Evil Geniuses held off TSM 2-1 on Sunday to earn their second win of Group Stage 2 at DreamLeague Season 19.
In the day’s other action, Team Liquid swept Shopify Rebellion 2-0, Gaimin Gladiators did the same to beastcoast and Tundra Esports shut out OG by the same score.
All eight teams had identical 1-1 records through the first two days of Group Stage 2 matches, meaning Sunday’s four winners moved to the top of the standings at 2-1.
Sixteen teams are competing in the $1 million Dota 2 event, which runs through April 23. The winner will receive $300,000 and qualification to the Riyadh Masters.
Two groups consisting of eight teams battled in Group Stage 1. The top four teams from each group moved on to Group Stage 2, while the bottom four teams were eliminated.
Group Stage 2 merges all eight teams into one group and features best-of-three matches. Four teams advance to the playoffs, with the top two teams moving into the upper bracket and the third- and fourth-place finishers competing in the lower bracket.
Those four teams will duke it out in a double-elimination bracket. All playoff matches are best-of-three, besides the April 23 grand final, which is best-of-five. Whoever wins that match earns the $300,000 and qualifies for the Riyadh Masters.
On Sunday, Evil Geniuses opened with a 40-minute win on green before TSM answered with a 34-minute victory on green. The final map took 54 minutes before Evil Geniuses prevailed, also on green.
Team Liquid won for the second straight day by beating Shopify Rebellion in 32 minutes on red and 27 minutes on green.
Gaimin Gladiators handled beastcoast in 31 minutes on red and 23 minutes on green.
Tundra cruised past OG in 24 minutes on red before finishing them off in 39 minutes on green.
Group Stage 2 standings with match record, map record:
T1. Evil Geniuses, 2-1 (5-4)
T1. Gaimin Gladiators, 2-1 (4-2)
T1. Team Liquid, 2-1 (4-3)
T1. Tundra Esports, 2-1 (5-2)
T5. beastcoast, 1-2 (2-5)
T5. OG, 1-2 (3-4)
T5. Shopify Rebellion, 1-2 (2-4)
T5. TSM, 1-2 (3-4)
–Field Level Media