TI13 Chinese Qualifier Recap: Zero defeats AR to secure their TI13 main event spot!



Match Overview: In the first game, TZ’s Rubick shone, stealing skills in teamfights to control the Blue Cat, and later dominated AR for an easy win. In the second game, TZ’s lineup lacked damage output, with the Skeleton being countered by Void, leading to a natural endgame where they couldn’t handle Earthshaker and Beastmaster. In the third game, despite AR’s early pressure on Shadow Hunter, TZ managed to hold on, and as Black King Bar-equipped Black took out Terrorblade effortlessly, they crushed AR in two teamfights, securing their TI invitation.

First game picks:

In lane positions, Earthshaker faced off against Blue Cat in the middle, while Gyrocopter + Rubick clashed with Antimage + Ice Dragon top, and Naga Siren + Ice Maiden went up against Brewmaster + Enigma bottom.

Earthshaker was pressured significantly in the mid lane, giving AR a clear advantage across all three lanes with their cores getting off to a great start.

At 13 minutes, AR initiated with fog, targeting Naga Siren, but she survived the initial burst with a Magic Wand and countered back, killing Enigma. Antimage and Brewmaster chased, but Rubick stole Blink and kept landing spells, assisting Gyrocopter in eliminating AR’s squad, resulting in a team wipe.

AR grew increasingly impatient, and at 20 minutes, Blue Cat’s initiation was countered by Ice Maiden, leading to her death and further AR setbacks. TZ’s economy started to surpass AR’s.

At 24 minutes, TZ secured the Aegis and began pushing, with Rubick stealing Banebind, catching Blue Cat again for another kill. Blue Cat bought back, but the fight had already turned, and after taking out two supports, Brewmaster fell to Earthshaker, leading to a 4-for-2 trade for AR.

TZ then started their high ground push. Blue Cat finally managed to initiate with BKB, killing Naga Siren, but AR’s attempt at a counter-push failed when Antimage met Rubick in the river, losing his Aegis.

AR had to defend their high ground, and at 42 minutes, during the Aegis respawn, they attempted to engage with fog. Antimage was caught solo in the woods by Gyrocopter, followed by Earthshaker’s roll-in, resulting in his instant death. TZ capitalized, storming into the bottom high ground, destroying it and taking out two more supports before continuing to mid.

Blue Cat tried to catch Naga Siren again, but this time, she reacted quickly, activating her BKB, forcing Blue Cat and Antimage to retreat, leaving Brewmaster and a buyback Enigma to fall.

With the game slipping away, AR conceded, and with Earthshaker silencing Blue Cat, they called GG, giving TZ a convincing victory in the first game.

(Second and third game summaries have been omitted due to the length of the original text. Please let me know if you’d like those translated too.)