Friday at the EPICENTER Major brings Gambit vs Alliance in a game that has more on the line than any other in esports. The winner takes the final spot to The International 9 in Shanghai, while the loser, well, gets another chance in the TI9 qualifiers, but that’s not the point. The game has some great storylines too, and it will no doubt be the highlight of the day’s play.
Watch and bet: Gambit vs Alliance live stream and odds
Gambit play in front of their home crowd, and that seems fitting for a team that has shown some exceptional highs along the way this year. A great showing in Birmingham put the spotlight on them at the most opportune moment, but they played equally well, if not better at ESL One Katowice, up until the point they were destroyed 3-0 in the final by Team Secret.
The home crowd will be a big bonus for them, and especially Nikita "Daxak" Kuzmin, who isn’t even three years into his career yet, and already finds himself with a chance to play on the biggest stage in esports. This would also be the first TI the org has ever made, so it’s probably the biggest game Gambit Dota has ever played, and a sign of the progress they’ve made since their entry into the scene.
From new money to old
On the other end of the spectrum, you have the Swedish Alliance, winners of the 2013 edition of The International back when you only got a measly $1.4m for doing it. A game-five win over Natus Vincere in the 2013 final saw the likes of Loda, AdmiralBulldog and S4 guarantee themselves a degree of Dota immortality, although only the latter remains at the top level of play in 2019, if you can say that of EG’s current form.
This is a more consistent team than Alliance, but they may not have the same peaks either, and the home crowd will test the resolve of a team that is in reality only 60% Swedish. A German and a Norwegian make up the five, with English presumably the language du jour when things are getting hot in game and calls need to be made in a snap.
Related: EPICENTER Major 2019 bracket
The team has made a few Majors this year, but made no real impact once getting to that point, which raises questions about their ability to be a factor when the biggest show in Dota starts. The chances of a miraculous revival of the team and another TI title in 2019 are not great, but they have every chance of beating Gambit here and taking that twelfth spot, and as OG proved, TI is a magical place, where dreams come true and literally anything can happen. Don’t miss this match.
Gambit vs Alliance betting
Gambit vs Alliance starts at 2pm CEST. Gambit are favourites to win at 1.60, with Alliance priced at 2.18.
Total map betting is tight, with two maps at 1.80 and three maps at 1.93. A 2-0 win for Gambit is the shortest price, at 3.05, with a 2-1 win for Gambit available at 3.40. Alliance 2-0 is 3.70 and Alliance 2-1 is the same price.
Find more betting options on Gambit vs Alliance on our EPICENTER Major tournament page.
EPICENTER Major live: Friday's matches
(Times in CEST)
- PSG.LDG vs OG - 10am - live stream
- Gambit vs Alliance - 2pm - live stream
- Team Liquid vs Vici Gaming - 5pm - live stream
Image: Gambit
