Riyadh Masters Qualifiers Recap: A G2 × iG Draw Against Entity in a Show of Strength

Match Overview

In the first game, ETT dominated the laning phase, but their initiation with Tiny was too deep, leading to counter-kills. IG recovered and, with Sven’s impressive teamfighting, secured consecutive team wipes to turn the tide, eventually winning.

In the second game, ETT once again established a massive lead in the laning phase and this time capitalised on it. With a Parker-Bane combo, they maintained their pressure and secured an early victory.

Game 1

radiant Entity, dire G2 × iG

Picks and positions: Tiny vs. Earthshaker mid, Mars vs. Shadow Shaman vs. Rubick supporting Spirit Breaker, and Beastmaster vs. Chaos Knight with Enchantress supporting against Bane and Juggernaut.

At the start of the game, ETT secured a double kill in a level one fight despite losing CK. In the laning phase, they had a slight advantage across all three lanes, pressuring mid and top while securing kills through roaming supports. By the ten-minute mark, they were up 2K in gold, with their three cores ahead in net worth.

In the 11th minute, despite a failed first initiation with Tiny’s Blink, ETT managed to catch out Juggernaut and Earthshaker, killing them in a follow-up engagement. IG only managed to retaliate with Sven’s support, taking Mars’ life, narrowing the gold gap to 4K.

However, ETT started to make mistakes. At the 14th minute, they overextended at the bottom tier one tower, losing Tiny and Bane. Then, at the 16th minute, another engage at the middle tier two tower cost them more lives. After these losses, ETT lost their momentum.

At the 22nd minute, IG initiated with a fog, clashing with ETT in the river. Tiny took out Rubick in the backline, but IG’s CK and Mars focused down Juggernaut, who then used his ultimate to counter-attack. ETT lost CK, Juggernaut, and Bane, while IG lost Sven and Rubick, evening out the economic disparity.

At the 25th minute, ETT’s Tiny was caught off guard without a Black King Bar (BKB) in a fight for Roshan, allowing IG to secure the buff. Sven got a Divine Shield. Two minutes later, IG, while pushing with the Aegis, caught Beastmaster and forced a team fight. ETT, despite managing to take down Sven and Rubick, lost CK, Juggernaut, and Bane, conceding their mid high ground.

At the 30th minute, IG caught Mars in the jungle and pushed down with the Aegis. ETT responded with a buyback from Mars, attempting a full-team engage, but only managed to kill Sven’s Aegis before retreating due to poor positioning. At the 35th minute, IG pressured the top high ground, and although ETT tried to engage, they lost Tiny as he was caught without BKB, and their remaining heroes were eliminated. ETT only had CK alive, forcing them to concede their mid high ground. The gold difference widened to 7K.

At the 38th minute, IG pushed up without Bane, catching and killing Tiny, and pursued the remaining support heroes onto the high ground. Despite ETT’s counter-attack, they couldn’t withstand Sven’s high damage output due to the gear disparity, only managing to take down Sven’s Aegis before Bane and Mars exchanged buybacks. Tiny and Earthshaker also used their buybacks, increasing the gold difference to 10K.

At the 39th minute, Sven returned to kill a buyback’d Tiny in the top tri-ancient area, and IG immediately pushed up the high ground. Sven died impulsively with low health, but IG bought him back, destroying almost all of ETT’s base except for the bottom remote barracks before retreating. The gold difference reached 15K.

In the 43rd minute, IG initiated with fog, securing a kill on Bane in the bottom jungle. ETT’s chaotic team fight resulted in their defeat, with Bane and CK buying back and dying. IG pushed onto the high ground with numbers, ending the game.

Game 2

radiant G2 × iG, dire Entity

Picks and positions: IG’s Phantom Lancer (PA) and Anti-Mage (AM) supported by Weaver and Treant Protector versus ETT’s Anti-Mage with Sven protecting him, and Phantom Assassin (PA) with Bane and Puck in the middle.

ETT once again dominated the laning phase, with Puck being pressured mid but securing kills on both sides of the map with PA and Weaver. By the seventh minute, Puck assisted in killing both PA and Weaver in the bottom lane, securing a tier one tower and dominance. By the ninth minute, ETT claimed the neutral camp in the triangle area, trading kills with IG despite losing Puck and Bane.

Post-laning phase, Puck and Bane’s ganks secured more kills on Phantom Lancer, and by the 14th minute, ETT was up 4K in gold after catching PA and Phantom Lancer. At the 17th minute, IG’s attempt to initiate with fog was avoided, and E