Royal Never Give Up vs Team Liquid Prediction: only win will satisfy both teams

One of the most important international Dota 2 tournaments, the PGL Arlington Major 2022, will continue in the United States on Monday, August 8. Royal Never Give Up and Team Liquid will play in the group stage on the fifth day.

PGL Arlington Major 2022 is a major international cyber-sports tournament in Dota 2. The tournament in the U.S. will be the second and final major event of the 2021/22 DPC season. Top 17 teams from around the world will compete for the prize pool of $500,000 and 4,570 DPC points from August 4th till August 14th.

Royal Never Give Up: fight for winners’ bracket still going on

As expected, RNG is not having an easy time with their results in this major. ana is far from the magical carry he used to be in his prime at OG. The Chinese team has played four matches already, but they only defeated Thunder Awaken once and drew the other three. Opponents that RNG has shared points with are Outsiders, Soniqs and Fnatic. RNG continues to be a contender for the top slot, but it's important for ana and company to pick up points against OG.

Dota 2 fans will finally get a chance to see first-hand what the Chinese teams can do in the international arena in 2022. At the major will be the second appearance in the global Chinese, and lifted the veil of mystery players RNG and PSG.LGD at the end of July at the Riyadh Masters 2022, where the latter won. RNG and made the playoffs but failed to cope in the quarterfinals with Team Spirit (1-2).

In the U.S., the Royal Never Give Up team didn't make it as an entire squad. Ghost, the main Malaysian carry, couldn't get a visa, and the organization asked the legendary Australian ana to play in the majors as a substitute. The two-time IT champion is no longer in the form to be admired as he was in 2018-2019, but the four Chinese RNG players can adjust to a specific carry. Let's be honest, Ghost is still a ruin, so the replacement is appropriate.

In the 2021 offseason, the organization strengthened the roster and the results came. The RNG players finished third in the Winter Regional League and second in the Regional Finals (mini-tournament instead of the majors). The RNG squad qualified for the majors in the DPC Spring round, but they did so in an uncertain manner. First of all, they blew the end of the championship and all the matches failed 2:0 - to PSG LGD, Aster and Xtreme Gaming. The management of the Royals could not watch as their brainchild, just beginning to show something in 2022, is crumbling before their eyes and after the regional league made replacements.

The RNG now has kaka in 4th position, and former SAG player Ghost in 1st position. The first battle test was unsuccessful, because the renewed RNG squad totally failed the second regional final, giving matches to PSG LGD (0-2) and Xtreme Gaming (1-2), thus settling for only the fourth position. But there were positive moments in the offseason. Royal Never Give Up won the tournament Gamers Without Borders, where the Chinese and Asian teams perticipated. In the Grand Final they beat BOOM Esports (2-0).

But the most important thing that happened this summer for Royal Never Give Up was winning the third summer tourney championship. The team lost only to PSG LGD (0-2) and Dandelion Esport Club (0-2), but good for the team it did not mean anything.

Team Liquid: game for life

The European team is feverish, not doing very well for the second major in a row. So far the Europeans are in the playoff zone, but it is important to take at least some points to not go home today, as the colleagues in the region from Tundra Esports did yesterday.

Team Liquid players only defeated their opponents from Soniqs (2-0), which does not yet show the true strength of this team. On top of that, they have four draws with the Outsiders, OG, Thunder Awaken and Talon Esports, who are direct playoff contenders. Taking points from the remaining games is the only chance for Team Liquid to keep their place in the tournament.

Team Liquid has been doing well throughout the 2021/22 DPC cycle in Europe. The team secured a title on the winter tour, also finishing second in the regional winter finals, which drew extra DPC points, instead of the first cancelled major. In the spring, Liquid finished third in the regional league and went to the major to put up a mediocre performance, placing 9-12. Due to their failure at the major, the European team had to try to perform well in the regional league Summer Tour. And Team Liquid managed to do this, taking second place and getting a ticket to the August Major in the U.S.

At the Riyadh Masters 2022 at the end of July, the European team played with a substitute. The mighty Ana replaced MATUMBAMAN. Why the Finn didn't go to the UAE with the team is unknown, but it was much more important for Team Liquid to get their main player to the USA.

Head-to-head encounters

The last time the opponents played each other was in 2019. Since then, the squads have completely changed.

Expert Betting Tips

The teams will share points, and you can bet on a draw for 2.05 at Bet365.

You should also expect Total Over (98.5) Frags for 1.83 at 1xbet.

Royal Never Give Up will make Total Over (50.5) Frags individually, and this option is estimated at 1.82 at 22bet.