ATF On EWC Playoffs: "It's Just Shit Format"

Team Falcons has been eliminated from the Esports World Cup. The squad lost 2-0 against Vici Gaming, in the first game of the playoffs. With no lower bracket, Falcons is out of the tournament with a top-eight finish. 

After the team's elimination, offlaner Ammar "ATF" Al-Assaf shared his thoughts on the tournament, and why they lost their series against Vici Gaming.

ATF: "You get top seed, then you lose one game and get eliminated"

Falcons dropped one game in the group stage, tying the best teams among all groups. Yet despite a 9-1 record, and skipping the survival stage, it only takes one loss in the playoffs to get eliminated.

This didn't sit well with ATF, who expressed his thoughts on the event's format and how he felt immediately post-game.

"I mean obviously feeling like shit. You get knocked, it is what it is. You win some, you lose some. I mean it's just shit format right? you win groups, you get top seed, then you lose one game and get eliminated, that's it. You wait for like 6 days, for eternity. It's much better for them (Vici Gaming) because they get to actually play and practice but for you, you practice and you don't even know what's your practice."

Falcons isn't the only one who suffered from the long break. Nigma Galaxy was also eliminated by BB team after they clawed their way in the Survival stage. A nearly week long break between series has not benefitted some of the Dota 2 teams.

Game one of the series was a pretty close affair. Falcons has a small advantage for the first 20 minutes or so, but couldn't use that to go highground and end the game. ATF attributes that loss to Vici's superior teamfight-based lineup.

"They have R press buttons and they just want to win the game. If we don't snowball with our heroes, don't think it's easy. We need to have like 10k lead at 20 minutes and their heroes will do nothing. Problem is I don't think we have so big lead, It's just hard. Dark Seer, Mirana, Spectre." 

Vici Gaming surprised in game two, with a last pick Slark mid. Not a typical midlaner, but one that manages to do well against Ember thanks to two early points in Saltwater Shiv.

Despite the surprise midlane match up, ATF credits the victory to the other cores of Vici, "I thought this pick was useless and I'm not sure how he had impact. I don't think he's big problem. I think the beast and KOTL were the main problem. I think they did so much. Like [Slark[ just picked because he cannot die this game. Like he could have had puck or storm it would be the same thing."

With Falcons out of the event, their next appearance will be at The International in August. Time will tell if this setback at EWC is a temporary hiccup or indication of bigger problems within the team.

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Featured Image Source: ESL