Mr.Cat > esports > PGL Wallachia Season 2: A Historic Win for Heroic
PGL Wallachia Season 2 kicked off the new competitive season, marking the first international LAN tournament following The International 2024. The event concluded with a remarkable victory, highlighting Heroic’s journey in Dota 2. Just last month, Heroic made their debut at The International in Copenhagen, Denmark, after entering the Dota 2 scene earlier this year with a South American roster. They qualified for TI after a full season in the SA region but unfortunately faced an early exit in the playoffs, losing to fellow SA team beastcoast.
Following TI, the team faced a significant setback when their carry player, Héctor “K1” Rodríguez, announced an extended break from competitive play. David “Parker” Nicho Flores stepped in as K1’s replacement, altering the team’s dynamics with his unique approach to the carry role and different hero pool.
PGL Wallachia Season 2 marked Parker’s LAN debut with Heroic, and the team quickly established themselves as a formidable contender, achieving a flawless 3-0 record in the modified Swiss-system group stage. As they advanced to the playoffs, Heroic continued their winning streak, reaching the upper bracket finals before suffering a 1-2 defeat to Team Falcons. To reach the grand finals, they had to defeat Tundra Esports for the second time in the tournament.
A Historic Grand Finals
The finals day at PGL Wallachia began with a thrilling encounter between Heroic and Tundra, which saw Tundra forced to bow out in third place after two intense games. However, Heroic was fully focused and prepared to face Team Falcons in the highly anticipated best-of-five grand finals, seeking revenge for their earlier loss.
This grand final marked only the third time in Dota 2 history that a South American team reached the finals, following paiN Gaming and SG e-sports. Unfortunately, both previous teams fell short of victory.
The first game of the grand finals was a nail-biter, lasting nearly 70 minutes and showcasing some of the most exciting competitive Dota on LAN this year. Parker’s Bloodseeker delivered outstanding damage in late-game team fights, battling against Falcons’ robust cores, including Alchemist, Timbersaw, and Pangolier. The match featured unforgettable moments, including a thrilling base race and a position 5 Gyrocopter wielding two Divine Rapiers.
Game two maintained the intensity, with Team Falcons playing their signature Nature’s Prophet. However, Heroic demonstrated their preparation, ultimately outmaneuvering and outplaying Falcons with Parker’s Morphling and João “4nalog” Santos on mid Earth Spirit.
In game three, technical difficulties arose with a laggy server as Falcons drafted an offlane Broodmother for a fast-paced game. Heroic countered effectively with mid Primal Beast and a carry Shadow Fiend, showcasing Parker’s near-perfect performance and putting them one game away from the championship title.
In the fourth and final match, Heroic dominated, taking an early lead with 4nalog’s mid Sand King. They maintained their advantage and sealed the victory at the 30-minute mark, boasting 34 kills to Falcons’ 8 and over a 20k gold lead.
Parker’s exceptional performance throughout the tournament, particularly in the grand finals, earned him the MVP title.
Heroic’s triumph not only marked their first-ever tournament trophy for South America but also secured them a $300,000 prize, while Team Falcons received $175,000 for their second-place finish.
With PGL Wallachia Season 2 concluded, the 2024-25 competitive season will continue on October 19 with BetBoom Dacha Belgrade 2024. While Falcons will have another chance to secure a trophy, Heroic will prepare for their next tournament, DreamLeague Season 24, commencing on October 27, 2024.
