On just the second day of The International 6, the audience in KeyArena saw David slay Goliath. TnC Gaming, one of the Southeast Asian qualifier teams, took down tournament favorites OG 2-0.
The OG squad, captained by Tal "Fly" Aizik, came into TI6 as clear favorites for a top spot. The victors of both the Frankfurt and Manila Majors, the five players of OG are considered to be among the best in Dota. From Amer "Miracle-" Al-Barkawi, widely considered one of the best mid laners in the scene, to highlight-worthy supports like Andreas "Cr1t-" Nielsen, there was little doubt this team would rise to the top, even after being sent to the lower bracket by MVP Phoenix.
Enter TnC Gaming, led by longtime North American Dota player Jimmy "DeMoN" Ho. This team went 7-7 in the group stage against stiff competition, but was still unfavored in the matchup. However, given players like Nico "eyyou" Barcelon, a four-role support who can exert the same level of pressure as Cr1t-, and cores Marc "Raven" Fausto and Carlo "Kuku" Palad, this TnC squad might have been the most underestimated at the tournament.
In game one, OG drafted a comfortable, proven set of heroes, utilizing the synergy of Medusa and Drow Ranger to push early and fast. Despite a net worth lead for most of the early game, OG struggled to keep its cores alive and pushing, with Johan "n0tail" Sundstein giving up a series of early deaths that halted the team's momentum. TnC dragged it out, relying on Raven's Lifestealer to get the items needed, while eyyou constantly made space and picks for TnC. Despite having Miracle- on a strong pick, he wasn't able to carry against the dual threats of TnC, and OG tapped out just after the 54-minute mark.
OG sprang back in game two, turning to the signature Tiny-Wisp combination that few teams ever allow to slip through the first ban phase. In response, TnC drafted a Drow strategy of its own, turning to a Vengeful Spirit and Huskar for an explosive early game to shut down Miracle-'s Ember Spirit. Again, OG had an early game lead, pushing TnC repeatedly back into its own base, breaking tower after tower and dominating the first 30 minutes. TnC bent, faltered, but never broke, somehow rebuffing OG right at the last critical moment every time. A series of excellent chronospheres and catch-outs gradually pushed TnC up, and eventually TnC found itself inside OG's base, hammering the final nail in the coffin and forcing out the win.
TnC advances to the top eight of TI6, the first team from the Philippines to ever do so, and will compete again tomorrow in the next round of the lower bracket. OG finishes in the 9th-12th bracket, and will now have to face questions of roster swaps and an uncertain road to TI7.