Chinese titans Vici Gaming met their match against challengers TNC Predator today in the first round of The International 2019 main event, pulling out a hard-fought 2-1 series win.\u00a0<\/p>
TNC\u2019s propensity to take games late is becoming a known trait of the team since game one was a 76-minute back-and-forth battle between the two sides.<\/p>
Every high ground push was inevitably met with resistance, no matter which team went up. Vici had a huge advantage throughout the mid-game with an Empowered Juggernaut but they were unable to transform the lead into any important objectives with TNC slowly clawing their way back into the game.<\/p>
TNC\u2019s teamfight execution was out of this world. After a poor laning start, \u201cArmel\u201d Paul Tabios and Carlo “Kuku” Palad struck fear into Vici\u2019s hearts with Queen of Pain and Sand King, bringing a monstrously farmed Lifestealer with them to burst down key enemy targets.<\/p>
The Chinese team tried to take the high ground again, entering the middle lane with a seven-slotted Juggernaut but TNC repelled them with a perfect counter-initiation.<\/p>
