder his own Disruptor — who had already used all his spells — in a midlane push, resulting in Liquid quickly collapsing and taking down the Terrorblade.
Liquid was looking to gain an advantage in the bottom lanes by pushing them out, but Gladiators retaliated quickly by using their cliffward vision on their bottom tier 2. Techies’, Dark Seer’s, and Timbersaw’s quick initiations pushed Liquid back, resulting in a Roshan death.
Liquid, undeterred by the defeat of Quinn and his team, jumped right back into battle. Liquid managed to eliminate four heroes, except Quinn, by playing into Gladiators Aegis’ advantage. “Quinn” Callahan’s Timbersaw without losing their own.
Even when they were behind, Gaimin Gladiators kept their confidence, and quietly gathered some important items. They found a Broodmother by smoking into the bottom lane. Liquid tried to follow up but were unable kill Melchior “Seleri” Hillenkamp’s Disruptor — a priority target who recently purchased an Aghanim’s Scepter for his Static Storm — who survived the Ember Spirit and Juggernaut onslaught to cast his ultimate, consigning Liquid to their doom.
The teamfight win helped Gladiators take down the entire Liquid base — and put game one in the bag.
Liquid Steal the Io-Leshrac Combo to Set Up for an Epic Back-and-Forth Game 2
Liquid went for a draft steal to begin game two — taking Gladiator’s trademark Leshrac and Io for themselves. Michael was the one who added a slight twist. “miCKe” Vu taking Leshrac on the safe lane.
Gladiators, despite having an early lead in the game, stabilized it with three farming cores. Although miCKe was at the top of the net-worth chart, Terrorblade and Timbersaw were able to maintain a slim lead. The team’s efforts paid off as they were able wipe Liquid while the team attempted to go on offense.
Lesh-Io’s timing was slipping, and Liquid lost steam. But even without a right-click core, Liquid were no strangers to tough games and comebacks — and bit by bit, pick off by pick off, the team was able to get some key kills to keep their hopes in game two alive.
Liquid managed to gain any advantage possible, even during a Timbersaw rampage. The team quickly used their buybacks to claim Roshan’s goodies and the Radiant side.
Then, Marcus “Ace” Hoelgaard’s Timbersaw overestimated himself while defending top lane. Liquid smashed Timbersaw’s tankiness with some flawless spellcasting. Several other Gladiators heroes tried to hold onto the Timbersaw but with little success.
Gladiators were ready for the long haul once they had secured mega creeps. Liquid rushed the base, however, and was finally able to close out the game after a slugfest — even with a timing-oriented lineup that was seemingly outpaced.
Gaimin Gladiators take control of the Bali Major Grand Final after a 21 minute game 3
Gladiators kicked off the third game by phasing the Io-Leshrac combination for themselves. This left Liquid to pick tournament meta-picks Medusa or Undying. But the rest of Liquid’s draft left a bit to be desired — Windranger, Sniper, and Enigma, multiple ranged cores with no frontline.
Things went awry from the first minute — when Quinn claimed a solo first blood against Michał “Nisha” Jankowski’s Sniper. As Gladiators accrued gold quickly, Liquid couldn’t do the same — they were left scrambling constantly with no way to start fights on their own with such passive, ranged laners.
Liquid was unable to stop Gladiators from rushing at their opponents, using their Io- and Underlord-based mobility. 21 minutes later, it was over — and Gladiators claimed their series lead.
The Bali Major trophy is awarded to Gladiators for their emphatic victory in game four
After Gladiators’ dominant performance in game three, there was an air of inevitableness. Liquid still tried to play a wildcard by selecting A Lone Druid for Nisha as the last pick.
Liquid, with the game now being more cautious, threw bodies in the midlane to try and stop Quinn. This gave dyrachyo, Marcus “Ace” Hoelgaard — on Medusa and Beastmaster respectively — to free farm.
Liquid was under pressure to move, but very few moves were made. GG, meanwhile, were happy to farm Medusa. However, any errant positions were quickly punished by Beastmaster’s Vision and Erik “tOfu” Engel’s Lion armed with a Blink Dagger. The end result was that it was simply too much.
Liquid barely managed to mount a defense. Their lineup was designed to push towers while grouping around Juggernaut & Lone Druid. It failed. There was no explosive end to the series, but just Gladiators asserting their supremacy — in game four, the series, and to the Dota world watching.
This is the two early favorites for TI12 on October. Gaimin Gladiators will be looking to end their dominance or Team Liquid will be happy to spoil the party.
See you — and these two WEU giants — in October.
READ MORE The Dota 2 hero tier list (July 2023) | Bali Major edition
