Thunder Predator is the first team eliminated from The International 2021.
The South American squad couldn’t survive the third day of groups and will be heading home from TI10 as a result. After starting the group stage with a 0-10 record, the team was put into a do-or-die match against Team Aster where it needed a 2-0 sweep in order to stay alive in the tournament. Thunder Predator lost the opener, mathematically guaranteeing a group stage elimination.
With that, Thunder Predator is assured a 17th-place finish at TI10. The team takes home $100,000 for their efforts. Another team from group B will be eliminated alongside them, but it is not yet certain who will join them.
Thunder Predator discussed the elimination on Twitter:
“Arriving at our first TI and not keeping up with the competition today is a devastating blow. This trip showed us we have many things to improve upon, and there is no doubt that we will improve and return stronger,” the organization said.
What went wrong for Thunder Predator in TI10?
Thunder Predator just didn’t show up on point for The International 2021. While many were picking Thunder Predator to lose in the group stage, there was cause for optimism when it came to the team. Thunder Predator was actually a dominant force in the first interregional LAN tournament of the year, the ONE Esports Singapore Major.
During the group stage in Singapore, Thunder Predator went 12-2 and swept future TI10 teams including PSG.LGD, Alliance, Quincy Crew, and Team Aster. The team then eliminated Team Aster and Virtus.pro from the tournament playoff bracket, eventually fifth after being eliminated by eventual champions Invictus Gaming.
Despite looking very strong at the Singapore Major, the team just looked out of its league against almost every opponent at TI10. Thunder Predator had some early success in the group stage, getting the upper hand against OG in its initial match, but has rarely even had a lead to work with in its matches since then. It The team finished day three of the TI10 group stage with an 0-14 record.
Thunder Predator faces T1 with pride on the line
Despite being mathematically guaranteed a last-place finish already, Thunder Predator still has one more match to play. On the final day of the group stage, the team will play its last best-of-two series against T1.
The match has some stakes as T1 will be looking to secure an upper bracket start to the playoffs. Thunder Predator will be playing for pride as it looks to avoid a winless trip to Bucharest.
