TNC are MDL Chengdu champs

Photo courtesy of TNC Predator's official Twitter account

by Drew Malihan

MANILA -- TNC Predator claims revenge against Chinese team Vici Gaming to claim the MDL Chengdu Major crown in the Chengdu Century City New International Convention & Exhibition Center.

The combination of Morphling and Earthshaker spell the difference for the Filipino side to defeat the all-Chinese squad, three games to one, despite VG's massive 30k gold lead in Game 4.

The two teams previously met at the upper bracket finals of the Chengdu Major, with VG pulling a 2-0 sweep to TNC and dropping them to the lower bracket finals.

TNC, however, swept fellow lower bracket finalists Invictus Gaming to book a rematch with the Chinese powerhouse.

Armel's Outworld Devourer carries TNC to Game 1 while the Morph-shaker combo of Tims and Gabbi pushed the lead further, two games to one.

VG however did not back down just yet and forces a Game 4 with a combination of Night Stalker, Timbersaw, Keeper of the Light, Kunkka, and Pangolier.

TNC push VG to call GG in Game 4 with another Morph-shaker combo now in control of March and Gabbi.

The Southeast Asian team bagged US$300,000 in prize earnings and 4,850 Dota Pro Circuit Points, which pushes them to the top of the DPC standings and a chance for a direct invite to The International (TI) 10.

TNC also claims the top spot in the Dota2 rankings of esports website GosuGamers with 1350 points, edging two-time TI champs and former top-ranked team OG.

Follow him on Twitter: @drewmalihan