by ESB brings you free Dota 2 betting tips for three games at The International 2023. Here are our selections for Team Spirit vs Virtus.pro, Team Liquid vs Talon Esports, and LGD Gaming vs 9Pandas in the upper-bracket quarterfinals on Friday, October 20.
TEAM SPIRIT vs VIRTUS.PRO Dota 2 BETTING & MATCH DETAILS |
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| Best Odds: | Spirit -1250 at BetOnline | VP +600 at BetOnline |
| When: | October 20, 2023 | 10:00 PDT |
| Watch Live: | Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/dota2ti) |
Team Spirit are outright favourites with top esports betting sites to win their second International title, and it’s very hard to make a case against them. The 2021 champions looked phenomenal in the group stage and haven’t lost a single map so far this tournament.
This also explains why Team Spirit are heavy favourites to defeat Group C’s fourth seed, Virtus.pro, but there’s more to the offered Dota 2 betting odds than just the team’s performances this tournament. Team Spirit have not lost against VP once this season, winning all three meetings.
However, as much as we can agree that Team Spirit are the most likely victors, this is still a regional derby between two rosters that know each other exceptionally well. And regional derbies tend to be much closer than your average matchup.
A lot will have to go right for VP to derail Team Spirit, but at the offered betting odds, Virtus.pro to win a map is the right play.
Virtus.pro +1.5
TEAM LIQUID vs TALON ESPORTS Dota 2 BETTING & MATCH DETAILS |
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| Best Odds: | Liquid -333.33 at BetOnline | Talon +240 at BetOnline |
| When: | October 20, 2023 | 13:00 PDT |
| Watch Live: | Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/dota2ti) |
Team Liquid entered TI12 as one of the top dogs, and they’ve yet to lose that tag. Liquid finished the group stage with one upset draw against China’s Azure Rayand, then crushed Evil Geniuses (2-0) in the second phase, making a solid case for themselves as a dangerous contender to win their first TI since 2017.
Talon Esports have shown themselves to be a threat at international events this season, and they looked solid last week throughout their group stage run. However, while Talon finished the group stage in third place, they struggled when faced with stronger teams such as TSM and Tundra Esports.
Since July, Team Liquid have met with Talon Esports four times and won all but one series – a draw at DreamLeague Season 21. But even though Talon managed to take a point from Liquid in September, they’ve not shown enough in Seattle to be considered a serious threat.
Team Liquid -1.5 maps
LGD GAMING vs 9PANDAS Dota 2 BETTING & MATCH DETAILS |
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| Best Odds: | LGD -277.78 at BetOnline | 9P +200 at BetOnline |
| When: | October 20, 2023 | 16:00 PDT |
| Watch Live: | Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/dota2ti) |
LGD Gaming were priced as +1000 outsiders on the outright betting markets before the tournament began, but as we enter the playoffs, it’s clear that number was very disrespectful. LGD Gaming were phenomenal in the group stage with wins against Gaimin Gladiators, nouns, and beastcoast and one draw against Virtus.pro.
That is a very small sample size of games, but the eye test suggests that LGD Gaming are more than ready for another deep run. Their next opponents, 9Pandas, have had their moments in Group A, where they took points from Entity and Evil Geniuses, but their overall performance was pretty mediocre.
LGD Gaming are in excellent form and arguably the second-best team entering the playoffs. We have to take the Chinese squad to sweep.
