On April 11, 2025, at 7:00 PM EET, Team Liquid will face AVULUS in the first round of the lower bracket playoffs at ESL One Raleigh 2025. The match will be a Bo3 format on LAN. Below is an analysis of the current form of the teams and a prediction for the match outcome.
Current Form of Teams
Team Liquid
Liquid finished the group stage with mixed results: two wins, two draws, and one loss. The team defeated Talon Esports and Nigma Galaxy, drew with Team Spirit and Shopify Rebellion, but lost decisively to PARIVISION. It's important to note that at ESL One Raleigh 2025, Nisha is replaced by Bryle, which has affected team synergy. Despite having an experienced core, the absence of a key mid-laner could be a critical factor in elimination matches.
AVULUS
AVULUS entered the tournament as an underdog but managed to surprise: drawing with HEROIC, Tundra Esports, and Team Falcons, securing a win over Team Tidebound, and only one loss to BetBoom Team. However, AVULUS is playing with two stand-ins — Mo13ei and dEsire, which raises questions about their stability in the playoffs. Nonetheless, the team demonstrates a flexible drafting strategy and confident early-game play.
Most Frequent Picks
Hero selection in professional Dota 2 directly impacts team strategy. Popular picks reflect the current meta and shape the style of play, determining key tactical approaches.
Team Liquid
Hero | Picks | Winrate |
Tiny | 10 | 90.00% |
Muerta | 10 | 90.00% |
Silencer | 9 | 55.56% |
Jakiro | 8 | 75.00% |
Ancient Apparition | 8 | 62.50% |
AVULUS
Hero | Picks | Winrate |
Tiny | 9 | 33.33% |
Earthshaker | 7 | 71.43% |
Night Stalker | 5 | 60.00% |
Chen | 5 | 80.00% |
Primal Beast | 5 | 60.00% |
Most Frequent Bans
As for bans, they play an equally important role — teams aim to deprive opponents of their strongest heroes and gain an advantage during the draft phase. Current ban trends help identify which heroes teams consider most dangerous in the current meta.
Team Liquid
Hero | Bans |
Beastmaster | 14 |
Phantom Assassin | 13 |
Monkey King | 11 |
Dark Seer | 10 |
Nature's Prophet | 10 |
AVULUS
Hero | Bans |
Monkey King | 13 |
Tinker | 10 |
Terrorblade | 10 |
Templar Assassin | 9 |
Nature's Prophet | 8 |
Match Prediction
Team Liquid boasts higher individual skill levels and experience in major LAN tournaments. However, the absence of Nisha and the presence of Bryle significantly impact their macro play and drafts. On the other hand, AVULUS, despite having two stand-ins, shows an unconventional approach and confidence on the map. With proper preparation, they could challenge even a top team.
PREDICTION: Team Liquid wins 2:1
ESL One Raleigh 2025 takes place from April 7 to 13. Teams compete for a prize pool of $1,000,000. Follow the news, results, and tournament schedule via this link.
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