Fan-favourites Team Empire have slumped to a 2-1 defeat to LGD Gaming on Day One of the main event in the International Dota 2 Championships.
The Russian team took the match to their opponents and tried to prevent them from going on the defensive, but were unable to execute the strategy.
The boys come back from a 15k gold deficit and take Game 1 over @team_empire ! Did everyone enjoy Sylar's Phantom Lancer? #TI5 #LGDWIN
— LGD-Gaming (@LGDgaming) August 3, 2015
LGD eased to victory in Game One and were on course to dominate Game Two until two of their barracks fell.
With the contest tied at 1-1, Team Empire had the opportunity to turn the series on its head, but LGD were unstoppable in the decider.
LGD ends the series against Empire in spectacular fashion dropping them into the lower bracket. #TI5
— DOTA 2 (@DOTA2) August 3, 2015
They opened Game Theree with a spree of 16 kills in 15 minutes, losing just three lives in response, while a huge net worth on Gyrocopter and Ember Spirit proved too much for Empire to overturn.
LGD wrapped up victory in less than one hour, bagging $1m (£640,000) in prize money and dropping Empire into the lower bracket in the process.
Mark Langshaw
