Heroic has created history by beating Team Falcons in the Grand Finals of PGL Wallachia Season 2 and became the first South American team to clinch an International LAN event in Dota 2. The Norwegian-based organization, which has a fully South American roster, made it to the history books on October 13th, with the final nail in the coffin being a 3-1 defeat of their Saudi-backed counterparts.
It is important to note that Heroic’s journey to stardom was not without some hitches. Having been defeated by Team Falcons in the Upper Bracket, the team had to battle their way through to the finals after defeating Tundra Esports, a European team that they had already beaten in the tournament.
As the teams entered the finals, most of the fans and analysts anticipated a similar performance as what was witnessed all year; Team Falcons, which has been a force to reckon with. Since Falcons had defeated Heroic earlier in the tournament, most expected them to easily clinch another championship title.
But the tide started to turn in game one, which was a very close base race finish for Team Falcons. It was a close shave but little did the Falcons realize that this was going to be their last moment of celebration in the series.
The change of events was brought by the outstanding performance of David “Parker” Nicho Flores. While not overdoing aggression, Parker showcased some fantastic gameplay on Morphling, Shadow Fiend, and Monkey King. His aggressive play style was typical of the South American Dota – wild, but not random. Heroic as a team reflected this combination of aggression and planning as they went on to dominate Team Falcons in the series.
By the fourth game, Team Falcons had crumbled under pressure completely. Their teamwork broke apart and Heroic took advantage of the situation to win the final match and become the champions.
This victory not only makes Heroic the first South American team to win a Dota 2 LAN event but also one of the strongest teams from the region. In addition to the PGL Wallachia Season 2 trophy, they get $300,000 and, most importantly, the right to taunt the once invincible Team Falcons.
Heroic’s success is a result of the many years of dedication from its players. The team is made up of players who have played for other professional teams in South America including beastcoast, Hokori, and Keyd Stars among others, and this gives the team a lot of experience. Not even their one non-South American player, Cedric “Davai Lama” Deckmyn, who went from being a Tier 2 player for D2 Hustlers to a top player for Heroic.
This is a bitter blow for Team Falcons who were among the favorites to win this tournament. However, with the recent controversies involving Ammar “ATF” Al-Assaf, the team’s decision to keep their roster intact may now be questionable. After finishing fourth at The International 13, Falcons were expected to dominate this tournament, but their inability to do so may lead to questions about their future.
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