OG vs. PSG.LGD set for The International 2019 upper bracket finals

PSG.LGD has a chance for revenge at The International 2019.

Shanghai’s favorite team scored a 2-0 victory over Chinese rival Vici Gaming. The win sets PSG.LGD up with a spot in the upper bracket finals.

Vici Gaming started the best-of-three series with an early aggression that quickly translated to three kills. PSG.LGD avoided early team fights as best they could from there, looking to make space for Wang “Ame” Chunyu and his Terrorblade.

Vici Gaming slowly gained a net worth advantage, but didn’t rake in enough gold to make up for PSG.LGD’s strong draft. A tanky frontline of Centaur Warrunner and Kunkka offered a great deal of security for the rest of PSG.LGD and when Ame purchased a Black King Bar, Vici had no way to reach their primary source of damage.

A clash near Roshan’s pit sealed the deal for PSG.LGD. As Vici Gaming tried to contest, PSG.LGD slaughtered their heroes. They took aim at the throne and forced Vici Gaming to accept defeat.

The second game was all PSG.LGD needed to claim the upper bracket finals spot. Vici Gaming once again prioritized early aggression, with a draft that included Sand King and Sven. Ancient neutrals became a point of contention for both teams, with Zhang “Paparazi” Chengjun stealing stacked camps. PSG.LGD tried to punish them, but those battles favored Vici and added to their lead.

When it came time for proper team fights, however, PSG.LGD was untouchable. The team’s strong coordination allowed them to avoid Vici’s incredible chain stun potential. Lu “Maybe” Yao’s Dragon Knight dealt massive damage but was basically unkillable behind a BKB and Aghanim’s Scepter-upgraded Elder Dragon Form.

PSG.LGD saw the opportunity to push high ground after Vici Gaming’s failed buybacks, allowing them to take the victory and advance to the upper bracket finals.

PSG.LGD set for long-awaited rematch with OG at The International 2019

PSG.LGD is now set for a rematch with OG in the upper bracket finals. The two faced off in the grand finals of The International 2018, which saw OG score a hardfought 3-2 victory to take the Aegis of Champions.

They have only shared the server twice since, with both series taking place at the Epicenter Major in June. PSG.LGD bested OG both times, but there is a big asterisk attached to those victories as OG was playing with a substitute due to an illness suffered by their captain, Johan “N0tail” Sundstein.

The two teams were the standout performers of the group stage with OG topping group A and PSG.LGD standing over group B. They have kept up their momentum since, with both looking excellent on the main stage.

The winner will move on to the grand finals and move closer to the $15.4 million top prize.